Review # 12 for 2026 and my 1000th review! We booked the 2 hour summer Matanuska Glacier hike during our trip to Alaska and we loved it from start to finish! We had a group of 4 adults plus a 14 month old. Booking was super easy, you just texted the phone number and pay on site. I see now that they have an online book system. I think when we did the tour last year it was $150/adult and $30/child. Make sure you program your GPS properly as the signal out there is not reliable. You drive down a drink road and check in at one building, then continue to drive to another building for the hike. There are bathrooms at both building for you to use. Our guide was super chill and easy to talk to. Just dress properly and they provide the gear needed. You are given helmets and crampons to walk in the snow/ice. Also, if you have a baby, they are SUPER child friendly!! We were a bit concerned as we did not bring our hiking backpack for our little guy as we already brought so much for the trip. We decided to just gamble with this hike. They had hiking backpacks galore for the little ones!!! There were so many!! And they were completely free to use during the hike also!! There were different sizes, different colors, different weights!! It would be our little guys first time in one so we did not know how he would like it. He started off hating being put in it... then when my husband stood up with him in it and started walking, he loved it!! It was a lifesaver for this hike!! At 14 months old, our little guy didn't understand how to walk in the ice and all, although they did have kids crampons, he was just too small to fit them at that time, but our guide tried to help us fit it on his show as much as he could. The hike was gorgeous!! Hiking on a glacier was definitely on my bucket list! Some people complain about having a guide and paying them and all, but me personally as someone not used to that type of environment; I felt much more safe on the hike with a guide. I do not know anything about this type of environment and the hidden dangers in the ice and snow! There were many highlights on our trip and this was definitely one of them. Would I do this again? I definitely would!! This activity was pretty affordable as far as Alaska activities are concerned. The hike was so beautiful!! The water is soooo blue. Also, now that my boy is getting older and with how much he loves the outdoors, this is something my husband and I will have to do again if we find ourselves out back in Alaska. Hopefully we will be back again soon! I recommend everyone going to Alaska to book a Matanuska Glacier hike with them!! read more

I used to go camping with my family in front of the glacier, but now this company is extorting everyone by blocking the only entrance. It's disgusting to make people pay an exorbitant amount to see a natural phenomenon, which is on PUBLIC land. read more

$40 for state residents and any adult you bring who is not a state resident also gets in $40. Our tour guide (mandatory) was outstanding. He was very knowledgable, articulate, funny and patient with our group, which included all walks of life. This is a must-do day trip from Anchorage, about 4 hours of driving round trip. The tour lasts about 3 hours, the success of which is very contingent on the weather. Supposedly if it starts to rain, or if rain is coming, the tour guide will ask the group if they want to go back or suck it up. If 90% of the group decides to go back, you go back and there are no refunds. My only regret was not brining my water bottle to fill it up with fresh glacier water. Don't make the same mistake as me. Also, in retrospect, I wish I had brought bear spray. Supposedly bears are almost never seen out here given the number of people, but the day before a bear followed a wounded moose to the base of the glacier before he finished him off. read more

