Kenai Fjords National Park and Prince William Sound are also fantastic destinations for glacier kayaking, where water taxis will drop you off in protected bays to paddle among the otherworldly formations of icebergs that have calved off of tidewater glaciers. Cascade is in rapid retreat. more, Tebenkof Glacier is named for Mikhail Demitrievich Tebenkof. Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. Visit adramatic, fast-moving glacier. It was a dream trip! You can also choose to charge on through the Tongass National Forest to get even closer to the glacier. MICA Guides Glacier Trekking & Ice Climbing - ALASKA.ORG Book the Matanuska Glacier Overnight trip, where youll glamp in style at a remote outpost on the Matanuska Glacier away from the crowds. Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. Multiday Matanuska Glacier Tours, Treks and Ice Climbing. He is an avid hiker and could tell us all about the geology, as well as the flowers and animals in . One of two tidewater glaciers at the head of Tracy Arm, South Sawyer Glacier extends deep underwater and makes for avery blue iceberg. It now has afour-mile wide towering face that you can walk right up to and touch. Our picks for the best tours and experiences during your Alaska Cruise. Icy Bay lives up to its name with an active tidewater glacier often clogging the fjord with icebergs. Look down College Fjord to Harvard and Yale Glaciers, 20miles away. Our company created guided glacier trips in Seward, and we've spent a decade honing our focus on safety and creating amazing client experiences. College Fjord gashes into the heart of the Chugach Mountains. Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau offers a stunning view of the Mendenhall Valley and has a several short trails from the visitor center that lead to views of the glacier and the impressive Nugget Falls. Its an exciting spectacle. 4,635 people follow this. The only glacier in Southeast Alaska accessible by road, Mendenhalls grand edifice plunges from the immense Juneau Icefield, dropping. The Knik Glacier snakes out of the Chugach Mountains, tumbling into an iceberg-studded lake that feeds the Knik River. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights. Glacier guide: Here's how you can get up close to some ice (USGS Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia). With massive icebergs and blue waters, seeing the glacier up close is athrilling experience. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, The 9 Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse! Another mile past the pass, and you can approach the edges or toe of the glacier itself, for amore intimate experience of its texture, colors and gnarled shape. Nova Alaska Guides (Glacier View) - All You Need to Know - Tripadvisor You can hike right up to Sewards Exit Glacier and feel the dense blue ice while listening to it crackle. Photo Credit: Talkeetna Air Taxi. Best of Juneau tour with the Mendenhall Glacier in front of Mendenhall Lake. The absence of any icebergs indicates that by 1909, the glacier was no longer tidewater. Check for mountain goats at the base of the glacier. Ice Fall Trek Our Most Popular Tour Your chance to walk on a glacier! No experience needed. Matanuska Glacier (Alaska) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go Higgins, is an August 6, 1909 view of the then retreating northern part of the terminus. Youll never forget seeing this massive expanse of blue and white landscape. Sometimes, abay clear of ice can fill up in less than anhour. During your hike, you'll be able to see views of Mt. Offering glacier tours, helicopter adventures including glacier landings, ziplining and luxury camping, MICA Guides is the center for your Alaska Adventure. Only a short hike on a flat trail south of Portage Lake near the head of Turnagain Arm, Byron dominates its own gorge-like valley, offering a rugged, remote atmosphere that feels as though youve traveled deep into the backcountry. Call or email us anytime to get your questions answered or to customize your Alaskan vacation. more, The Kahiltna Glacier is the longest in the Alaska Rangea 45-mile long river of ice! This 2550foot high ridge of rock debris looks like an excavation pit that extends for miles down the center of the glacier. Enjoy a hands-on adventure while having a truly Alaskan experience. Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. See any dark specs on the surface of the glacier? Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? June 9, 2023, at 2:45 p.m. One of the most popular glacier kayaking destinations in the area is Bear Glacier, the largest glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park. Most glacier excursions are best done in the summer and early fall months, typically May through September, but some glaciers offer year-round recreation opportunities. On many days, it spawns enough ice into the Arm to prevent boats from getting close. In the photo you can see the retreating. One hundred and fifty years ago the valley now occupied by the ship facility and correctional center was filled with the ice of Godwin Glacier. 13-mile glacier in the Kenai Mountains. And Juneau has one of the most unique and popular glacier experiences just outside of town Mendenhall Glacier. Knik Glacier, located on the northern side of the Chugach Mountains in Palmer, offers incredible helicopter tours, some of which also feature dog sledding! Back in the 1700s, Grand Pacific Glacier filled the entire bay, and reached all they way to the Icy Strait. They feed the nearby stream systems that harbor many species of salmon and trout. Photo Credit: Major Marine Tours. The ice blocks ricochet and shatter down the rock face before exploding into the water below. This glacier tour is located in the same area of Alaska as our 'Lionshead' rafting tour, great for same day combos. Baltimore Glacier has continued to retreat and thin. Carroll Glacier, found in Glacier Bay, is aterrestrial glacier. Tours are offered daily year-round, and lodging catering to those looking to see Matanuska Glacier are close by. The tidewater glacier has been growing roughly 30feet per year for the last few decades, and has joined and separated from Grand Pacific Glacier over the past twenty-five years. Then you'll meet your guide and get geared up and be transported to the glacier. Just a2.5hour drive from Anchorage, aglacier you can walk right upto, Some 15,000years ago, this glacier reached another 50miles west to the Palmer area. The Muldrow Glacier is the parks longest and it is agreat example of the power these behemoth ice masses have on the landscape. You can stop along the shore, pitch atent and enjoy the solitude and scenic views for aday ortwo. A two-plus-hour drive down the scenic Glenn Highway gets you there, but youll see Matanuska Glacier coming from miles away: its largess and blue-white light shine bright while filling up the Matanuska-Susitna Valley landscape. Those are the climbers and tents of Denali (Mt. Coxe Glacier forms adramatic and noisy backdrop to Black Sand Beach. more, Afamily-friendly recreation destination featuring camping, hiking, glacier exploration, nature walks, paddling and sightseeing. For those interested in glacier trekking, gear rentals and guided tours are available from McCarthy, ranging from easy day trips for newbie glacier trekkers to multi-day backcountry trips. We shall say no more. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. With hundreds of glaciers to explore, and more active glaciers and icefields here than anywhere in the world, glacier trekking, hiking, camping, rafting, sightseeing, and so much more are available just outside your door in Alaska. Glacier Ski Plane Adventure | Exit Glacier Guides One of the most spectacular and otherworldly modes to view glaciers is from the air. The glacier flows 75 miles and is the longest tidewater glacier in North America. Root Glacier, located in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, is accessible by a short hike from Kennecott Mines National Historical Landmark during the summer months. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. Combo deals make it easy to afford multiple activities, including the amazing 60 miles per hour G2 Zipline. Re-Photography Reveals Extent of Retreat, The last two aerial photographs in this group of five document changes that occurred during the 69years between June 1937 and July 28, 2006. Glacier Hiking & Climbing. more, Stephens Glacier is one of many Alaskan glaciers that is rapidly shrinking. Flightseeing transforms glacier viewing into something like the grandest amusement park ride youve ever imagined. Flight tours are offered year-round and are available to people ages two and up. Kennicott Glacier can be accessed by an easy walk up to it in designated safe areas or via guided tours that take you further out on the glacier and/or even to another nearby glacier: Root Glacier. You see rock ridges deposited everywhere by the glacier before it retreated 4miles to its current location. Explore the glacier, visit the museum, and gofor. Both activities provide opportunities for fabulous photos, learning and adventure as you traverse ice and rock terrain. During the winter of 1936, this mile-wide, 300-foot-high river of ice advanced an average of 115feet aday, or over 4miles, to within ahalf-mile of the highway. offers exquisite glacier viewings. Around ahundred years ago, Blackstone Glacier extended all the way out to here. While guided tours are available throughout the