Bears, Trains & Icebergs Tour Alaska: Spencer Glacier float

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Duration7h–9h

GroupUp to 20

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Three landscapes in one day: train, wildlife center, and glacier lake

The Bears, Trains & Icebergs Tour combines a roundtrip on the Glacier Discovery Train, a guided visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and a 2-hour float past icebergs on Spencer Glacier Lake and down 7 river miles of the Placer River Valley. The tour runs 7 to 9 hours and includes a sack lunch, snacks, and a live English-speaking guide; children from age 2 are welcome. Departures are at 9 AM or 10:40 AM.

7h–9h

Step-by-step itinerary

Wildlife tour and iceberg float

Shuttle to Wildlife Conservation Center
Guided tour of wildlife center
Enjoy sack lunch
Float on Spencer Glacier Lake
Float down Placer River

The Experience

The day starts with a shuttle to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, where a guided tour lasting 1.5 hours takes you through the facility on foot and by vehicle to see injured and orphaned wildlife in recovery. The center is Alaska's premier rehabilitation operation, and the interpretive guide explains the animals and their stories as you move through. A sack lunch is provided here, so you eat before heading to the water.

After the center, you board the Glacier Discovery Train for the roundtrip ride. The train itself is the route—it travels through terrain accessible only by rail, passing through the Chugach Mountains and along river valleys. The air-conditioned cars have restrooms on board, and snacks are available during the journey. The train takes you to Spencer Glacier, where you transfer to a boat for the second major part of the day: a 2-hour float on Spencer Glacier Lake and down 7 river miles of the Placer River Valley. This is where you see the icebergs—they calve from the glacier and drift on the lake, and the river stretch below offers views of the valley itself. The operator notes that no other single-day tour in Alaska covers this much ground or this many distinct ecosystems.

The tour operates year-round, though the iceberg visibility and river conditions vary by season. Specialized infant seats are available if you're traveling with very small children, and service animals are permitted. The whole experience—center, train, and float—is designed to work as one continuous day without gaps or dead time between stops.

What’s included

Roundtrip Glacier Discovery Train ticket.
guided tour of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center lasting 1.5 hours.
sack lunch.
snacks during the train ride.
2-hour iceberg float on Spencer Glacier Lake and the Placer River.
air-conditioned train car with onboard restroom.
live English-speaking guide throughout the day.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Chugach Adventures

Is this one for you?Choose the 9 AM departure if you want the full day to unfold without rushing; the 10:40 AM start compresses the same itinerary into a tighter window, so the earlier time gives you more breathing room at each stop. Both options cover the same three landscapes—the center, the train, and the glacier float—so pick based on when you prefer to start your morning.