Backside Glacier with Ruth Gorge peaks pass by under the wing as Talkeetna Air Taxi pilot Kris Peterson flies a beaver airplane on a flightseeing tour of Denali National Park in 2015. But before we get to the adventures, let's talk briefly about glacier safety. (Bill Roth / ADN), Kids explore the waterline at Spencer Lake with a good view of Spencer Glacier and some of its icebergs on Saturday, June 11, 2016. It is the largest glacier accessible by car in the United States. For a glacier view with an 8-mile round trip, start from Girdwood’s Crow Creek trailhead. Alaska Railroad’s Glacier Discovery Train, The Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Area, Winter access is $100 per person for first-time visitors, guided only. Those visiting Anchorage will find several areas where one can view some of the state’s most famous glaciers such as the Portage Glacier which is one of Alaska’s most popular attractions. There’s a short, 20-minute stop before the train loops around and heads back to Anchorage. Raven Glacier can be seen on the 23-mile Crow Pass Trail, which has trailheads at Girdwood (40 miles from Anchorage on the Seward Highway ) and the Eagle River Nature Center (about 26 miles east of Anchorage). 3. Portage Glacier. Matanuska Glaicer, Glacier Park. There's also flightseeing available to Knik and Colony Glacier. The Matanuska Glacier is about a two-hour drive on the Glenn Highway northeast of Anchorage. During the winter, frozen Portage Lake is a popular spot for skiers and bikers traveling to the toe of the glacier, although there are no park rangers around in case of emergency, so traverse the ice at your own risk. The second half is rocky, and to get closer to the glacier, visitors must cross boulders and small streams. Make sure to contact local visitors centers for information on current conditions. Excursions to Knik Glacier in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough have exploded in popularity during the winter, with fat-tire bikers taking a northern route that crosses a river. McBride Glacier, the only tidewater glacier in the East Arm, is approximately 40 nautical … Difficulty: Easy to … Other Alaska glaciers are easily accessible by boat or air. Eklutna Glacier is a land terminating glacier in Chugach State Park and the Chugach Mountains near Anchorage, Alaska. Unfortunately you can no longer see the glacier from the highway and the only ways to get close to the actual glacier are by boat across Portage Lake or by taking the train (or your vehicle) through the tunnel to Whittier.… The only road-accessible route directly to the glacier face is through property owned by Matanuska Glacier Park LLC. xzzy77 | Flickr. Hikers can continue on past the glacier, or turn around. Land on a beach at least a mile from a glacier, and camp 2 miles away. We’ve heard time again from visitors that exploring Matanuska Glacier was the highlight of their Alaska vacation. Tours are sold out of a gift shop and information center. Answer 1 of 4: Hello Fellow Travelers!! There's also a 12-site, tents-only campground near the nature center. Are you interested in lunch at a glacier near Anchorage? Alaska travel information on everything from outdoor adventures to metropolitan Explore Alaska’s glaciers. Thanks for any responses with such a short... Anchorage. Exit Glacier Road is only open to cars during the summer, usually mid-May. Glaciers are colder than surrounding areas, and often windy. There’s an 8-mile trail starting from Knik Glacier Tours that requires river crossings. It also has flightseeing options for those who want to bask in the splendor of North America's tallest peak without climbing it. Crevasses especially are not always visible. The train continues past Spencer Glacier to Grandview, where Bartlett and Trail glaciers can be seen. Bear Viewing near Anchorage Alaska is the only place in the U.S. with black, brown and polar … Anchorage.net is the official source for Anchorage, Alaska and Southcentral Then there’s Portage Glacier. Visitors get off at the Spencer Whistle Stop in Chugach National Forest at 1:45 p.m. You can hike about 1.3 miles one way to the glacier viewing platform, or another 1.7 miles to the edge of the glacier (but be mindful of getting back to the train in time for the 4:40 p.m. pickup). The glacier itself is gigantic — about 26 miles long and 4 miles wide at its terminus. Guided tours are available. Gold Mint Trail is a 16-mile round-trip journey that follows the Little Susitna River to the Mint Glacier Valley, where hikers can follow a fairly undeveloped trail up to Mint Glacier. Then, it's a