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Matanuska Glacier!! I am so happy I came here, walked on and got to experience it. What amazing memories! Matanuska Glacier is one of these marvelous wonders that boasts clear white jagged peaks and edges with crystal blue tints of coloring...and best of all is that you can come here and walk on it through a guided tour, rather than viewing it from a boat out on the water. I chose an all day tour with Salmon Berry Tours Company, located in downtown Anchorage, AK. I spent $299 for the daytrip to be chaperoned out to Matanuska Glacier with 2 experienced guides. The tour departed from Anchorage at 8:30am and although scheduled till 5:30pm, we actually didn't return till 6:30pm. So...the guides along the way gave me and my tour group enough time to appreciate and admire all that is Matanuska Glacier...even if we did return almost 1 full hour later than planned. And I think that's what was best about this tour... Well, the fact that you can walk onto Matanuska Glacier for smack, in your face exposures of the incredibly setting being in the heart of a 27-mile long glacier... And just that my 2 tour guides were there for myself and my group, to provide the best possible experience for us...to happily take as many photos for us, never saying "no" to anything we wanted, always being accommodative to our every interests was so fulfilling. Matanuska Glacier is located almost 100 miles east of Anchorage. We did make a stop for bathrooms along the way in the town of Palmer, AK. Upon arriving at Matanuska Glacier...or at least the trailhead/parking lot...I believe the land around it is privately owned so we did have to stop inside a check-in lodge/house to receive permission to venture out onto the glacier. I signed a waiver for incidentals. Plus, you can purchase some small souvenirs as mementoes. Then it was time to park the guide bus and walk towards the "toe" of the glacier. For my tour group, it was myself and about 9 others for a total of 10 of us with 2 guides. Before leaving the parking lot we received micro spikes or otherwise known as crampons for our feet to gain traction while on the glacier. We had to wear helmets just in case we slipped and fell. We were offered sunglasses because the brightness of the sun reflected strongly onto the ice. We were also offered hiking poles to take with us but the guides said they wouldn't be necessary. For exploring at Matanuska Glacier for July 9th, 2022...I had 2 long sleeved shirts on and pants. I didn't wear shorts nor did I take a jacket. It was pretty ideal conditions for being here, not too hot or cold, but I did bring a backpack with me including a rain jacket and an extra layer just in case. We got to spend almost 2 - 2.5 hours walking around a pathway on Matanuska Glacier. It was a great route for exploring, catching what appeared to be all the best highlights. And my tour group wasn't the only ones hiking. There were plenty of other groups doing the same exact thing. So at times, we did have to pause and wait for the group ahead of us to continue their hikes. This was not a problem because just hanging out and standing/looking around Matanuska Glacier was simply wondrous...lol, I didn't want the feeling to end. I was happy to go slowly. My tour never really had any challenging aspects of the hike to climb. It was simple and efficient. Maybe we trekked for a few miles at most. Along the way, there were some incredibly photogenic opportunities to immerse ourselves in the massive glacial surroundings. It's hard to describe but strolling about this primary section of Matanuska Glacier where in the background it featured hypnotic zigzags and extensions of ice branches veering off in all sorts of directions...it was like an artist's Picasso Painting! So mesmerizing! The guides gave us plenty of time to take our best pictures. We completed one large circle in and out of Matanuska Glacier. Overall, so beautiful, so humbling. I feel blessed to be able to write about it, lol. And now returning to the tour bus, our day wasn't finished. We then headed right nearby to the Long Rifle Lodge to have a late afternoon/early dinner overlooking the Matanuska Valley with the glacier shining in the distance. (Btw, this meal was included with price of admission). The Long Rifle Lodge had your typical all-American foods like burgers, sandwiches, tacos, salads, soups, etc... Sitting down and eating after hiking about Matanuska Glacier was a terrific way to put an exclamation point on the day. Finally we hopped back onto the tour bus and returned the 100 miles to Anchorage. Before walking to my car which I parked in a lot nearby for $12 for the day...I gladly tipped my 2 tour guides $25 each. They were fantastic and really added to the momentous occasion. I can't recommend doing this hiking tour onto Matanuska Glacier enough! It was the true essence for standing on top of a vintage, colorful, jaw dropping Alaskan Glacier. read more

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I highly recommend this tour for anyone looking for an adventure. Our guide Naomi was very knowledgeable and taught us a lot of cool facts about the glacier throughout the trek. They provided crampons to wear on our shoes and even had backpack baby carriers available to borrow. Tour guide Maguire was a huge help with teaching me how to use the baby carrier for my toddler and ensuring that she was safe. A big thank you to both of these guides and to all of the friendly staff we met throughout our experience there! read more

