Half of Gold Cord Road cleared for trucks

Cross-country skiers in the Palmer area will share a major trail with vehicle traffic this winter due to a clarified state permit. The Gold Cord Road, which leads to Independence Mine Historical Park in Hatcher Pass, will have one side plowed for private vehicle access while the other side remains available for grooming and recreation. This shift affects a route that has served as a premier ski destination for decades.

The change stems from a recreation permit issued to the Mat-Su Ski Club in late October. The permit clarifies that private property owners have priority use of the road for necessary vehicle access. State officials emphasize that this is a clarification of existing legal status rather than a new policy. The Gold Cord Road is more than one mile long and connects a parking lot near Hatcher Pass Lodge to mining buildings and private claims. It typically closes to vehicles in late September and becomes one of the first trails in Southcentral Alaska to offer deep snowpack.

Alan Renshaw, a Usibelli Coal Mine executive, stated that he plans to plow the east side of the road to reach his family’s property at Gold Cord Mine. He noted that his family is spending more time at the location and requires reliable access for supplies. Renshaw said he will continue to share the road with skiers and snowboarders by leaving the other half of the road covered in snow. He also owns land accessed by Archangel Road but has no plans to plow that route during the winter. The Mat-Su Ski Club intends to groom Archangel Road for skiing once state park officials confirm sufficient snow depth.

For decades, volunteers from the nonprofit Mat-Su Ski Club groomed both lanes of Gold Cord Road. The volunteers created wide corduroy patterns for skate skiing and parallel tracks for classic skiing. The trail also accommodated walkers and bikers. Under the new expectations, recreation permits administered by Alaska State Parks now explicitly document that grooming must not impede access for private property owners. Private owners are not obligated to leave snow on the road for recreational uses if they need vehicle passage.

Karolina Zakravska, a spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, explained that the department is responsible for ensuring reasonable access over state roadways. She stated that this access takes precedence over recreational use. Last year, cross-country skiing at the historical park was paused because state transportation officials used the road for early-season plow truck driver training. Officials confirmed that this year’s training took place elsewhere, allowing the snowpack to build up naturally for the new shared-use arrangement.

Pete Hjellen, a Wasilla resident who holds multiple mining claims in the area, said he does not plan to access his claims during the winter. Marla Jakab, the general manager of the Mat-Su Ski Club, said the organization is working with stakeholders to understand the implications for the upcoming season. The club is still developing specific plans for how to groom the Independence Mine area given the new vehicle access requirements. The trail remains a key location for winter visitors, including Olympians who train with the Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center.