short drive and hike to reach the glacier. Not very large, this hanging glacier dangles from the mountains in the Chugach National Forest. Explore Alaska’s glaciers. There are many different types of tours, kayaking opportunities and public-use cabins in Prince William Sound. ... Glacier near Valdez. The road-accessible glacier is a popular spot for summer ice climbers. For more information, call the Anchorage office at 907-644-3661 or the Fairbanks office at 907-459-3730. This 12-mile glacier is part of Tongass National Forest and its visitors’ center is just a half mile from the glacier’s… © 2021 Anchorage Daily News. Hikers follow a series of switchbacks uphill, passing Jewel Glacier to the east of Crow Pass Cabin, and eventually arrive at Crow Pass and Raven Glacier. In the Chugach Mountains, Meares Glacier heads between Aspero Peak and Mount Michelson, trends southwest to Unakwik Inlet, 42 miles west of Valdez at its terminus. (Bob Hallinen / ADN). Two glaciers are easily accessible in the valley. Columbia, Meares and Blackstone glaciers are just three of the oft-visited glaciers in the area. A little over two hours north of Anchorage, the town of Talkeetna is the staging point for … Accessible by trail for a great year-round adventure. Taku Glacier. My mom, my friend and I (in early 30's) are traveling to Anchorage in mid July for three nights before heading back to Vancouver via a cruise. Then, there’s the rest of Kenai Fjords National Park. The Exit Glacier Nature Center is the starting point for a system of trails leading to the glacier. If you are on a kayak or boat near a glacier, stay half a mile away, as glaciers shift and calve without warning and create massive waves, Dalps said. Glacier Bay. This hike is recommended from late June to early September due to snow and avalanche danger. Exit Glacier is the only glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park accessible by road (and received a visit from former President Barack Obama in 2015). About 80 minutes north of Anchorage is the Hatcher Pass Management Area, a popular recreational area. Part of Chugach State Park, Eklutna Lake Campground has a large campsite, bike and kayak rentals, and a trail system that leads out to the glacier. About 60 miles southeast of Anchorage, Spencer Glacier is only accessible via the Alaska Railroad’s Glacier Discovery Train, which runs daily from May 25 through Sept. 16 this year. Are there any glaciers I can see close to the highway on the way? The largest of the Juneau Icefield Glaciers, Taku Glacier is a tide water glacier. Byron Glacier is touted as being highly accessible for all ages. The Glacier Park access costs $25 for Alaska residents, $30 for those from out of state in the summer. There are guided hikes on that glacier but they are fairly strenuous and take 6 hrs (unless you helicopter to the starting point of the ice hike). Tour operators offer guided kayaking, ice climbing or trips down the Placer River. Campsites and a cabin are open mid-June and can be reserved through the railroad. About an hour northeast of Anchorage is Eklutna Glacier, which provides most of the drinking water for Alaska’s largest city. Contact Us Today. Prince William Sound is packed with glaciers or take a day cruise out of Whittier and see more than 20 glaciers in a day. One of the beautiful glacier in Portage Valley near Anchorage. There’s also good glacier viewing — and traversing — on the multiday Mint-Bomber Traverse for more advanced outdoor explorers. Flute Glacier can be reached by walking to Eagle Lake, then heading another 2 miles up the valley to the toe of the glacier. There are glacier trips for people of all ages and athletic abilities. There are hundreds of unnamed glaciers on Denali, and 40 named ones, according to the National Park Service. We narrowed those trips down to the glaciers under 150 miles — or a two- to three-hour drive — from Anchorage. Runoff from Eklutna Glacier contributes to Eklutna Lake, the main source of drinking water for the Anchorage community as well as hydroelectric power via the Eklutna Hydroelectric Project. Glacier access is a bit of a journey — to get up close, take the Eklutna Lakeside Trail, 12.9 miles one way. To get a view this glacier you hike up the Butte.The Butte is a short popular 45-minute hike just outside of Anchorage. Beautiful lawns are what we are about. Icefields and an estimated 100,000 glaciers cover 5 percent of Alaska's surface and they are easily viewed by visitors to Juneau, Valdez, Whittier, Seward, Anchorage or the Matanuska Valley.Cruises that take visitors close to the face of