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Directions to Hatcher's Pass
Take the Glenn Highway from Anchorage. Two miles past the city of Palmer, turn left on Palmer-Fishhook Road, which becomes the Hatcher Pass Road. The Hatcher Pass Management Area is 10 miles from downtown Palmer; Independence Mine is 18 miles from Palmer.
Mat-Su/CB Area Park Office
Mile 0.7 Bogard Road
HC 32 Box 6706
Wasilla, Alaska 99654
Phone: (907)745-3975
Independence Mine State
Historical Park Visitor Center (open seasonally)
Phone: (907)745-2827
View Independence Mine Area Map
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Welcome to Hatcher's Pass Online!
This website is designed to introduce Hatcher Pass to visitors whom plan to travel to the historic area. One of the most visited destinations by both locals and visitors, Hatcher’s Pass offers a true glimpse into the spirit of Alaska Pioneers.
The mountainous area is infectious with its grand vistas, and historical artifacts that remain scattered throughout the mountain ranges. Today cabins left from the Gold Rush still rest on the summit of the highest peaks to the lowest areas of the valley. The range of visitors to Hatcher Pass vary from families to professional mountaineers, it’s truly a place for everyone.
Independence Mine, which is protected by the Alaska State Parks, offers a preserved experience of what life was like back in the Gold Rush.
Robert Lee Hatcher
Robert Lee Hatcher established the first (lode) gold claim located in Willow Creek Valley in September 1906, shortly after other stakes would be claimed.
Lode mining by definition is Minimnng of a mineral deposit in solid rock. Robert Hatcher discovered gold (lode) deposits in quartz veins embedded throughout the granite in the Alaska Talkeetna Mountains. Gold could also be found in area Rivers where young granite, which is not as hard as mature granite, allowing it to be easily broken down into gravel.
Lode mining was an expensive and intensive business for small mine operators. Requirements included excavation of complicated tunnel systems and heavy-duty equipment. Several known companies merged to expand their resources, which reduced expenses and increased productivity.
Filtering streams and gold panning was one of the well-known ways of mining gold from Rivers, as we know it today.
Placer mining is the removal of ore from placers, which are glacial or alluvial deposits of sand or gravel containing valuable minerals, has preceded lode mining for the search of gold. Throughout the history Placer mining made its mark and Hatcher Pass was no exception. Discovery of rough-textured gold found while gold panning or in the bottom of a sluice boxes gave hints of something more nearby, or maybe the mother lode.
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