Are you on the hunt for an adventure that gives main character energy, with photo ops that look like a Nat Geo reel? Then the Matanuska Glacier is calling your name – just 2 hours from Anchorage, it’s 27 miles of icy ridges and dramatic blue crevasses just waiting to be explored!
In fact, it’s one of the only glaciers in all of Alaska that’s accessible by road throughout the entire year, and is perfect for beginners and adrenaline junkies, alike. If you want to make the most of your experience, make sure to take a proper tour with guides who know what they’re doing.
I’ve gone ahead and reviewed the 5 top Matanuska Glacier hikes from Anchorage, that are well worth your time and money. Let’s jump right in!
Best Guided Tours of the Matanuska Glacier
| Matanuska Glacier Hike Day Tour | Glacier Hike on Matanuska Glacier - Best Vacation Value | Hike Matanuska Glacier w/ Alaska Local Honey, Wine Tasting | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration: | 10 hours | 7.5 hours | 8.5 hours |
| Departure: | Hotel pickup and drop-off included | Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center, 600 W 7th Ave, Anchorage | 524 W 4th Ave, Anchorage |
| Start: | 8:00 AM | 8:00 AM | 8:30 AM |
| Includes: | Bottled water, snacks, live commentary on board, roundtrip transport, guide | Bottled water, snacks, free photography lessons, guided tour | Bottled water, Snacks, Crampons, Snow pants if needed, Experienced Glacier Guide |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Matanuska Glacier Hikes From Anchorage For 2025
- Matanuska Glacier Hike Day Tour
- Glacier Hike on Matanuska Glacier – Best Vacation Value
- Hike Matanuska Glacier w/ Alaska Local Honey, Wine Tasting
- Matanuska Glacier Winter Tour
- Full-Day Matanuska Glacier Hike And Tour
Matanuska Glacier Tour Reviews
1. Matanuska Glacier Hike Day Tour
- Duration: 10 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 8:00 AM
- Includes: Bottled water, snacks, live commentary on board, roundtrip transport, guide
If you’re planning on seeing the Matanuska Glacier up close and personal, you need to do it right. The Matanuska Glacier Hike Day Tour is the perfect way to do so, with a fun road trip, thrilling hikes, and an expert guide to lead you every step of the way.
You have everything you need (and more) for a safe, exhilarating time out in the Alaskan wilderness, with plenty of breathtaking views no matter where you look.
Instead of having to worry about booking your own transport or finding a meetup point, your guide will come right to your hotel to pick you and your crew up. You get a comfy Mercedes Sprinter van with big windows and plenty of leg room, so you can enjoy the natural scenery as you roll on by.
As we cruised along, our guide gave us a fantastic commentary involving the geology, wildlife, and other interesting stories relating to other points of interest.
It was really cool learning so much about Anchorage, as well as the different communities en route to the Matanuska Valley! Driving alongside the river with the mountains surrounding us was so serene, and I was excited to finally arrive at the glacier.
Upon arrival, we were provided with ice spikes, hiking poles (if needed), and helmets, so you really don’t need to bring anything special in order to participate.
Our guide did a wonderful job of sharing their expertise on the glacier, as well as the natural history – trust me, there’s not a moment of boredom to be had and there are plenty of photo ops!
After, we had a well-deserved rest for lunch at an authentic Alaska lodge with insane glacier views and tasty food. On the way back, we even made a couple stops for more amazing photos – 10/10!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. Glacier Hike on Matanuska Glacier – Best Vacation Value
- Duration: 7.5 hours
- Departure: Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center, 600 W 7th Ave, Anchorage
- Departure Time: 8:00 AM
- Includes: Bottled water, snacks, free photography lessons, guided tour
Tailored to anyone who’s obsessed wtih travel, wildlife, and/or photography, this next tour is a wild adventure that shows off the very best views around. The Glacier Hike on Matanuska Glacier – Best Vacation Value, is ideal for seniors, kids, and everyone in between.
If you want to experience raw and rugged nature without having to worry about logistics or safety, this should be at the top of your list. Start things off by meeting your guide and the rest of your group at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center at 8:00 am.
Unfortunately, they don’t offer hotel pickup, but we found the civic center easy to get to, and it did make sense in order to get everyone moving on time. Our guide was super friendly and welcoming, and she made the drive out there just as entertaining as the hike itself, thanks to her great storytelling skills and vast knowledge about the region.
Just like with the previous tour, upon arrival, you’ll be outfitted with proper spiked footwear, a helmet (during summertime), and a thorough safety briefing so you’ll be putting your best foot forward. After all, it’s not exactly second nature for most people to be walking over slippery blue ice!
The hike itself is quite an easy one, which is why it’s recommended for anyone of any age, so long as you are okay with walking on slight inclines and declines for around an hour and a half.
