Willow (Alaska)

Willow is an unincorporated community in Matanuska-Susitna Valley.

Willow is easily accessible by car, being an approximately two-hour drive from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC ^IATA).

• Willow Airport. Fly a private plane , or hire an air taxi. 

It is easiest to get around Willow by car or bicycle, but there are many lakes in the area and a crafty few travel by boat.

• The lakes. Willow is home to many lakes and small ponds, and these are very popular among boaters, primarily Nancy Lake and Willow Lake. The latter is also the location of the seaplane base, owned by the airport across the street.
• The rivers. Willow is known for Willow Creek State Recreation Area. The point where Willow Creek feeds into the Susitna River is popular as a fishing hole.
• 61.6853-149.9661 Nancy Lake State Recreation Area, 67.2 Parks Hwy, ☏ +1 907-495-6273.  (updated Jul 2021)

• Fish. This is a common sport among the locals as well as tourists.

Willow is not known as a tourist trap, but souvenirs can be bought at many shops in the area.

The nearest inn is a Best Western in Wasilla. A motel used to exist at the Capitol Speedway in north-central Willow, but it was shut down after a guest manufactured meth in one of its rooms.

• Hatcher Pass Castle, 6595 Willow Fishhook Rd, ☏ +1 (907) 302-9795. All-inclusive adventure lodge on Hatcher Pass. It hosts small groups with private guiding and custom year-round itineraries, including summer UTV tours, glacier hikes, gold panning, and wildlife or history excursions, as well as winter snowmobiling and Northern Lights viewing. En suite rooms, chef-prepared meals, round-trip transport, Starlink Wi-Fi, and optional add-ons such as Denali flightseeing are available. (updated Nov 2025)

Fairbanks ← Denali N.P. ←

N  S

→ Wasilla → Anchorage (via )