Volcanic ash is wide spread in southcentral Alaska and the area has large reserves of coal and natural gas. Natural resource development requires soil inventory and reclamation plans. The objective of this study was to identify the geographic distribution and characteristics of tephra-derived soils. Soil transects were set up to formulate the topographic and hydrological relationships of different soils. Morphological properties were studied and soil sampled for laboratory analysis. Most soils formed in 80 to 100 cm of tephra over loamy-textured glacial moraine. There are at least four major tephra events recorded in the profiles of upland soils throughout the region. Multisequa Spodosols were identified with four tephra events. Three major tephra layers were dated with the lower one estimated to be 5000 years old. The lower tephra layer was often found to be compacted, serving as an aquatard in most soils. The soils are characterized with very low pH and high exchangeable aluminum. Andic Humicryods and Andic Haplocryods are the dominant upland soils. Aquandic subgroups of these soils and Histic Cryaquods occupying toe slopes and Haplocryands occurring on higher terraces and colluvial slopes. All Histisols in the lowlands have multiple layers of tephra but the lower one impedes drainage separating the surface and ground waters.