Full-Day Matanuska Glacier Hike And Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

8 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Experience the natural wonder of Alaska's Matanuska Glacier with our full-day guided tour. Beginning with a convenient pickup from downtown Anchorage, you'll embark on a scenic two-hour journey, driving through landscapes of towering mountains. Along the way, we'll stop at local eateries, offering you the chance to purchase lunch.

Upon reaching the glacier, a seasoned guide will equip you with crampons, making glacier navigation safe and manageable. Then, an all-terrain vehicle will transport you to the glacier's base. Here, you'll set off on foot to explore the glacier's icy expanse, discovering fascinating ice formations and gaining insight into the glacier's natural history from your knowledgeable guide.

After this unforgettable experience, we'll journey back to Anchorage, ensuring a comfortable drop-off in downtown. This tour is a perfect blend of adventure, education, and scenic beauty, offering an in-depth encounter with one of Alaska's most impressive glaciers.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Transportation From Downtown Anchorage

Knowledgeable Glacier Guides

Bottled water

Snacks

Glacier Walking Equipment

Gratuities

Lunch

What To Expect

Matanuska Glacier

Matanuska Glacier is a valley glacier in the US state of Alaska. At 27 miles long by 4 miles wide, it is the largest glacier accessible by car in the United States. The drive to is approximately 2 hours each direction with 4 hours total along the scenic Glenn Hwy.

3 hours • Admission Included

Glenn Highway

The Glenn Highway National Scenic Byway follows a path carved by ancient glaciers. Following the braided Matanuska River for over half its length.

4 hours • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Full-Day Matanuska Glacier Hike And Tour

Reviews

4.78

212 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

192

We really like the tour...
WeiSiang K,
Oct 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We really like the tour and guide is really knowledgeable and friendly!! Highly recommended!!! Will definitely join the tour again next time!
Great Tour
Gary D,
Sep 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The experience is wonderful and both our van driver a glacier guide were very knowledgeable. Be aware that there are some very uneven surfaces so this is not for someone who is not steady on their feet
Description is...
Rahulrana G,
Aug 31, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00
Description is inappropriate. Please update description with out palmer. Rest everything is good same package with out palmer is offered at very less price
Glacier hike was...
Scott G,
Jul 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00
Glacier hike was amazing!! Loved Sophie's guided hike. Good fun, very knowledgeable and helpful. We were supposed to have 1 hour in Palmer. We only stopped very briefly for a toilet break. Bus driver was ok but very concerned that everyone pays their tips. 2 stops to take a quick photo along the way. We were also told that snacks would be provided which wasn't the case. Overall still a great experience!
Proceed with caution.
Sheryl T,
Jul 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
2.00
The glacier tour guide was fabulous. She was very informative, kind and warm. Safety was her number one objective and that we had a good time. The tour operator was nonresponsive and and rushed us with shorter stops. Compared to our other excursions that were almost the same price. The transportation was below expectations. This would not be recommended. I would highly recommend the glacial cruises instead. The reason for the review was for the tour operator not for the guides on the glacier. Have fun whatever you choose.!
Fantastic Family Experience
Kellye S,
Jul 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Seeing a glacier up close was truly an experience! Our guide Jacob was very engaging and patient, showing us how to use the spikes and making sure we were comfortable during the tour. He was also very knowledgeable about the glacier and surrounding area. Highly recommend this tour and Jacob
Matanuska Glacier with parents
easte w,
Jul 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Shea was wonderful and helpful while navigating the glacier with my elderly parents. Very accommodating and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!
Great tour guide and great tour
Josephine Z,
Jul 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Ab and the company were amazing. We were late for over 10m, they called to check on us and directed where we should go. Ab is knowledgeable warm and thoughtful. He gave us nonstop information on the scenery, history, culture and politics of Alaska. He answered every question yet leaving me intrigued with additional thinking. He is a father of 5 and he treated my child like a mentor. He is a wonderful person just to hang out. Matanuska itself is fascinating. We got another guide provided by the glacier company. It’s an eye opening experience to explore the glacier in depth. At the end of the walk on the glacier, I realized that the rock I was standing on actually has glacier underneath that’s 6000 feet deep. Wow!
A great experience with great guides
Ken H,
Jul 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We had a great tour bus driver, very informative and engaging. Our glacier guide was also excellent. A great experience.
Ice Climbing the Matanuska Glacier with Connor Benson
jorgebj27,
Jul 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our family of 4 from Texas had an incredible trip. Connor Benson was the best guide I have ever met. He was patient, informative, entertaining, helpful and KNOWS his stuff and everything you will want to know and then some about Glaciers. He helped teach my boys and I on how to use the clamp on shoes and leverage the ice picks to save our energy. Connor maintained a strong Safety mindset and we never felt scared. If you get to go, I strongly encourage you to request him by Name. I promise you won't regret. Mark was also a hit with his helicopter flying and very cordial. All the people on the team that we encountered at Mica were helpful. They even gave us a LARGE free ice cream cone afterwards which hit the spot.