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This was day 2 of our organized tour with AAU (Alaska Adventure Unlimited). It's not a trip to Alaska if you don't see, touch or soar over a glacier all in 1 trip. This visit was a Touch the glacier kind of experience. Our guide/driver was also our guide out onto the glacier. Apparently, this is only allowed for AAU. All other folks do a guided tour with an experienced guide who knows the glacier intimately. Because we were with our own AAU guide, we also didn't venture as far onto the glacier. As we learned, the Glacier changes daily so knowing where the changes are and the potential danger areas is very necessary. The "trail"... and I use the word "trail" loosely... is muddy, gravely, icy, crunchy and sometimes all at the same time. Some mud areas will really suck your shoes so step lightly and don't linger... keep moving. The longer you keep your foot in the sticky mud, the tighter the hold. There are areas of the trail that you walk across wobbly planks and have to step over very small fissures or water rivulets. So... sure footing and good balance are necessary. ( My mom who is 74 didn't particularly enjoy this adventure since the footing was unstable... and slippery in many areas. ) Our guide did provide us with crampons for our shoes and a walking stick. These did help some. The walk out onto the actual glacier is a little under a mile. I won't call it easy, but it's not hard. You just have to be mindful of where and how you place your feet. I enjoyed the trek and would enjoy going out a bit further with the local 'everyday' guides. We saw several groups much farther out on the glacier. They also had much more aggressive / serious-looking ice crampons. We also got super lucky with the weather. It was clear, sunny and warm. To the point where I wished I was in shorts and a short sleeve shirt instead of long leggings, long sleeve and shirt. I was pretty much a sweaty, muddy mess when I got back to the van. But it was worth it. Because we had such a pretty day, the pictures and memories are beautiful! Note: I would NOT attempt this trip when raining... I'd think it would be too dangerous and just miserable. read more

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Wow, what an awesome glacier tour! A short 2 hour drive north of Anchorage, it is a must stop if visiting. Additionally, they offer great deals for Alaska residents and military, and each of those categories can get two visitors at a discounted rate as well. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and shared her knowledge throughout the tour. The trail was well marked and could be adjusted depending on fitness level. Highly recommend stopping in the next time you're in town! read more

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We had the best time on this tour! The drive in was definitely scary, I almost turned back when we crossed the bridge.... If you go, you'll see... but I'm so glad we pushed through. The tour itself was so fun. The glacier was gorgeous and we felt safe with our guide. Hiking up and around the glacier was so gorgeous. If you have the opportunity, this was 100% worth it. Ps I almost cancelled going because of some of the bad reviews, but my experience was amazing, so do with that what you will. read more

I took my family on a glacier hike and this was the highlight of our Alaska trip! We had a fabulous time seeing the beautiful glacier up close. It was not a challenging hike so good for adults and kids about 12 years old. the views were awe inspiring and the staff was friendly and very patient. They made us feel like wilderness glacier pros in no time. They offer a generous military discount given the proximity to the military base making this a an easy recreational activity for service members and their families. I highly recommend! read more

This page has been fraudulently claimed by a business located miles away from the glacier, I hope this doesn't happen to The other nine glaciers I've reviewed on Yelp. read more

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4.5 stars. Fantastic experience, recommend that everyone do this once in the winter. They only have guided tours in the winter. The guided tour costs $100 per person excluding 10-20% tip for your guide. And it is worth every penny. They give you cleats but dressing warm is your domain. You get instructions once you make the reservation and err on the side of wearing too many layers than too few. We ended up going on a snow mobile because it was windy. That was probably the coldest part of the tour. The temps ran between 4-8F. The actual walk on the glacier is somewhere between easy-mod. My main fear was the icy bits (not too many) because despite the cleats. The glacier is beautiful. No amount of photos are enough and even the ones you take won't capture the beauty you see. The guide was very informative and gave enough time for us to explore the caves and spots she pointed out. Overall took us about 1 hour but if you were to walk the whole way and back, it'll probably be 2 hours. Not sure about the summer but definitely recommend a guided tour in winter. read more

Once you get past the somewhat confusing directions and entrance process, the guided tours of the glacier are a nice way to spend two hours. The tours are easy to book via phone or text, and are discounted for state residents and a few other groups. The tours cover the history of the glacier, it's geology, and of course plenty of impressive sights. The glacier can get a bit busy with tours leaving every hour, but there's plenty to see so it never feels too crowded. Ice spikes are provided for your shoes for traction on the white ice parts of the glacier. read more