Our time in the Chugach National Forest was simply magical, and we were lucky enough to spot moose, bear, and some other native critters! With a maximum of just 12 participants, this is an intimate experience designed to give a one-on-one feel with humans and nature, without disrupting those who live in the area. This is a must-do!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. Hike Matanuska Glacier w/ Alaska Local Honey, Wine Tasting
- Duration: 8.5 hours
- Departure: 524 W 4th Ave, Anchorage
- Departure Time: 8:30 AM
- Includes: Bottled water, Snacks, Crampons (over shoe spikes for gripping ice), Snow pants if needed, Experienced Glacier Guide
If you’re in Alaska and looking for anything but an ordinary day, this next tour is right up your alley. The Hike Matanuska Glacier w/ Alaska Local Honey, Wine Tasting excursion is an immersive adventure that shows you the very best this amazing place has to offer.
I have to admit that when I first heard about glacier hikes, I thought it was going to be a boring walk on an ice block, but it is SO much more than that! With a tour capping out at just 14 participants, max, you can expect a more personalized experience with attention from your guide throughout the entire time.
Meet in the morning right outside the Historic City Hall, and board your transport for the day! Enjoy amazing, unobstructed views of the natural scenery while listening to your guide’s educational commentary about Anchorage’s history, the local flora and fauna, and so much more.
When we arrived at the glacier, we were given a safety briefing and all required gear, like crampons (shoe spikes to keep you steady on ice), snow pants, and so on. I will say that you should bring gloves, as these weren’t provided, and having cold hands can detract a bit from the experience!
Our glacier guide was a load of fun and clearly very knowledgeable, sharing funny anecdotes as well as education on conservation to make sure the glacier is around for future generations.
We got to cross ice fields, go into some of the crevasses with towering ice walls, see electric blue ice, and so many other amazing sights! We also did a little local honey and wine tasting, which was a nice little break and change of pace.
After, we had a relaxing journey back, stopping in the town of Palmer to grab some coffee and snacks – so much fun!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Matanuska Glacier Winter Tour
- Duration: 8 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 8:00 AM
- Includes: Round-trip transportation from Anchorage, services of a professional local glacier guide, lunch at local eatery, glacier travel equipment – ice cleats
How would you like to grab a morning coffee and hop into a comfy vehicle, taking a serene drive from Anchorage and through the scenic Glenn Highway? Your destination for the day is one of the most impressive glaciers in the world, and along the way, you’ll get amazing views of the Chugach Mountains!
If that sounds like fun, check out the Matanuska Glacier Winter Tour for all that and more! Something I loved right off the bat with this tour, was that instead of having to go to a meetup point, they came right to our hotel to pick us up.
Just make sure you’re ready around 8 am with your winter jacket, boots, and gloves ready – your ice cleats will be provided upon arrival at the glacier. Our drive was really pretty, and it was so cool to learn about and see the ice formed literally thousands of years ago up in the mountains!
If you are short and time and just have a day or two in Anchorage, this is a fantastic way to see the region and really experience “outback” Alaska. As we cruised along, we fueled up on some snacks they’d packed for us, stopping for coffee along the way.
Once we arrived, we wasted no time getting on our crampons and heading out for our glacier hike with our guides. We had 2 guides who did a great job of explaining everything to us and ensuring we were confident and safe on our journey.
As the glacier’s nature quite literally changes daily, the guides had customized it depending on the situation at hand and our specific interests. By the end of the hike, we were pretty tired and ready for some food! We had a delicious local lunch with seriously breathtaking glacier views – make sure to grab some photos here.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Full-Day Matanuska Glacier Hike And Tour
- Duration: 8.5 hours
- Departure: 509 W 3rd Ave, Anchorage
- Departure Time: 8:30 AM
- Includes: Snacks, Bottled water, Glacier Walking Equipment, Transportation from Downtown Anchorage, Knowledgeable Glacier Guides
Imagine an all-day road trip and hike that takes you from Anchorage to a trek across one of Alaska’s most stunning natural wonders. The Full-Day Matanuska Glacier Hika and Tour is one of the best options if that sounds like your cup of tea!
Board a comfy shuttle and cruise through the scenic valley, with a tasty lunch stop mid-route before arriving at the glacier. They don’t come right to your hotel, but the meetup point is in downtown Anchorage, which is pretty easy to access for most travelers.
Just like with the other tours, expect your guide to regale you with educational, fascinating commentary about everything from the history of Anchorage to the geology of the mountains. The all-in-one logistics make it streamlined so you can keep your focus on the beautiful scenery and wildlife all around you.
Guides outfitted us with crampons, helmets, and hiking poles before stepping straight onto the glacier, where we explored deep-blue crevasses, ice caves, glacial streams, and more!
They shared plenty of science in a way that we could understand, along with glacier retreat stories – we even got to try glacial water, which was very refreshing after a couple of hours of hiking! Personal touches like helping with gear and taking photos for us definitely didn’t go unnoticed, either!
I also had a nice time in the charming town of Palmer, Alaska, where our guide brought us to grab lunch at a local grocery store. It was surprisingly beautiful, and we even got to take a bit of time to check out the Palmer Visitor Information Center.
What a great day this was for all of us, and if you are bringing kids or teenagers along, it’s highly recommended!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
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Value
The Matanuska Glacier Hike Day Tour is our Editors Choice for the best Matanuska Glacier tour from Anchorage
