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A private 30-minute helicopter flight from Girdwood that climbs into the 20-Mile River Valley for exclusive aerial views of glaciers, Glacier Creek, and mountain wildlife. Perfect as a quick but unforgettable way to see Alaska’s glacier country.
A private 30-minute helicopter flight from Girdwood that climbs into the 20-Mile River Valley for exclusive aerial views of glaciers, Glacier Creek, and mountain wildlife. Perfect as a quick but unforgettable way to see Alaska’s glacier country.
Book with Alpine Air Alaska
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Alpine Air Alaska · Anchorage, Alaska
Lift off from Girdwood and into the wild: the Private 30 Minute Flightseeing Tour delivers an intense, high-altitude primer on Alaska’s glacier country. Based at the hangar in Girdwood, a short drive from Anchorage, this private helicopter ride climbs over jagged ridgelines into the 20-Mile River Valley, one of North America’s most glacier-filled regions. From the comfort of a heated Robinson R44 you’ll track Glacier Creek as it threads steep cliffs and frozen cirques, and you’ll get exclusive aerial views of the Girdwood Valley that are impossible from the ground.
The route emphasizes close, photographic passages over alpine ice and rock. Pilots vector you along glacier tongues and cirque basins so that photographers can frame crevasses, seracs, and the sculpted flow-lines of ancient ice. Wildlife is a live element of the trip: look down for moose feeding on valley bottoms, Dall sheep clinging to summer ledges, mountain goats on high ridges, and the occasional bear on lower slopes. The flight’s private format means you control the windows of opportunity—bring a camera and a memory card large enough to handle the views.
Practical details matter: check in at the hangar in Girdwood 15 minutes before your tour. The operator runs Robinson R44 helicopters seating three passengers; larger groups travel in multiple aircraft. For safety and performance there is a comfort surcharge policy for guests over certain weights—confirm details when booking. Round-trip shuttle service is available from Anchorage and Girdwood hotels, making logistics simple for visitors based in town.
Booking is flexible but these private flights require a two-passenger minimum; solo travelers should call ahead to be added to an existing reservation. Infants under 24 months may fly on a parent’s lap, while children two years and older must have their own purchased seat. Guests weighing 250 pounds or more are subject to a comfort surcharge; those 300 pounds or more should call to discuss larger aircraft options. For reservations call (907) 783-2360. Book early.
If you have more time in season, consider the Ultimate Summer Tour—available May 15 through August 31—which pairs this flightseeing ride with a dog sledding excursion on a glacier for a combined experience and a 10% savings. Pilots keep the cabin heated year-round, but dress in layers and wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes; sunglasses and a charged camera are essential.
This thirty-minute flight is short on clock time but vast on perspective. It’s ideal for visitors who want to understand the scale of Alaska’s ice-scoured landscape quickly, for photographers hunting overhead compositions, and for families seeking a memorable gateway to the Chugach framing Girdwood. The helicopter lets you see terrain few travelers ever witness, turning a morning into a compact, unforgettable lesson in glacier geography and mountain wildlife.
easy.
30 minutes.
Minimal fitness required—able to board a small helicopter and sit unassisted for the duration.
The private flight is 30 minutes of helicopter time; check-in is requested 15 minutes before departure.
You may see moose, bear, Dall sheep and mountain goats along valley walls and ridgelines.
Infants younger than 24 months can fly on a parent’s lap; children aged 2 years and older must have their own seat purchased.
Guests weighing 250 lbs or more may be subject to a $150 comfort surcharge; guests 300 lbs or more should call to discuss larger aircraft options.
The operator uses Robinson R44 helicopters that seat three passengers; larger parties fly in multiple aircraft.
Yes—between May 15 and August 31 you can combine this flight with a dog sledding glacier tour for a 10% savings; call (907) 783-2360 to book.
The 20-Mile River Valley is part of one of North America’s most glacier-rich regions; flightseeing gives context to the landscape carved by repeated glaciation.
Operators ask visitors to minimize disturbance to wildlife and to follow packing-out policies; aerial tours also reduce footprint compared to large-scale ground access.
30 Minutes • Available Year-Round
Book with Alpine Air Alaska