Glacier Tours - Tours Near Me - Sutton, Alaska

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Was it kind of a rip off. Yes. Was I glad I got to do it. Yes. Would I do it again. No Pretty close to Anchorage- We stayed North of Anchorage and it took us about 1 hour to get there I think from Anchorage it take about 2 hours. You are going to pay 30-100$ per a person (which is kind of a rip off but it is on private land so therefore they can charge whatever the heck they want and trust me they do-30$ for the self guided and 100$ for the guided). If you look at the reviews from 2015ish (yes the price of entry has gone up). If you are an Alaska Resident the price is 25$. The people that you have to deal with and pay in the little gift shop before you go in are OK-They aren't nice but they aren't mean either-you can tell they have been doing this day in and day out and I am sure are tired of repeating themselves and dealing with people. You drive down this gravely dirt road to get there first so don't be worried that you are going on the road to nowhere then after you pay the admission it is a bit to get to the glacier area. It is one heck of a bumpy ride on the way to the place you pay the admission as well as to the actual glacier site. After you sign your life away you drive to the glacier area and start your trek to the actual glacier. The admission place gives you this information sheet that they run off of a printer (part of the $30 for the self guided tour-I am being sarcastic of course ). Each cone denotes some information on the glacier..not really interesting...but I took the paper and followed along. You basically follow the cones to the trail to get to the actual glacier...it starts off warm and obviously as you get closer to the glacier it gets much cooler (remember to dress appropriately). We went on a semi clear day so it was pretty nice and we went in the early afternoon. With the 100$ guided tour you do get to see some places on the glacier that the 30$ tour you do not get to see which I think is a bit of a joke. Also with the 100$ guided tour you get to rent crampons, a helmet and supposedly a walking stick which I didn't see anyone with. There were 2 guides on the trail that day and I was listening as I hiked past and her name was Michelle (I think) and she left on telling her group "you may know more things than me, so if you do let me know"...as a guide shouldn't she know pretty much everything about the Glacier considering she works there? I thought it was odd...if I just spent 100$ the guide better know everything. She basically socialized with her group and was the official picture taker for her little pack...so glad I'm didn't pay for the guided tour. I would wear appropriate shoes something with a little more tread on the bottom...I did see some lady wearing ballerina flats...yeah bad idea...it does get slippery and muddy as you get closer. I've hiked some other trails in the US but never ever ice and it was quite the different experience. I have done Moab, Angels Landing, The Narrows and the Coyote Buttes all dry (except for The Narrows) and this was a different experience being on the ice... be prepared, it was like one big slip and slide for me. For the unguided we were done in about 2.5 hours. Don't rush it-you should enjoy it-If you do not live in Alaska it is kind of a once in a lifetime experience... Prepare to get muddy and dirty and don't wear anything that is too precious to you...I also brought a pair of extra socks and shoes in the car just in case. and I am glad I did as my feet were wet and muddy by the time I got back to the car. I would also bring some snacks and water in your car there isn't really a lot around there-unless you want to get something like a candy bar and water at the gift shop. read more

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We went on Memorial Day. What a fantastic experience. We started out and walk to the first level. Took a bunch of pictures and then we thought we were done. As it turned out, we ended up walking all the way to the top! We safely saw a huge crevice (sp?). The top of the world. The guide was very knowledgeable and explained how the glacier was formed, all the pinnacles, the dirt, rocks, etc. very excellent. Highly recommend! read more

Amazing experience! Super professional and every guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. I couldn't recommend this place enough.

Pretty good time! It's nice that you can completely walk to this glacier and not have to take a boat or hike miles on end. I was able to take my 67 year old dad with me and he had no issues making the hike. Our tour guide was Rhiannon who was absolutely adorable and really knowledgeable. If you aren't used to driving the steep mountainsides, then the drive out from Palmer is pretty stressful. The road is very narrow and steep with very few guard rails so if you're afraid of heights, you might want to let someone else drive lol. We did this hike in early August. I don't know if they are seasonal, but I think I would have preferred to do this with a little snow on the ground/mountains. Overall, a good experience. read more

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There really aren't any words for this. Nor do the pictures do it justice. I've neve seen anything like this in my life. Just looking at a glacier was on my bucket list, but we got to walk right up to Matanuska Glacier and touch it. Maybe even lick it. Not that I did that. For a mere $25 ($20 for residents), you can drive to the trailhead and hike 1.25 miles, give or take, to the glacier. Since it's winter we couldn't hike right up to the largest mass at the base of the glacier, unless we were on a more expensive guided tour (plus we had an infant), but we got close enough to see some of the smaller ice formations off the glacier. Simply breathtaking. It was worth the money and the drive and just everything. I couldn't believe my eyes. Tips: Obey the signs on the trail! On the Glenn highway, follow the signs for glacier park, and drive to the yellow shack "Wickersham Trading Post" that marks the glacier view. It'll be one or two miles past the 102 mile marker on the Glenn highway. There's a road you can take down to pay your fee and continue to the trailhead. There's a real helpful lady to answer questions. She has a parrot but I got over it. California has nothing even close to as cool as this. Apparently Matanuska Glacier is the largest glacier in the US that you can drive (almost) all the way up to!!! read more

