Petersville Road?

[GordonThree]

I'm looking for feedback on Petersville road, off the Parks Highway south of DNP. I'd like to get to the 32 mile mark to see the canyon, and hike Peter's Hill for the panoramic view.

The first section of road looks tame enough, broken pavement and big pot holes. I'm interested in what lies beyond. Is it accessible by pickup truck (4x4), or do you need something small like a jeep or specialized like a quad?


Quoting from the Mat-Su Valley Visitor's Bureau:

Mile 28-30: The spectacular Peters Creek Canyon. A one-lane road hugs one side of a deep gorge with waterfalls all around. Views of the Alaska Range complete the picture.

Before entering the canyon, turn right onto the trail at the mouth of the canyon and hike to the top of the Peters Hills for some of the most phenomenal views of the Alaska Range featuring Mount McKinley, Mount Foraker and Mount Hunter, as well as stunning views of the Chugach and Talkeetna Mountains, the Matanuska-Susitna Valleys and much more. Watch for migratory birds and small mammals early in the summer, and Ptarmigan and bears feeding on the berries later in the year. This is a great area to begin a mountain biking trek, as there are many rugged trails and roads in this region.

Edit: PS most likely I'll be there mid-ish June

[ace44]

You can actually get along ways past the old roadhouse location with just about any pickup. Saw a 2 wheel drive suburban back past the canyon last September.

[GordonThree]

I've seen plenty of illegal barricades across State and Federal forest roads (two-tracks mostly) around my home here in Michigan. Sometimes its poachers putting them up, or logging companies that lease timber rights, trying to keep poachers out of the new clear-cuts.

[gmctoyman]

Dang, this was on my list this year ! Sounds like it's getting as bad as Texas for fences!

[GordonThree]

That's too bad the road is privately owned now. Explains why there's no recent videos on YouTube I guess. Thanks for the feedback everyone.

ok, so maybe I mis-read ... the barricade across the road is just someone messing around?

Guess I'll find out when I get there 🙂

[Teacher_s_Pet]

sue.t wrote:
We drove in to the Forks Roadhouse, After that, the Milepost indicates, "High clearance 4-wheel drive vehicles only beyond Forks Roadhouse". Even though we had the 4x4 truck without the fifth wheel attached, we didn't go further...mostly because the road was barricaded.

http://suethomas.ca/20100902_TrapperCk.html

Your pix show that it's not always the best to follow the crowd, much better views than we saw on the NPS bus last summer.

[PA12DRVR]

One can get to the site of the Forks (it did burn in 2012) in the summer with a variety of vehicles, but it's a rough gravel/dirt road.

Beyond the roadhouse are a variety of 4x4 roads/trails, including the main "road". Some of these trails do cross private property and could rightfully be blocked off...but the only blocking I've ever seen is on the main road and that, as pointed out above, is not legal. However, it isn't hard to end up on a miner's claim or other private property.

All in all, I would only recommend going beyond the roadhouse with any 4x4 vehicle if you had all the gear to get unstuck: Chainsaw, winch, handyman jack, shovels, rigging gear, etc. A quad or UTV would be better.

[Trackrig]

Check with the Troopers at the turn off from the highway but if the road is blocked past the old roadhouse, it's done illegally by the locals or the minors beyond there. The last time I was up there in the summer we were riding dirt bikes several years ago and it wasn't blocked and travel in a 4X4 wouldn't be a problem. Everyone rides snowmachines beyond the roadhouse in both directions all winter long.

Bill

[fanrgs]

"Milepost" says the roadhouse burned down in 2012.

[sue_t]

We drove in to the Forks Roadhouse, After that, the Milepost indicates, "High clearance 4-wheel drive vehicles only beyond Forks Roadhouse". Even though we had the 4x4 truck without the fifth wheel attached, we didn't go further...mostly because the road was barricaded.

http://suethomas.ca/20100902_TrapperCk.html