Hike Matanuska Glacier with Honey & Wine Tasting

The glacier's blue ice formations stay hidden until you're standing on them.

This 8.5-hour glacier tour from Palmer takes you onto Matanuska Glacier with a professional guide, crampons, snow pants if needed, and bottled water provided. You'll traverse ice walls, crevasses and blue ice formations while learning about glaciology and the glacier's formation. After the hike, you taste several locally made Alaskan honey and wine varieties. Small group sizes keep the experience personalized, and the operator prioritizes safety with thorough briefings and top-of-the-line equipment.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Matanuska Glacier and surroundings

• Meet professional glacier guide
• Explore Matanuska Glacier
• Learn about glacier geology
• Traverse ice walls and crevasses
• Drive along Glenn Highway Scenic Byway
• Stop in Palmer for coffee and snacks
• Sample local Alaskan honey and wines

The experience

You start in Palmer, where a quick stop at a local grocery lets you grab coffee and lunch supplies before heading out. The drive traces the Glenn Highway National Scenic Byway, which runs parallel to the paths the Matanuska Glacier carved into the landscape. You'll see the geological formations that shaped the valley before you ever step onto the ice. Once on the glacier, a professional guide leads you across one of Alaska's most accessible valley glaciers, pointing out how it formed and what the ice tells you about the region's history.

Walking the glacier means encountering towering ice walls, deep crevasses, and the mesmerizing blue ice formations that only appear when you're actually on them. You'll wear crampons, over-shoe spikes that grip the ice, and the operator provides snow pants if you need them. The guide handles the route and the safety briefing is thorough. This tour suits all ages, though dressing warm is essential, especially in winter. Bottled water and snacks are included throughout the day.

After you come back down, the tasting begins. You'll sample several different locally made Alaskan honey and wine varieties, a contrast to the raw landscape you've just crossed. The whole day runs about 8.5 hours from start to finish.

What’s included

• Professional glacier guide in English.
• crampons and snow pants if needed.
• bottled water and snacks.
• safety briefing and top-of-the-line equipment.
• tasting of several locally made Alaskan honey and wine varieties after the hike.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesUp to age 90

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by White Raven Tours

Is this one for you?Small groups keep the experience personalized rather than crowded, which suits travelers who want to ask questions and move at a comfortable pace. The guide's focus on glaciology and geology works well if you're curious about how the landscape formed, not just looking for a photo stop.

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Top questions

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.

What's the physical fitness level needed for this glacier hike?

The operator asks for at least a moderate level of physical fitness. You'll be walking on ice with crampons and traversing uneven terrain, but the guide sets the pace and the route is designed for mixed-ability groups.

What do I need to bring, and what's provided?

Bring warm clothing, lunch and a valid ID. The operator provides crampons, snow pants if needed, bottled water, snacks, and all safety gear. Wear layers and waterproof boots. The glacier is cold and wet.

How long does the actual glacier hiking take?

The full tour is 8.5 hours, which includes the drive from Palmer, the safety briefing, the hike itself, and the honey and wine tasting afterward. Most of that time is travel and the glacier experience combined.

Can I do this tour in winter?

Yes, the glacier is accessible year-round. Winter visits require extra warm clothing (the operator emphasizes dressing warmly, especially in the colder months), but the experience is available any season.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is not included, but you'll stop in Palmer before the hike where you can buy coffee and food to bring with you. Snacks and bottled water are provided during the tour.

What makes the Matanuska Glacier different from other glaciers in Alaska?

Matanuska Glacier is one of the most accessible valley glaciers in the state. You can actually walk on it and see the blue ice formations and crevasses up close. The Glenn Highway runs parallel to it, making it easier to reach than many other Alaskan glaciers, and the geological formations around it show how the glacier shaped the landscape.