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We had Maya and Amanda and they were absolutely amazing. Second time with this company. Cannot recommend them anymore! But I will. They're amazing! P.S. DYLAAAAAAAN! read more

This place is AWESOME! I'm really happy I was able to experience this place because you really get to see a lot. When I look back at the pictures I took here, I can't help but just be in awe. I would definitely recommend that you dress warm. We came here during the end of winter and I totally did not have the right shoes; that's what I get for trying to look all cute! Our guide, Mike, was really nice and offered my husband and I some warmers that you can put in your shoes and gloves - they are like little pouches. I've never seen or heard of anything like these pouches but they warm your feet and hands up. Anyway, the hike is about two hours and you get to slide down a glacier; walk through cave-like glaciers; see little spots of icy waters and beautiful formations of glaciers. I had plenty of time to take pictures and the experience is just totally worth it! TWO THUMBS WAY UP! read more

Glacier Tours - Getting ready to hike this glacier! - Tours Near Me - Sutton, Alaska

We accidentally stumbled upon this tour by following the second set of brown glacier access signs of coming from the south. We followed the brown signs down a long road thinking there would be a viewpoint, but they led to a gift shop to sign up for tours. Due to a generous/supportive local and active military discount, we decided to do the tour. We were not disappointed. Jason was our tour guide and he was awesome! His energy and excitement/passion for the glacier was authentic, and he did a fantastic job connecting with the youngest child in the group up to the oldest adult to ensure everyone had a good experience. Thank you to the manager who also tries to pair people together in groups to have similar hiking paces. Overall, we were pleasantly surprised by the guided tour which covers about 2 miles and lasts about 2.5-3 hrs. It goes by fast! Thank you! read more

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We went here thinking the pictures posted everywhere were going to be what we got. Boy we're we surprised. Let me summarize our experience. You'll first travel down a long road to get greeted by the friendly "front desk" Staff. They will set you up with a waiver and ask for payment. Once they've received payment they kindly remind each and every single visitor with the same phrase "do you have cash to tip your guide? It's recommended $20" - as if the $65 isn't enough already. Next, you'll travel down an even longer dusty and pothole ridden road and wonder where your $65 is going. Once you reach the bottom you'll get greeted by your tour guide, a well spoke 14 year old girl. After getting geared up, you're heading for the glacier! The tour is about 2 hours and for about 1.5 hours of that you'll be walking on mud and learn every last thing about it. Once you get to the glacier, you'll stand on top of it, get to fill your water bottle up, and you're heading back into the mud and back to the campground to then offer your young tour guide your $20 tip for a great glacier experience. You didn't get to go in the glacier at all. I would gladly pay $30 for the tour learning about mud than $65. read more

It's disappointing to see how much it costs just to walk on a trail and enjoy one of alaska's Natural resources. They even want 10$ for my 1 year old who gets pushed in a stroller. I imagine that the glacier is beyond beautiful, but I'll never know because I refuse to pay 30$ per adult (my 14 year old included) to walk On a trail in the woods and see a glacier. Portage is free at least. Unless you wanna drop some cash, I suggest passing this one up. read more

If coming from Anchorage, surely make this a day long trip. Located approximately two hours north east from Anchorage, this is a sure spot to stop and get the true 'Alaska feel.' I trek this glacier a few times a year, always bringing friends and family visiting along for an adventure of their lifetime. I mean, how many people can say they actually walked and explored a glacier up-close? Pricing may come off as steep just to roam around the land, however for glacier access they do offer a few discounts for Alaska residents, Military and if you are there enough - free access! Last time I was there I joked around with Linda about how they needed to offer a punch card for reoccurring explorers. Became I've visited this glacier on multiple occasions throughout the years, bringing 5-6 people in tow, they allowed me free access to the glacier! Being the friendly person that I am, I also said my hellos to Bill (who is 'THE MAN' there). He came out from behind the counter to address me professionally and overheard me joking with Linda. He asked what brought me this time. On this recent trip we had brought two friends from Illinois, who were to be engaged on the glacier! Bill ended up introducing us to their new mugs which featured the glacier and when warm liquid is added, the northern lights appear over them. He ended up also giving each of us one for free and an extra. All in all, saving $70 on this trip. Once passed the toll gate, you follow the short road to the parking lot and there it is. Follow the cones over the mountains of dirt and across the grates over the mud, until you reach the marked picnic table. At this point, explore at your own risk. You'll see many groups with fancy gear. Don't be discouraged if you are unprepared, just be extra extra cautious! I always simply wear yak tracks and can usually get around without a problem. So moral of my posts are: 1. Always be friendly, you never know who you're talking to and kindness goes a long way. 2. Be very cautious and aware of your surroundings, watching your footings. 3. TAKE LOTS OF PHOTOS AND ENJOY! read more