year, summer is a great time to . In this series of photos from June of 2002, Bruce Molnia of the USGS documented the advancing terminus of Hubbard Glacier and the channel cut into the top of its push moraine that blocked the mouth of Russell Fiord. Matanuska Glacier Tour - Nova Alaska Guides This dramatic tongue of ice descends from the massive Harding Ice Field to a visitor center with curated trail system, located inside the only portion of Kenai Fjords National Park reachable by road. Awinter wagon road from Talkeetna While not the most spectacular glacier, it nonetheless deserves note because one of the creators of The Alaska App went to Amherst College. During winteronce Portage Lake freezes solidpeople also walk, ski, ice skate and snow bike about three miles to the vicinity of the glaciers active face. From the left the three are Prospect, Spoon and Porcupine glaciers. 4,484 people like this. You can walk up to it, sit on it and even take longer guided treks on it. The September9,, The two included photographs were taken on the northeast side of Wachusett Inlet, Saint Elias Mountains, Alaska. We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip. The magnificent coastline of Kenai Fjords is steep valleys that were carved by glaciers in retreat. While Exit Glacier isnt the largest of Alaska glaciers, it is still impressive once you come face to face with it. You dont have to be a super outdoor athlete but youll feel like one when youre done! Just under 90miles from Juneau, Muir Glacier was apopular stop for many tourists in the late 19th century, and still is today. Many air charters take off from Merrill Field and Lake Hood airstrips right inside Anchorage. You could opt for a hike on the ice, learn to. Read their respective captions for more information. Three north-looking photographs, all taken from about the same offshore location, about 0.5kilometers (0.3miles) north of Toboggan Glacier,, Three north-looking photographs, all taken from about the same offshore location, about 0.5kilometers (0.3miles) north of Toboggan Glacier, document significant changes that have occurred during the 103years between August 20, 1905 and August 22, 2008. Great photographic potential during summer, with picnicking, wild blueberries and restrooms. Glaciers by Access Map Ruth Glacier Flyover (:30) The Ice Age hasn't ended in Alaska! The easy lower trail leads to overlooks of crevasses. Though most people visit Glacier Bay on cruise ships, there are many other tour options once you get to Gustavus. This valley glacier is the largest glacier in the United States that's accessible by car. Ice Hiking | Exit Glacier Guides You will see several private cabins. Tebenkof Glacier is named for Mikhail Demitrievich Tebenkof. After parking, you can stroll along a paved path which takes you right up to the face of the glacier. NOTE: Abridge at Mile 36 of the Copper River Highway is currently (2020) impassable, with repairs not expected for several years. Each mode of transportation boasts their own unique experiences, offering not only sweeping views of glaciers, but different ways of exploring these beautiful masses of ice. Spencer Glacier rises 3,500feet in astunning, natural ramp from alake of royal-blue icebergs in the Chugach National Forest just 60miles south of Anchorage. Trek on the glacier, or learn to ice climb! The Exit Glacier area in Seward is unique as it is the only area of Kenai Fjords National Park that is accessible by road. By the second half of the 20th century, Northwestern Glaciers recession revealed anumber of islands in the Fjord that had previously been covered in ice. Call or email us your tour questions or to customize your Alaskan vacation. Only from the air do you fully perceive how glaciers are flowing downhill in slo-mo, in some ways resembling gigantic lava floes. Flight tours also boast heli-hiking, heli-camping, heli-packrafting, glacier paddle boarding, heli-fat tire biking, heli-rock climbing, heli-mountain running, heli-winter ice climbing and even heli-proposal and wedding venues! Strap on your crampons and get ready to discover incredible features of the glacier, including beautiful crevasses and startingly blue ice. Hubbard Glacier is a popular destination for those traveling by cruise line, with most cruise itineraries stopping near the glacier. Free personal GPSdriven travel guide to Alaska. The easternmost former tributary lost contact with Stephens Glacier during the later part of the twentieth century. This means, youll spend time in front of the glaciers to watch large chunks of ice break off and crash into the sea which is an awesome sight to behold! If you want to take it up a notch, choose this four-hour trek that lets you go higher and farther on the glacier: Youll get stunning views of the top of the ice fall, and peer into bottomless crevasses. Signage identifies the glaciers terminal locations during its retreat over the decades, making the access trail a real-time index into the dynamics of climate warming. The 2000 photograph documents the continuing advance of Harvard Glacier, which has completely obscured the view of Radcliff Glacier. Half a million people visit Glacier Bay by cruise each year, but kayaking through this area is also a fantastic option. