See stunning glaciers in Alaska by going on an easy hike, taking a flightseeing excursion, riding a train, or signing up for a scenic boat trip.
Seeing a glacier doesn’t have to involve a multi-day expedition. There are a number of glaciers in Alaska that you can easily see by going on a short hike, hopping on a boat, riding a train, or taking a flightseeing tour.
It is Alaska, though, so the definition of “easy to get to” can vary.
While you’re out looking for glaciers, be sure to take all the appropriate outdoor safety precautions, including being aware of wildlife like bears and moose.
Here are some of Alaska’s more accessible glaciers.
Matanuska Glacier
Drive around two hours from Anchorage to reach one of Alaska’s most accessible glaciers. Matanuska Glacier is around 27 miles long, with lots of great viewing opportunities.
Head to the Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Area, which is located along the Glenn Highway, for great views. Walk about 20 minutes along the Edge Nature Trail to reach a viewing platform with prime glacier views. If you’d like to stay longer, there is also a campground nearby.
To really get up close and explore the glacier, consider signing up for a guided tour, complete with crampons and ice axes. Sign up in advance for tours, which typically start down a private road from the Glenn Highway around Mile 102.
Mendenhall Glacier
Just outside of Juneau, Mendenhall Glacier is one of Alaska’s most incredible and accessible glaciers.
The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center is located just 13 miles from Juneau. The Mendenhall Glacier is about 13 miles long and connects to the 1,500-square-mile Juneau Ice Field.
At the visitor center, enjoy a film about the glacier, look at some exhibits, and start your journey on the small trail network to access glacier views.
Walk the short Photo Point Trail to reach a platform where you can see the glacier’s face, along with Nugget Falls. A number of other routes are also available for people seeking a longer walk.
Several companies also offer helicopter flightseeing tours with aerial views of the Mendenhall Glacier and Juneau Ice Field, and some offer more immersive experiences that include glacier walking and other activities.
Exit Glacier
You can view Exit Glacier from Kenai Fjords National Park. Start at the Exit Glacier Nature Center, where short trails provide different vantage points of the glacier.
The Glacier View Loop Trail is an approximately 1.2-mile loop that’s accessible by wheelchair, though the route is only partially paved, with compressed gravel making up the other sections.
The Glacier Overlook Trail also provides great views of Exit Glacier, and you can combine the Glacier View to Glacier Overlook Loop for a total length of around 1.8 miles of walking.
The park offers Exit Glacier Ranger-Led Walks during the summer. On these walks, visitors can sign up to join a ranger and walk with the group out to the Glacier Overlook.
Another option is the challenging 7.8-mile round-trip Harding Icefield Trail. Keep in mind that this route is strenuous, and the park recommends planning on at least six to eight hours to complete this hike. It can also be challenging and even hazardous depending on snow conditions, with potential avalanche risk, so check with the rangers about current conditions before heading out.
A number of boat operators also offer tours with glacier views.
Portage Glacier
Portage Glacier is located near Whittier in the Chugach National Forest. To reach it, take the Seward Highway to the Portage Glacier Road, which leads to the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center.
The visitor center is located right on Portage Lake, which sits on the glacier’s terminal moraine. From here, you can take an hour-long boat tour to get a close look at the glacier.
Another option is to hike the Portage Pass Trail, which is about two miles each way with around 800 feet of elevation gain. The trail is accessed through the Whittier Tunnel (toll required).
Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop
To see Spencer Glacier, you have to hop aboard the Alaska Railroad. The Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop will bring you deep into the Chugach National Forest by Spencer Lake, where you can enjoy great views of Spencer Glacier.
Take a 1.3-mile trail to an overlook point for glacier views, or sign up for the Spencer Iceberg & Placer River Float where guides row up close for great iceberg views, combined with a float on the Placer River.
The area offers a few amenities, including a shelter with a roof and restrooms, and there are also campsites and a cabin nearby that can be reserved.
Be sure to check the train schedule so you don’t end up stranded.
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
If you really want to maximize your glacier viewing, head to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
The park and preserve, which covers 3.3 million acres, has a whopping 1,045 glaciers, including the 40-mile-long Grand Pacific Glacier.
The best glacier viewing is typically from the water, so it’s no surprise that 90% of park visitors arrive via cruise ship.
Others enter the park through Gustavus or Bartlett Cove. Consider taking a boat tour or signing up for a kayaking excursion for even better glacier views.
Alaska’s Inside Passage
To maximize your glacier count, hop on a ship sailing Alaska’s Inside Passage. Many cruise companies travel through the Inside Passage and Glacier Bay National Park, and it may be possible to also see glaciers located outside the park as the ships sail.
The Alaska Marine Highway System runs ferries through the Inside Passage in Southeast Alaska, as well as other regions in the state where you may also be able to see glaciers along the way.
Knik Glacier
The Knik Glacier is 25 miles long, and the mammoth body of ice has a five-mile-wide face.
One of the best ways to see the Knik Glacier is to sign up for a flightseeing trip. Some companies offer options where you can land on the glacier itself, and others offer activities such as glacier walking or even ice climbing.
Denali National Park and Preserve’s Glaciers
If you’d like an aerial view of the glaciers in Denali National Park and Preserve, sign up for a flightseeing tour.
Several companies operate flightseeing tours within the park, and some even land on the glaciers. Opt for a fixed-wing or helicopter flight, depending on the company you select.
Many of the flightseeing companies are located near the park in communities like Healy and Talkeetna. Flights are always weather-dependent.