Glacier Tours - Matanuska and all of it's beauty. - Tours Near Me - Sutton, Alaska

Pros: It's very handy that gear was provided, the staff seemed knowledgeable about the area, glaciers, and the environment. The staff were also concerned for safety at all times. The glacier is easily accessible for nearly all people Cons: Signed up for a 2 PM tour but kept being told we were just waiting for another group. By 3 PM we still had not started the tour. I purposely booked this tour to see ice caves and was told midway through that there are none during the fall, only during the winter. The guided tour is something that most Alaskans with common sense can do themselves with the suggested new gear (crampons, hiking stick, and helmet just in case). read more

Glacier Tours - Tours Near Me - Sutton, Alaska

Words can't even begin to describe how amazing this experience was! But I'm obviously going to try since I'm writing this review. :) It's about 2 hours outside of Anchorage going north, drive isn't too bad even in January when it's about 7-10 degrees below freezing overall and that's on a good day. You will see the first sign for Matanuska viewing point, but keep going past that, it's just slightly further ahead. You'll see signs for where to go and they do suggest having a 4x4, at least in January, we were in a Chrysler 300 and it was just fine, though pretty scary going down the steep switchback down to the shop. At the shop, that's where you pay the fees, it's crazy that whoever own the property has a monopoly on this place because you're technically on their property so you kinda have to pay. They are slowly rising the price, now it's $25 a person, but to me, it was well worth the experience and amazing views. So after stopping at the obviously home made "gift shop", make sure you take a break to use the loo, head on down to the entrance of the glacier, you'll come to a little small cabin looking building and park. The first part of the trails are marked with cones to help guide you through the area, but it's only for a short while. You definitely want to continue further to look at the glacier up close. They have an option of having a tour guide go with you but it's about $100 per person, you don't need to do it, trust me, if I can do it without a guide, so can you. :) Definitely dress warm as it's quite freezing but as you keep moving you will get warm, towards the end I actually had to take my gloves off from the sweat! :) BOMBDOTCOM!! A MUST NEED TO VISIT PLACE!! read more

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Better than Exit Glacier. Try the unguided tour if you like adventures. Be prepared to wear snow shoes if u are taking unguided tour. Free Advice : Carry food and water in your vehicle. There is no restaurants near by. read more

Glacier Tours - Tours Near Me - Sutton, Alaska

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We booked the Matanuska Glacier Walk with "Glacier Tours at Matanuska" for $65 per person for a 3 hour walk on the glacier with a guide. You book by calling or texting, and pay when you get there. You drive your own car down to the base of the glacier and the crew sets you up with helmets and spikes for your sneakers/boots. Our guide was Michelle and she was adorable, friendly, and informative. We had a great time learning about the glacier and taking unforgettable photos on the ice. My grandparents struggled walking on the terrain, but Michelle was nothing but supportive and held my grandma's hand to make her feel more comfortable. Such a great experience for the whole family, and a great value for a 3 hour excursion! read more

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I never thought I'd be reviewing a glacier but I am. First of all, if you've never been here, you might be imagining a big glacier in the middle of the ocean like you see on TV. However, this is a glacier that's surrounded by land. So, if you don't want to pay for a helicopter ride and want road access to a glacier, this is it. Apparently it's the only road-accessible one in the US. I did a guided tour which was well worth it since they provide shoes/crampons and such. My group consisted of only 3 relatively athletic dudes so the guide was able to take us farther down the glacier and do a more difficult ice climb. The guide also put a spigot into the glacier so we could drink some fresh water--pretty awesome experience. This may be a great glacier to take your family because it can accommodate various physical ability levels. I saw some grandmas strolling along the outskirts of the glacier where you can still get some awesome views/pictures. read more

