Rabbit Slough

Rabbit Slough

Discover one of the Mat-Su Valley's most unique winter adventures! Rabbit Slough is a frozen playground of winding ice channels in the Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge, offering limitless exploration and stunning 360-degree mountain views. It's an unforgettable fat biking experience.

The Ride: An Alaskan Ice Labyrinth

Forget singletrack—at Rabbit Slough, you carve your own path across a vast expanse of frozen waterways. The terrain is flat and beginner-friendly, making it perfect for all skill levels. The real adventure is in the exploration, with incredible views of the Chugach and Talkeetna ranges at every turn.

The Gear: Your Ticket to Ride

Success on the ice comes down to the right bike and the right tires.

  • The Perfect Bike: You need a machine built to float over snow and grip the ice. A high-performance carbon bike like the Borealis Crestone offers a lightweight, responsive ride that feels like a rocket on the ice.
  • Essential: Studded Tires: The wind often scours the slough down to glare ice. For safety and control, studded tires are a must-have. Run them at low pressure (4-6 PSI) to maximize grip and bite into the ice for confident steering and braking.
Close-up of a studded fat bike tire

Quick Facts

Season Winter Only (when solidly frozen)
Difficulty Easy to Moderate
Surface Natural, ungroomed ice and snow
Hazards Moose, overflow ice, unplowed access road

Getting There (from Alaska Bicycle Center)

The drive is about 15-20 minutes. Important: GPS often gets the last turn wrong. Use these directions.

  1. Head east on W Nelson Ave and turn right on Lucille St.
  2. Turn left onto the Parks Highway (AK-3 S) for 6.1 miles.
  3. Take the Trunk Rd Exit.
  4. At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto the frontage road (parallel to the highway, heading back east).
  5. Follow the frontage road for ~2 miles as it curves south. It ends at the Rabbit Slough access road.

Access Road Warning: The final road is unpaved and not plowed in winter. A 4WD vehicle is highly recommended.

Safety & Etiquette

  • Be Moose Aware: The Hay Flats are prime moose habitat in winter. Encounters are very likely. Stay alert, make noise, and never approach a moose. If one is on the trail, give it space and be prepared to turn back.
Moose on a snowy trail
  • Share the Ice: This area is popular with Nordic skaters. If your tires are leaving a rut deeper than an inch, the surface is too soft. Please turn back to preserve the ice for everyone.

Ready for your adventure? Stop by Alaska Bicycle Center, and we'll get you geared up with the perfect fat bike and expert advice!