Alaska glaciers

Matanuska Glacier day trip from Anchorage: guided ice walks, blue ice caves, self-guided access options, and packing tips for 2026.

From Matanuska Glacier ice walks to Exit Glacier near Seward, glacier hiking near Anchorage 2026 is more accessible than you think. Here's how to plan it.

Portage Glacier is 50 miles south of Anchorage — take a boat cruise on the iceberg-filled lake, walk to Byron Glacier, and visit Begich Boggs Center.

Complete guide to Portage Glacier: Begich Boggs Visitor Center, MV Ptarmigan glacier cruise, Byron Glacier snow cave trail, and combining with Whittier.

Knik Glacier sits at the end of Knik River Road from Palmer — massive blue ice accessible by ATV or foot, no admission fee, no guided tour required.

Drive 60 miles from Anchorage through the famous one-lane tunnel to reach Whittier — glaciers, Prince William Sound cruises, and a town unlike any other.

Valdez is 5.5 hours from Anchorage: Columbia Glacier boat tours, world-class heli-skiing, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline terminus, and Keystone Canyon waterfalls.