Nestled in a beautiful bowl of meadows and wildflowers such as bluebells, wild geraniums, and arctic sandworts, and surrounded by jagged peaks and wonderful hiking ridges, Independence Mine offers a fascinating historical journey through one of Alaska’s hard-rock gold-mining operations.

A narrow, dirt road, twists alongside Willow Creek and leads you up to Hatcher Pass. The river flows down from Mint Glacier and still carries traces of that elusive, glittering pay dirt that lured so many hardy souls into this country. In winter, Hatcher Pass gets generous amounts of snow, making it a great destination for early and late cross-country skiing.

Located above tree line, this is a wonderful area for alpine hiking in all directions. In summer, if you want to give yourself a head start on the elevations, drive to the highest point and climb to the top of a ridge for beautiful views and a pleasant aerobic workout.