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. Alaska hosts an entire industry that specializes in flying visitors into glacier country, ranging from hour-long overflights to extensive trips that might involve landing or drop-offs on active ice. The first photograph by D.F. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. The biggest and most accessible glacier by road is Matanuska Glacier. Ask for details when you make your reservation, or watch this video to get an idea of what the different experiences offer. Cruises into Kenai Fjords National Park, departing from Seward, and Prince William Sound, departing from Whittier and Valdez, are popular areas for glacier viewing in Southcentral Alaska. This stranded mountain glacier sprawls from its hanging valley below Crow Passa white, striated mass with blue-etched crevasses. Set at the far end of Mendenhall Lake, Mendenhall Glacier hosts a handful of viewing spots in the summer that are an easy hike for visitors. Worthington Glacier in Valdez is a breathtaking option located right off the Richardson Highway. A guide to Alaska's Glaciers. Glacier views on a Denali flightseeing trip. All gear and guiding will be provided, so you can take the anxiety and stress out of your planning. Look for the historical sign describing the rapid advance of Black Rapids Glacier. This is your virtual classroom in glaciation. Matanuska Glacier is a mainstay for visitors and locals alike due to its literal drive-up accessibility and proximity to Alaskas urban travel hub, Anchorage. When winter arrives and the lake is safely and solidly frozen, bold walkers, bikers, snowshoers or cross-country skiers also often cruise to the glacier for even more incredible views. Ready to be truly impressed with yourself? And it is actually advancing! This somewhat strenuous day-trip over agravel ATV route takes you deep into the backcountry in just afew hours, with great photography and achance to see the ravages of climate His brother Willard (who gives his name to the nearby island) searched for him but found only the mail packet atop the glacier which now bears hisname. Later, avalley glacier in Glacier Bay National Park was named after him. About Exit Glacier Guides | Exit Glacier Guides The terminus has alarge From Whittier: Glacier Quest Cruise | GetYourGuide Visitors to Portage can experience the areas glaciers by trail and by boat, and can learn about the local ecosystem and the power of glaciers at the interactive Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. Its not as active as either Cascade or Barry, but it packs enough punch to awaken even the deepest sleeper when it cracks and thunders just aquarter mile away from camp. To the east is another Ice Age creature known as arock glacier. In the summer, drive through the famous Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel into Whittier for a short-and-sweet hike of Portage Pass. Alpine glaciers keep their ice in the alpine region of amountain and dont descend to avalley floor or the tidewaters edge. The U.S. Forest Service maintains a campground (reservations required.) Make it a COMBO: Add a whitewater rafting trip and save 10% per person on both of your tours! Going with experienced guides, you'll leave from Kennicott, hike two miles, and spend the next several hours on the Root Glacier, safely exploring . There are many locations that offer daily cruises that take you right up to glaciers for incredible views, photo opportunities, and well, just plain awe and wonder! 7-10 days is the most common. Supporting Women-Owned Tourism Businesses in Alaska, OFFICIAL STATE OF ALASKA VACATION AND TRAVEL INFORMATION, Copyright 2023 Alaska Travel Industry Association. It snakes its way 32miles through the Chugach Mountains before dumping into the Columbia Bay, about 40miles by boat from Valdez. Nonetheless, the glacier is in rapid retreat; you can spot bedrock becoming exposed at the base of the glacier. The 20 Best Alaska Tours Explore Alaska's incredible landscape and learn more about the largest state in the U.S. from experienced guides on a tour. Home Travel Tips The Many Exciting Ways to Experience the Glaciers of Alaska. Popular destinations with a good chance of witnessing calving include Beliot and Blackstone glaciers at