Bears, Trains & Icebergs Tour Alaska: Spencer Glacier float
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.
Compare the 10 alternatives
Anchorage Wildlife & Glacier Tour: Portage GlacierEvery day · 09:00 and 11:00 · All ages★ 4.89 (3,374)6hENUS$ 220View ›
Anchorage: Wildlife Center & Turnagain Arm Winter TourEvery day · 09:00, 11:00 and 14:00 · All ages★ 4.87 (118)4h 30mENUS$ 149View ›
Anchorage: Wildlife Center & Portage Glaciers with Beluga WhalesNext departure: 2 Apr 2027★ 4.80 (174)4h 30mENUS$ 119View ›
Glacier View Wildlife Tour Anchorage: Bears & GlaciersMon, Fri and Sat · 09:00 · Season until 30 Nov · All ages★ 4.87 (451)7hENUS$ 187View ›
Anchorage wildlife and glaciers tour: Bears and mooseMon, Fri, Sat and Sun · 11:00 · From age 6★ 4.68 (755)4h 30mENUS$ 149View ›
Alaska Wildlife Day Tour: Brown Bears, Moose & Seward HighwayNext departure: 1 Apr 2027 · All ages★ 4.82 (197)4hENUS$ 122View ›
Turnagain Arm to Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center shuttleEvery day · First departure 08:00, last 16:00 · From age 5★ 4.35 (62)3h 30mUS$ 99View ›
Girdwood Wildlife Tour with Alaska Wildlife Center & Craft BeerEvery day except Tuesday · 10:00 · All ages★ 4.87 (85)4h–5hENUS$ 199View ›
Anchorage Wildlife & Portage Glacier Tour: Guaranteed SightingsNext departure: 18 Feb 2027★ 5.00 (7)3h–4hEN · ESUS$ 575View ›
Northern Lights Tour from Anchorage: Expert-Led SearchEvery day · 21:00 · From age 5★ 4.17 (35)2h 59mENUS$ 175View › Compare more experiences like this »
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.
Before you book
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.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years).
What animals will I see at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center?
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center houses injured and orphaned wildlife in recovery, including moose, bears, bison, and other species native to Alaska. The guided tour explains each animal's background and the rehabilitation work the center does, though the specific animals present on any given day depend on current residents and the season.
How long do I spend on the water during the iceberg float?
The Spencer Glacier Lake and Placer River float lasts 2 hours total, combining time on the glacier lake where you see icebergs and the 7-mile river journey down the Placer River Valley.
Is the train ride included in the tour price, or do I pay separately?
The Glacier Discovery Train roundtrip ticket is included in the tour. You do not pay separately for the train portion.
Can I bring my own food, or is lunch provided?
A sack lunch is provided as part of the tour. If you have dietary restrictions or specific requests, let the operator know ahead of time so they can accommodate you.
What time does the tour start, and how long does the whole day take?
Departures are at 9 AM or 10:40 AM, and the full tour runs between 7 and 9 hours depending on the departure time and conditions on the day.
Bears, Trains & Icebergs Tour Alaska: Spencer Glacier float
7h–9h · EN
from US$ 406 per person
4.81152 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider