Matanuska Glacier Hike: Alaska Honey & Wine Tasting Tour

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/16

Duration8h 30m

GroupUp to 14

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Walk blue ice at Matanuska Glacier then taste local honey and wine

You’ll step onto Matanuska Glacier with a local guide who knows every crack and echo underfoot. Feel ancient ice beneath your boots, learn its secrets, then warm up with Alaskan honey and wine tasting in Palmer. This tour includes safety gear, snacks, and stories you’ll remember long after you’re home.

8h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Matanuska Glacier and Palmer

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

The Experience

The first thing I noticed was the sound—sort of a low, echoey groan under my feet as we stepped onto the Matanuska Glacier. Our guide, Sarah (she grew up in Palmer), handed me crampons and showed me how to strap them over my boots. I’d never worn them before—felt a bit clumsy at first, but honestly, you get used to it fast. The wind was sharp enough to make my eyes water, but the air smelled so clean it almost stung. We moved slow at first, everyone a little quiet, just listening to the crunch and snap of our steps on the ice.

Sarah stopped us by this wall of blue ice—like nothing I’ve ever seen—and explained how old some layers were (thousands of years, apparently). She pointed out these deep crevasses that looked bottomless; I caught myself gripping my walking pole tighter than I meant to. There was this moment where she chipped off a chunk of glacier and let us hold it—cold enough to burn your skin if you held on too long. Someone asked about climate change and she didn’t sugarcoat it; said every year they have to adjust their routes. That stuck with me more than I expected.

Afterwards, back near Palmer, we all kind of thawed out together over little cups of local honey—there was one with fireweed that tasted almost floral—and sips of Alaskan wine (the berry one was surprisingly good). There’s something about sharing food after being out in that kind of cold that makes everything taste sharper. We laughed about slipping around earlier; Sarah told us a story about her uncle falling in once (he was fine), and someone tried pronouncing “Matanuska” right—no one really nailed it. On the drive back along Glenn Highway, I kept thinking about those blue shadows in the ice. Still do sometimes.

What’s included

Your day includes experienced glacier guide services, all necessary safety gear like crampons and snow pants if you need them, bottled water for the trek, snacks during your adventure, plus tastings of locally made Alaskan honey and wine near Palmer after exploring Matanuska Glacier together.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by White Raven Tours