Take aunique snowmobile tour out into the Alaskan backcountry and look for wildlife as you appreciate winterin. TurnleftontoCrow Creek Road. Faster than akayak and more intimate than aday cruise, the Jet Ski is agreat way to get up close and personal with Alaskas gorgeous scenery. Drive through woods and splash through rivers on your way to agorgeous glacier. Traveling independently? Hike on the Matanuska Glacier, just a little over a 2 hour drive from Anchorage, Walking across Alaskas largest road-accessible glacier is an unforgettable experience that you can take advantage of year-round. Several pulloutsallow. Experience the wilderness of the Chugach National Forest from several different perspectives. Narrated day cruisesdepart several times daily from Whittier (60-miles south of Anchorage) and Seward (130 miles south). With Alaska Backcountry Adventure Tours, you can experience glaciers inaccessible by road. 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). Plan Your Trip David Kasser Home Things to Do Glacier & Wildlife Cruises Share Glacier & Wildlife Cruises Get up close to a towering glacier and listen to the thunderous roar as a brilliant blue shard of ice crashes into the waters below. Enjoy abirds eye view of Denali or other Alaskan scenic highlights on aflightseeing tour with Rusts Flying. Check out my Alaska Travel Guide. The city is bordered to the east by the peaks of Chugach State Park and to the south by the Turnagain Arm, a tumultuously beautiful . A little over two hours north of Anchorage, the town of Talkeetna is the staging point for climbers heading to Denali. Alaska glaciers are everywhere. 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. Make sure to contact local visitors centers for information on current conditions. Don't let Anchorage's city feel fool you, the big wilds of Alaska are close by. And one of the most exciting ways to explore the rugged tundra here is behind the wheel of your own Polaris ATV, or 2or 4seat UTV (perfect for families)! This is the most popular glacier to visit from Anchorage, and for good reason. Your destination is the magnificent Knik Glacier, where youll enjoy lunch and gorgeous scenery. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. The train continues past Spencer Glacier to Grandview, where Bartlett and Trail glaciers can be seen. What can I do on an April visit to Anchorage? more, Its only asmall pull-out on the side of the highway, but this is the closest viewpoint of the Matanuska Glacier. As you can imagine, glaciers are tucked all over Alaska in the mountain ranges. Choose aclassic trip, explore one of the states hidden gems, or dream up your own adventure. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights. Find hidden ice caves and remote glaciers while navigating along frozen rivers and through deep powder. There are numerous ways to experience Knik Glacier, with operators providing air boat tours to the foot of the glacier, helicopter tours including dog mushing experiences, and even ATV trips. Spencer Glacier Caves are a natural wonder of the Chugach National Forest in Alaska, located roughly 60 miles south of Anchorage. The Anchorage area is home to nearly half of Alaska's residents, along with some 300 moose, 250 black bears, and 60 brown bears. Guided tours are available. Just 90minutes from Anchorage, the Matanuska Glacier is Alaskas largest road-accessible glacier, and the water running underneath creates ariver thats perfect for rafting. A perfect way to become acquainted with the area is on the Anchorage City Tour, a two-hour van trip with a driver guide who explains everything from the floatplanes at Lake Hood to the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake. Distance: 2 to 8.2 milesTime: 2 to 8 hoursDifficulty: Easy to ModerateDistance From Anchorage: 132 miles south. In fact, there are 60 glaciers within 50 miles of Anchorage. Alaska Railroads Glacier Discovery Train, The Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Area, Winter access is $100 per person for first-time visitors, guided only. Keep an eye out for summertime ice-climbers at this most impressive roadside glacier. How to get to Matanuska Glacier from Anchorage: Take the Glenn Highway North and exit towards Palmer. It now has a four-mile wide towering face that you can walk right up to and touch. Theres a short, 20-minute stop before the train loops around and heads back to Anchorage. The nearby Begich, Boggs Visitor Center, run by the National Forest Service, offers an overview of the area's glaciers and geology, and is also a prime starting point for walks and hikes. Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, The 9 Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse! For a truly high-altitude glacier visit, book a helicopter or bush plane flight severalflightseeing companiesoffer glacier landings inside Denali National Park and have a summer snowball fight in the shadow of North Americas tallest mountain. Go a step further by visiting these sites and more on your own private Anchorage day tour. 9 min read A big part of coming up to Alaska is seeing the intense landscapes of the Arctic, and that means seeing glaciers. Then, it's a short drive and hike to reach the glacier. Exit Glacier Road is only open to cars during the summer, usually mid-May. (Update 2021 - Only tours are offered on the glacier summer of 2021). Ride the rails, sea kayak through an iceberg-strewn lake and hike off-the-beaten-path towards the face of Spencer glacier, all in one trip! They should be. Some of the most impressive glaciers in Alaska are surprisingly accessible. Directions: Head south from Anchorage on the Seward Highway-or north from Seward-the turnoff is clearly marked at Seward Highway mile 3.7 and is nine miles long (half of it's gravel). The parking area for Byron Glacier trailhead will be on your right, one mile down the road. You can even land on the glacier and go dog sledding!Getting Here: Drive 45-minutes to the Palmer / Wasilla area for the start of your tour. Continue to Glacier View. Chugach Adventures paddles in front of Spencer Glacier, In summer, Spencer Glacier is only accessible by railroad! Youll climb the valley through cottonwood and alder forests until you make it well above tree line to a breath-taking view of the 700-square-mile Icefield. At mile 102, you can drive down to Glacier Park and pay aday fee (8882534480), then hike 1520minutes to the faceof This family-owned tour operator has gone above and beyond to give guests an amazing day on the water since1990. Free personal GPSdriven travel guide to Alaska. Byron Glacier 3. The Glacier Discovery Train is the ticket to the Alaska Railroad whistle-stop atSpencer Glacier. The path follows the shore of the lake, then to the river and glacier. By boat and plane, on foot, behind a team of dogs, and even sitting at a first-class restaurant with views of seven nearby glaciers Anchorage is your window on Alaska's best glaciers. of Alaska's largest city, you can be looking at some of the most dramatic glacier scenery in the state. View the colorful Spirit Houses built over the graves of the deceased, along with an Orthodox Christian Crossacustom that came from the melding of the cultures. Our picks for the best tours and experiences during your Alaska Cruise. What can I do in Alaska during a spring visit? Glacier access is a bit of a journey to get up close, take the Eklutna Lakeside Trail, 12.9 miles one way. Regardless of your climbing ability or experience, youll end the day feeling fulfilled and inspired. What can I do in the evening in Anchorage? About 60 miles southeast of Anchorage, Spencer Glacier is only accessible via the Alaska Railroads Glacier Discovery Train, which runs daily from May 25 through Sept. 16 this year. Follow hiking trails to the toe of a glacier in one of Southcentral Alaskas state ornational parks; whether camping out overnight or just stretching the legs for a few minutes, arctic wonders await. And keep in mind some of these glaciers may be hard to access depending on the time of year you visit. This is a very popular winter hike, so its more than likely youll find an existing trail. Distance: 6 milesTime: 2 hoursDifficulty: EasyDistance From Anchorage: 55 miles south. Glacial flour? Visit Anchorage is the official source for Anchorage, Alaska and Southcentral Alaska travel information. ), Popular Alaska Itineraries Using In-State Airlines, Anchorage to Denali National Park Driving Map, Denali National Park Campgrounds & RV Parks, Matanuska Glacier Walk with Salmon Berry Tours, NOVA Alaska Guides Matanuska Glacier Float, MICA Guides Glacier Trekking & Ice Climbing, NOVA Alaska Guides Matanuska Glacier Tours, Alpine Air Alaska - Girdwood Glacier Dogsledding, Glacier Dog Sledding with Alaska Helicopter Tours, Alpine Air Alaska - Girdwood Flightseeing, Alaska Air Service: Flightseeing & Backcountry Adventures, Ascending Path - Helicopter Glacier Hiking or Helicopter Ice Climbing, Glacier Blue Kayak & Grandview Train Tour, Lazy Otter Charters Custom Sightseeing Tours, Phillips Cruises & Tours - 26 Glacier Cruise, Kayaking with Icebergs at Spencer Glacier, Alaska Backcountry Adventures Snowmachine Tours, Alaska Wild Guides Backcountry Snowmobile Adventures, Snowhook Adventure Guides of Alaska: Snowmobile Tours. Mendenhall Loop Road turns into Glacier Spur Road and ends at the visitor center.Distance: 12 miles from Juneau.Drive Time: Less than half an hour.Explore Time: 1-6 hours. This little-used, 2mile section of the former Glenn Highway has little to no traffic. Hikers can access the area, south of Portage in Chugach National Forest, by way of Alaska Railroads whistle stop service, which drops passengers about a 1.3-mile walk from the lake. 2023 Andrea Kuuipo Abroad | All Rights Reserved. One of the most popular first hikes for families with small children, the one-mile trail to awaterfall. Distance 103.3miles northof Share is on Pinterest for later! Big ship or small ship? more, Ideal for Biking or Running on Pavement. You can not get on (or close to) the MG without a tour (or guide). Alaska has over 100,000 glaciers and seeing one is a bucket-list item for many visitors. This is the closest glacier to Anchorage, but you won't find crowds because there isn't a trail after the halfway point, says Alaska veteran and longtime BACKPACKER field editor Steve Howe. On Byron, ice worms are common, if you get down and look. For $45 experience the best value and closest glacier cruise to Anchorage. Scenic helicopter tours reveal hidden sites minutes from Anchorage. This rock outcropping is the prominent feature beside the Matanuska Glacier and is featured in magazines and advertisements all over Alaska. All of these glaciers are within a 3-hour drive from Anchorage. As you follow the trail, youll stay right of the waterfalls and make your way past Crystal Lake. Several companies offerguided day hikesor climbs on Matanuska and other glaciers near Anchorage. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. You can visit the face of Portage by tour boat from the dock at the lake. Technically, Portage is no longer a roadside glacier, as it recedes an average of one foot a day and is now no longer visible from the road, but its big blue icebergs are often found along the shore of the lake, right in front of the parking area. Home Places to Stay Places to Stay After a full day of activity, there's nothing quite like unwinding in a cozy room at a boutique hotel, charming cottage, lakeside lodge, B&B or full-service hotel. Many outfitters stock stand up paddleboards too. Car, train, or group tour. And Major Marines vessels, which have cozy heated cabins and an outdoor viewing area, can take you out to see both. Directions: Head south from Anchorage on the Seward Highway-or north from Seward-the turnoff is clearly marked at Seward Highway mile 3.7 and is nine miles long (half of it's gravel).Distance: 125 miles south of Anchorage.Drive Time: 3 hours.Explore Time: 1 - 5 hours. Just 90minutes from Anchorage, the Matanuska Glacier is Alaskas largest road-accessible glacier, and the water running underneath creates ariver thats perfect for rafting. Youll float downstream for up to 2hours, taking in the scenery along the waymountains, river channels, hillsides, morainesand looking out for wildlife. The trail is easy to follow as it goes through the forest and gradually up the valley. Enjoy abeautiful ride down Turnagain Arm and the Placer River Valleyand Most of my favorite glaciers experiences in Alaska are when I get to hike right up to the face of the glacier! And on aclear day youll get an amazing view of Denali. (Valdez is another launching spot, about a five-hour drive from Anchorage.). How do I get between Anchorage and my cruise ship? The Matanuska Glacier is the largest roadside glacier in Alaska. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Flightseeing from Anchorage. You can hike right up to Seward's Exit Glacier and feel the dense blue ice while listening to it crackle. Visiting one can be the trip of a lifetime, but that doesnt mean it is difficult. And it's free! The campsites attract RVers and campers, and each of the 24 sites has afire ring and picnic table. See award-winning exhibits and the film "Voices from the Ice." Tours are sold out of a gift shop and information center. Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. Go with Alaska Wild Guides out of Whittier to experience the areas unique sights and sounds while skimming across the top of the water on your own personal watercraft. The most intimate multi-day cruise option. Here are five glacier hikes near Anchorage. The trail is actually 23 miles from Girdwood to Eagle River, and most people see Raven Glacier along the way. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. Blog About Me Work With Me Terms Privacy PolicyReturn PolicyDisclosure. Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. Which one is right for you? Winds pick up near glaciers as well. It now hasa. Once there you can walk the trail down to the lakefront, or opt for a tour that gets you closer, which is what we recommend. Keeprightto continue onPortage Lake Loop, follow signs forPortage Glacier/Begich Boggs Visitor Center. How do I get between Anchorage and my cruise ship? Enjoy abirds eye view of Alaskas scenic highlights on aflightseeing tour with Rusts Flying Service, where every passenger gets awindow seat. Same goes for paddling around an iceberg. Big ship or small ship? Get up close, and walk across the ice on a guided glacier trek, or for something a little more adventurous, try ice climbing! Not too spectacular in size, these hanging glaciers dangle from mountains in the Chugach National Forest. Players in the Alaska League must have attended one year in college, while having one year of eligibility remaining. The glacier tour kicks off at Alpine Air Alaska's Girdwood location. 2-5 day small ship explorations. Glaciers have shaped the Anchorage areafor thousands of years. Dog sled in summer! Browse all 5,838 Anchorage topics Matanuska glacier Watch this Topic. Take ascenic float along aglacial river aAlaskan experience thats fun for the whole family. How do I find authentic Alaska Native art? more, Just a2.5hour drive from Anchorage, aglacier you can walk right upto, Some 15,000years ago, this glacier reached another 50miles west to the Palmer area. Walk the lower trail to get a good photo in front of the glacier face. Crow Creek Roadturns slightlyleftand becomesPack Trail. of Alaska's largest city, you can be looking at some of the most dramatic glacier scenery in the state. Theres climbing amountain and then theres climbing an ICE mountain. TurnrightontoHerman Leirer Road. