Matanuska Glacier Winter Tour: Walk Alaska's Largest Road-Accessible Glacier
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
8 hours (full day)
Fitness Level
Moderate fitness — able to walk 2–3 miles on uneven, icy terrain and manage short climbs over moraine
Overview
Climb into a van at dawn and follow the Glenn Highway to the toe of the Matanuska Glacier, where professional guides fit you with ice cleats and lead a two-hour, roughly three-mile walk across ancient blue ice. This full-day winter tour pairs accessible glacier travel with local lunch and round-trip transport from Anchorage.
Matanuska Glacier Winter Tour: Walk Alaska's Largest Road-Accessible Glacier
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The van peels away from Anchorage before dawn and the Glenn Highway opens like a cold, cinematic corridor of peaks. Ice-streaked ridgelines push at the horizon while spruce and birch blur past; by the time the road stops at the glacier’s toe, the air has a clear, cutting quality that wakes your lungs. Guides hand out ice cleats and point to a slab of blue ice that looks older than the map you used to get here—this is the Matanuska Glacier, 27 miles long, four miles wide and daring anyone steady on their feet to walk its surface.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Wear stiff-soled boots
Guides require sturdy, stiff-soled footwear for safe movement on ice; hiking boots are best — no sneakers or soft soles.
Protect your eyes
Snow and ice amplify glare; polarized sunglasses or glacier goggles reduce eye strain and improve contrast on crevasses.
Hydrate and snack
Bring a full reusable water bottle and high-energy snacks — cold weather can mask dehydration and hikes burn more calories.
Listen to your guide
Glacier travel rules change with conditions; follow guide instructions for routes, spacing and photo stops to stay safe.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Moose
- Bald eagle
History
The Matanuska Glacier carved the valley during the last ice ages and the surrounding land has long been used by Dena'ina and Ahtna peoples for travel and subsistence.
Conservation
Tours limit group sizes and provide reusable container guidance; stick to guide routes to protect fragile glacial features and minimize footprint.
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Adventure Hotspots in Anchorage
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Stiff-soled hiking boots
Provide ankle support and traction when wearing cleats on ice and mixed moraine.
winter specific
Insulating base and mid-layers
Retain warmth while allowing you to shed layers during active walking.
winter specific
Waterproof shell jacket
Blocks wind and light snow and keeps your core dry during exposed glacier time.
winter specific
Daypack with water bottle
Carries layers, gloves, snacks and a full reusable bottle — single-use containers are not provided.
winter specific