Anchorage: Matanuska Glacier Hike & Ice Walk from Downtown

What does walking on actual glacier ice feel like?

You get picked up from your hotel, driven two hours to Matanuska Glacier with mountain views along the way, then spend two hours hiking across the ice with guides, spikes, and helmets provided. Lunch at a glacier-view lodge is included in the price, and you're back in Anchorage by late afternoon. The only thing not covered is the actual meal itself. You buy that at the lodge.

Step-by-step itinerary

Matanuska Glacier guided hike and return

• Pickup from hotel or Visitor Center
• Drive north on Glenn Highway
• Stop halfway for lunch purchase
• Arrive at Matanuska Glacier
• Receive glacier gear and safety briefing
• Guided 2-hour glacier hike
• Lunch at Alaska lodge with glacier view
• Drive back to Anchorage with scenic stops

The experience

The van picks you up between 7:45 and 8:30 in the morning (either at your hotel or the downtown Visitor Center), and heads north out of Anchorage on the Glenn Highway. Your guide talks about the city's history for the first stretch, then the landscape takes over. After about thirty minutes the Talkeetna and Chugach mountains come into view, and on a clear day you'll see the Alaska Range sitting on the horizon. The Matanuska River runs alongside the road the whole way up, and that's when you know you're getting close.

At the glacier, the guides fit you with ice spikes and a helmet. They know exactly what the ice looks like that day and what you'll need to move safely across it. The hike itself is roughly two hours on the actual glacier, and you're walking over seracs (those jagged ice towers), moulins (holes where water disappears into the ice), and crevasses you can see straight down into. The guides are experts in glacial features and the natural history of the place, so they're pointing things out the whole time, not just leading you across. Bring a camera: the light on the ice and the scale of the thing make it hard to stop shooting.

After you come off the ice, there's lunch at an Alaska lodge right next door with a view of the glacier you just walked on. The drive back to Anchorage gives you a chance to pull over at scenic points if you want more photos, though by then most people are pretty tired. The whole day is eight hours from pickup to drop-off, with two hours of that actually on the ice and the rest split between driving and the lodge.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in a comfortable Mercedes Sprinter van, glacier access and expert guiding, ice spikes and helmets, hiking poles if you want them, live commentary about Anchorage's history and the Matanuska Valley on the drive, filtered glacier water, and lunch at an Alaska lodge with glacier views. Gratuities are not included, and you'll buy your actual meal at the lodge.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except WednesdayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (15 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 14 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 12 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 50 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomeNot for back problems

Operated by 907 Tours

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to walk on actual glacier ice without arranging your own transport or equipment: the pickup, the spikes, the helmets and the guides are all handled. Plan for a full day out and a moderate hike on uneven terrain. That's what makes two hours on the ice possible.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 14 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How fit do I need to be for the Matanuska Glacier hike?

You should be able to walk 3+ miles over uneven terrain. The guides set the pace on the ice, but it's steady movement for about two hours.

What's included in the $249 price?

Glacier access, guiding, ice spikes, helmets, hiking poles if you want them, hotel pickup and drop-off, and filtered glacier water. Lunch at the lodge is not included. You pay for that separately.

How long is the drive from Anchorage?

Two hours each way on the Glenn Highway. There's a stop about halfway where you can buy lunch and snacks if you want to eat before the glacier.

What if the weather is bad?

The tour operates in all weather. Dress appropriately for cold, wind, and possible rain. Alaska weather changes fast, so layers are a good idea.

Is there a minimum age?

Yes, minimum age is 8 years old. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or anyone who can't handle three miles of walking on uneven ice.

What time do pickups happen?

Between 7:45 and 8:30 AM, depending on whether you're picked up at your hotel or the downtown Visitor Center. The van departs at 8:30 AM.

Are the ice spikes and helmets really necessary?

Yes. The guides outfit everyone with them in summer. They're essential for safety on the glacier's uneven, slippery surface.

Can I bring my own camera?

Absolutely. The guides will tell you it's an unparalleled place for photos. Bring whatever you want to capture the ice and the mountains.