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. This veteran tour operator runs aa fleet of fast, modern boats in Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park. Take the opportunity to carry agold pan and shovel, hike the steep half-mile-long trail down to thecreek,. The park website highlights Bear Glacier Lagoon and boat tours that take visitors along the parks tidewater glaciers. There are lots of other places to explore and camp for the avid backpacker. 510 L Street Suite 600 Anchorage, AK 99501 Phone: (907) 271-3735 Fax: (877) 857-0322. Walking on glaciers can be dangerous unless and sometimes even if you have proper training and equipment. Planning a trip to Alaska? 6 Amazing Alaska Glaciers You Can Drive Right Up To Glaciers are moving rivers of ice created by compacted snow and prolonged cold temperatures. Just 45minutes outside Anchorage, the city gives way to the wilds of Alaska in the Knik River Valley. Your time on the water is sandwiched between two train rides that offer up some of Alaskas most scenic rail miles. Continue ontoIsland Road and stay straight. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. Here you'll find the largest concentration of tidewater glaciers in North America. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. Directions: From downtown Juneau, take Egan Drive and turn right at Mendenhall Loop Road. The roadway is officially closed in the middle but easily-passable. Several pullouts allow for viewing. You can continue past the Exit Glacier area to make your way to Harding Icefield. Which one is right for you? Download the App Show Map Scenic Drive Points Thunderbird Falls Trail 1 Map The Harding Icefield trail can be challenging as you gain 1,000 feet of elevation with every mile. Accessibility, Wheelchairs & Reduced Mobility. Youll also find: Ahalf-dozen interpretive signs about glaciers, ice creatures, spruce bark Where is the best bear viewing in Alaska? This 12-mile glacier is part of Tongass National Forest and its visitors center is just a half mile from the glaciers face. Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? Worthington Glacier is found along Thompson Pass, 28miles northeast of Valdez. Standing tall at a remarkable 3,500 feet above the picturesque lake of regal-blue icebergs is an awe-inspiring glacial setting featuring mile-high peaks and sheer headwalls overlooking gravel outwash plains. It's easy to see a glacier if you're in Anchorage. There are so many glaciers near Anchorage, Alaska that you can fly in and be on a full-blown glacial tour within the hour and not stop until it's time to head home. There is no real trail from this point on. Raven Glacier 5. 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. Knik Glacier is the closest glacier to Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, just an hour north. Well, it starts in the quirky town of Whitter and to get there you have to drive through N. America's longest mountain rail tunnel. more, Stunning scenery and happy puppies: this tour out of the Anchorage area offers an unbeatable combination of classic Alaska. Highlights plus less visited destinations. Which one is right for you? Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. Get the latest trail guides, travel tips, and more! We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip. Overwhelmed by choices? Follow Portage Glacier Road for 6.5 miles. Feel the thrill of exploring the Alaskan wilderness while driving your own snowmobile over the tundra, looking for wildlife and. How to find a moose in Anchorage in less than an hour. Directions: Head north from Anchorage on the Glenn Highway. Youre not held to any strict schedule, either: if, on aday tour, you can spend more time inone Tours are also offered through Knik River Lodge. It's a one-mile scenic walk to the glacier face along Byron Creek. Some 15,000 years ago, this glacier reached another 50 miles west to the Palmer area. Strap on crampons, grab an ice axe, and go vertical; experiencedclimbing guidescan help even novices climb Alaskas glaciers. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. If seeing a glacier up close is on your bucket list, Alaska is the place to do it. How to get to Portage Glacier from Anchorage: Take the Glenn Highway South for 48 miles. Matanuska Glacier 2. There are three areas south of Anchorage you can go check out a glacier, and they're all doable as a day trip. It's about 100 miles north of Anchorage, right off of the Glenn Highway at Glacier View. Regardless of your climbing ability or experience, youll end the day feeling fulfilled and inspired. Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. There are few things more spectacular than lifting off in ahelicopter from Girdwood and landing on aglacier, Ratchet up the adventure factor and try your hand at dogsledding. You'll spot these glaciers on the south side of the road, halfway from the Seward Highway to Portage Lake (thus the name Middle Glacier). The Bore Tide Deli, Roundhouse Museum and Seven Glaciers restaurant each offer stunning views of the glaciers as well as the valley below.
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closest glacier to anchorage