the head of Blackstone Bay and the very active Surprise Glacier in Harriman Fiord. Denali National Park and Preserve boasts over 400 glaciers and is one of the best locations for a fly-in glacier experience! As they spill from accumulation zones through gorges and valleys, you follow the curves where crevasses rip open and track the serpentine lines of rocky lateral moraines that stripe their spines. Childs Glacier is not currently accessible by road. 3 Map Website. You can see this glacier for yourself on a flightseeing day trip of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park from McCarthy. Its quite the drive to get there a full eight-hour day if you are coming from Anchorage. Contact Cordova Ranger District for current venders providing transportation options to the farside. One of the most visited natural attractions along the Richardson Highway, this four-mile-long glacier is easy to approach onfoot. Worthington Glacier Near Valdez. Its worth the effort! Take the West Glenn Highway through Palmer, Sutton and Chickaloon. Active glaciers still calve and crash into the sea as visitors watch from tour boats here. Located in Hatcher Pass, the Mint Glacier area is apopular day-hike, summer backpacking and ski mountaineering destination. Part of the tidewater glacier is located in Reid Inlet within Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, while the other side can be found in the Grand Pacific Pass in British Columbia, Canada. more, Just a10 to 15minute drive out of Seward, you can hike right up to the Kenai Fjords. Gobs of hanging glaciers can be seen from just about every highway that traverses Alaskas high mountains. Field shows the calving terminus of Lamplugh Glacier extending to within 0.5miles of the photopoint. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. Use our calculator to find out, Stay casual, dress in layers, and get proper footwear, View All Southcentral & Interior Towns on a Map, Cruises depart Juneau or Sitka. It begins at Mt. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, Under the Midnight Sun, with the latest updates about new multi-day tours and day trips from Alaska Tours. For sheer rugged wilderness character in an ecosystem thats fast exiting the ice age, theres nothing else like it. Though the glacier finally slipped from easy view in the 1990s and became largely a tour boat destination in summer, Portage continues to generate icebergs that ground within sight of lakeshore parking. Carroll Glacier, found in Glacier Bay, is aterrestrial glacier. And theres plenty to learn about these glaciers from Kenai Fjords National Park signage, local rangers and guides and educational pamphlets. Photo Credit: Travel Alaska, Ben Prescott, Alaskan women are tough, resourceful, adventurous, and independent, and many of these local ladies have dedicated their lives to sharing the magic of Alaska with visitors by owning some of the state, While spring break in Alaska may not include lounging on a beach to soak up the sun, how about lounging in a hot springs after a day of snowy adventures while soaking up the northern lights? Tour operators from Seward offer water taxis that will take you out to Bear Glacier Lagoon where you will kayak through the protected waters among icebergs against the backdrop of the impressive glacier. In 1937, Yale Glaciers terminus was located at about the same position that it occupied when it was visitedby Harvard Glacier has advanced more than 1.25kilometers (0.78miles) since 1909. The easy hike out to the edge of Root Glacier is a great way to take in views of the glacier even if youre not joining a guided glacier hiking trip. While the train doesnt run in winter, you can view Spencer Glacier on snowmachine tours from tour operators based out of Girdwoodor fat tire bike trips. After seasonal snow recedes during spring and summer, scores of glaciers become readily visible on slopes overlooking highways that traverse Alaskas coastal mountains and the Alaska Range. Stephens Glacier is one of many Alaskan glaciers that is rapidly shrinking. Nature lovers flock here for the fantastic views and epic treks. This glacier calves alot. Although it receded throughout much of the twentieth century, Carroll Glacier experienced asurge in the1980s. Juneau, Alaskas capital, has captivating charm and mystique since its surrounded by water and is not accessible by Alaskas road system. Most travelers coming to the 49th state want to see glaciers, but MICA goes one better you can actually hike or climb on the Matanuska glacier with well-trained guides who are committed not only to your safety, but to helping you conquer the ice. You dont have to dress super warm, as youre likely to work up a sweat.
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