tidewater glaciers offer visitors the opportunity of watching them calve icebergs into the sea. The longest ones — Ruth, Kahiltna and Muldrow — are each more than 30 miles long. Kink glacier is the source of a stunning braided river that cuts between the Anchorage and Mat-Su Valley area. Hike on your own or take a hike guided by a U.S. Forest Service ranger. © Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau DBA Visit Anchorage, The Star on the Mountain: An Anchorage Holiday Tradition, 5 Amazing (but Hidden) Spots Near Anchorage, New Beer Tour "Hops" Aboard Alaska Railroad, Better with Experience: Classic Anchorage Restaurants Still Delight, Top 10 Fall Travel Ideas for Anchorage, Alaska, Top Culture and History Attractions in Anchorage, Anchorage Beer and What's Brewing in Alaska, 10 Best Winter Activities in Anchorage, Alaska, A Guide to Anchorage's First Friday Artwalk, 5 Best Spots to See the Northern Lights in Anchorage, 8 Favorite Festivals for Year-Round Anchorage Fun, 6 Ways to Enjoy Anchorage At a (Social) Distance, Anchorage is One Big Classroom: Here’s How to Make the Most of It, Where To Find Take-Out and Delivery Dining Options in Anchorage, Road Trip to Anchorage: South of the City, Road Trip to Anchorage: North of the City, 5 Recipes for Enjoying a Taste of Alaska at Home, Top 10 Spots for Lake Fishing in Anchorage, How to Take a Self-Guided Public Art Tour of Anchorage, 4 Safety Tips for a 2020 Visit to Anchorage, 3 Ways to Explore Anchorage by Foot or Bike, What to Expect on a 2020 Visit to Anchorage, Photos: Anchorage, Alaska’s Winter Wonderland, Where to Find Holiday Lights in Anchorage, How to Plan the Perfect Date in Anchorage. The South Fork Valley Trail is a relatively easy hike to Eagle … Winter access is $100 per person for first-time visitors, guided only. She left the ADN in October 2018. (Marc Lester / Alaska Dispatch News). Some land on the different glaciers. Distance: 2 to 8.2 miles. Choose flightseeing, kayak tours, a day cruise, or an ice trekking adventure tour for a chance to admire these natural wonders. Choose flightseeing, kayak tours, a day cruise, or an ice trekking adventure tour for a chance to admire these natural wonders. Matanuska Glacier, near Anchorage A train ride to Seward has the same glacier views. Exit Glacier and Harding Icefield. Biking and boating are common. (Valdez is another launching spot, about a five-hour drive from Anchorage.). KL Game Club - Lets Play! amenities. Answer 1 of 3: I just returned from camping in Denali, and will head to Seward from Anchorage tomorrow early. Whittier is the launching point for many cruises in Prince William Sound, which boasts more tidewater glaciers than any other region in North America. And keep in mind — some of these glaciers may be hard to access depending on the time of year you visit. Aboard the Alaska Railroad’s Glacier Discovery route, you can hop off at a whistle stop and spend the afternoon with Spencer Glacier south of Anchorage. Heading to Whittier from Anchorage- you’ll see glaciers along the way too The 26 Glacier Cruise This cruise by Phillips Cruises is perhaps the most popular glacier watching cruise in Alaska, but is well worth joining during your trip. Alternatively, the Bold Ridge Trail is about 4 miles long with a steep 3,600-foot elevation gain that rewards you with glacier views. Also, is there one I can walk on? 20 years of experience keeping Anchorage moving in the wintertime. Time: 2 to 8 hours. The 1.4-mile trail is a flat, easy walk. Visitors can try kayaking near the mouth of a tidewater glacier, take a guided hike across a valley glacier, or drive to Southcentral Alaska’s easily accessible Exit and Worthington glaciers. A little farther down the road, Portage Pass trail is a 4-mile round-trip hike with glacier views. Committee member of KL Game Club 2019; Time Table (Apr 2019) Uncategorized See Our Maintenance Packages. All rights reserved. All-nat­ur­al Angus beef burg­ers and hand-cut made to order fries are the high­lights … Matanuska Glacier Adventures provides road access to the glacier, guided tours, self-guided tours and more for both summer and winter explorers. Diana K | Flickr. Get Your Free Quote. 7. Glaciers in Alaska. Laurel Andrews was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch News and Alaska Dispatch. South Fork Valley Trail. Those wanting more can make the strenuous 8.2-mile round-trip hike up the Harding Icefield Trail for spectacular views of the massive ice field. The glacier has receded out of view from the visitor center, but in the summer there’s a daily cruise and a pull-off where you can see the glacier from the road. Multiple Talkeetna air taxi operators offer trips around the mountain. Glaciers in Alaska. There are over 100,000 glaciers in Alaska, covering 4.5% of the state - that's 29 thousand square miles. be an experienced outdoorsperson with training in glacier travel) or hire a guide. The first half is well-maintained, with a wide path. Located in the Chugach National Forest, this spectacular glacier and the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center are only around 50 miles from Anchorage. It's … Same goes for paddling around an iceberg. Alaska is, after all, home to most of the glaciers in the United States. Middle Glacier, Anchorage. Aric Hudson. Also, is there one I can walk on? Answer 1 of 3: I just returned from camping in Denali, and will head to Seward from Anchorage tomorrow early. A little over two hours north of Anchorage, the town of Talkeetna is the staging point for climbers heading to Denali. Portage Glacies formerly extended from the mountains to a few miles from the highway to the Kenai Peninsula. Check Exit Glacier Guides if … The Matanuska Glacier is only a scenic two-hour drive northeast of Anchorage on the Glenn Highway, making it an easy day trip from Anchorage. The park website highlights Bear Glacier Lagoon and boat tours that take visitors along the park’s tidewater glaciers. The South Fork Valley Trail is a relatively easy hike to Eagle and Symphony Lakes in Eagle River, about half an hour east of Anchorage. If you want to trek the surface of a glacier, you need to either know what you are doing (i.e. It's touted as one of the few major ice sheets in the world that visitors can drive to and explore on foot. More information about tours can be found with a simple online search. Specializing in lawn care for over 20 years. One of very few road-accessible glaciers in the world, it’s simply […] Walking on glaciers can be dangerous unless — and sometimes even if — you have proper training and equipment. When the Begich-Boggs Visitors Center was originally built, it was right at the foot … The path follows the shore of the lake, then to the river and glacier. The Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Area has 12 campsites, and a 20-minute walk to glacier-viewing platforms, but no direct access to the glacier. Tours are also offered through Knik River Lodge. The easiest one to see is Exit Glacier near Seward, but it's not very impressive unless you do part of Harding Icefield hike to get above it. Crevasses and moulins (deep holes) form in the glacier. About an hour’s drive from Anchorage on the Seward Highway is Portage Valley and the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. In the winter, snowmachines, skiers, dog sleds and fat bikes are still allowed on the road. Available 24/7, year round, for any maintenance emergency or remodeling project. Talkeetna. Continue down Portage Glacier Road another few miles — including a trip through the 2.5-mile-long Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel — and you wind up in the town of Whittier. Go south from Anchorage on the Seward Highway and along the 5-mile Portage Spur Road to see these glaciers on the south side of the road, halfway from the Seward Highway to Portage Lake. Disclaimer: This list explores some of the most popular glaciers and ways to see them, but for brevity’s sake it does not include many of the tour operators that offer hikes, scenic flights, kayaking, etc. Explore Alaska’s glaciers. Hikers can access the area, south of Portage in Chugach National Forest, by way of Alaska Railroad’s whistle stop service, which drops passengers about a 1.3-mile walk from the lake. The hike is about 10 miles round-trip. Michelle Dalps, a park ranger at Kenai Fjords National Park, urges all glacier travelers to bring warm, layered clothes, sturdy shoes or boots, and a windbreak layer. BurgerFi. When walking around the toe (where the glacier ends), keep a distance of twice the glacier's height. Whether you live in Alaska or are visiting, glaciers are one of the state’s most awe-inspiring and unique attractions. A trekker ice-climbs on the Matanuska Glacier off the Glenn Highway, near Anchorage, Alaska, United States in July 2003. Summer access comes by way of Knik Glacier Trail. 6 Map. View of Byron Glacier in the Kenai Mountains from across Portage Lake in the Chugach National Forest in 2016. Are there any glaciers I can see close to the highway on the way? From Anchorage, head north on the Glenn Highway and at Mile 102 drive down to Glacier Park.

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