When my friends and I were in Denali, we came across a group of hikers who recommend we go here (thank you Michael, Dylan and Steve!). They also recommended that we request Nick and we are so glad they did! This experience was definitely the highlight of the trip. Not only was Nick knowledgeable about the glacier but he was also very entertaining! Couldn't think of a better way to end our trip to Alaska. We have recommended this excursion to all of our family and friends and hope to return in the near future! read more

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This valley glacier feeds the Matanuska River. It is huge...27 miles by 4 miles. You can access it off the Glenn Highway. There's a parking lot with port a potties. There's guided and unguided sections of the glaciers. Recommend signing up for a tour with a professional guide who is familiar with the conditions and terrain and can provide the necessary safety gear. Salmon Berry and Nova seem to be the popular guides. Once you're on the glacier the sights and sounds are amazing. Well worth the 2-2.5 hour drive from Anchorage. Not everyday you get to step over a crevasse on a blue ice glacier! read more

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Our guide was great, but, first of all this was a free access up until a short while ago. Internet said last year, but lady who took my $125 per person barked at me," no it's been three years!. "Also she yelled at all who were paying to go on the tour, go to our ATM machine now and make sure you have money for your guide, because they get a minimum of $20 per person. In addition to the $125 we already paid. I don't mind sharing that the guides get tips especially when it's something you do not do on an every day basis, but yelling that you better get at least $20 per person it's very unprofessional. So our guy gets a 4.5 star and the lady at the desk gets a -100 read more

One of the best things to do in Alaska, seriously!!!!!Worth the drive, worth the money. Highly recommend a guided tour. Our guides took us places I wouldn't have gone to solo. Even carved out a step to help us cross a crevasse (huge crack in the glacier). I did mine twice with Matanuska Glacier Adventure Tours, they even do tours off peak season read more

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It is cool that you can get to a glacier and walk out to the fingers of it. The drive is nice especially on a clear day, the family to operates the gate has plenty of knowledge about the Glacier and things that you can do once you are out there. Clean restrooms at the gate house and prior to getting out to the Glacier. Definitely need to do this again! read more

Glacier Tours - What a beautiful day! - Tours Near Me - Sutton, Alaska

The tour company is a rip off. The glacier is amazing. This glacier access tour company will tell you 1:8 ratio over the phone and then charge you 10% less and make the ratio 1:25. Our tour guide Nick was making excuses to drop his load midway and kicked us out. He said another tour guide will take us back. We were willing to accompany our fellow traveller who was a little slow but Nick wouldn't take us just because of the speed. He said it is dangerous that was just an excuse. I think the Alaskan government should take action against this tour company. Why can't they allow us to hike on our own? Neither will they allow us to hike nor will they take us any further than a quarter mile after charging all the money. Extreme discrimination! Not legal or Ethical! read more

I had a great time on the tour. I went in March and on the 2pm tour. If you're staying in anchorage I recommend it as it's a very easy but long 2+ hour drive. All the tour guides and staff were beyond friendly, helpful, and full of energy and knowledge. This was a wonderful 2+ hour walking tour. I recommend going in winter so you can see the awe inspiring beauty of the glacier and visit all the paths that haven't melted. Thank you all for a great solo experience read more

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This is a good "roadside" glacier, meaning you can see it in its glory from the Glenn Highway. But to get an up close and personal experience with it, you will need to trek on private land, and to do so will cost you about $15 a head. There are a few guide companies like MICA who will take you ice-climbing, which I gotta try one of these days. The glacier is an awesome sight, you can visualize it carving out the valley it presently sits in. The toe gives way to the Matanuska River which you will drive along if you're coming from Anchorage. The Mat-River eventually dumps out into the Cook Inlet and deposits several million CYs of silt and other fine-grain material. If you don't want to pay to get close, you can always view from the State Park turnout with interpretive boards. read more

Glacier Tours - Tours Near Me - Sutton, Alaska

First thing to know, the glacier is accessed through private land therefore dollars must change hand. The cost is $25 per person to guide yourself, additional $79 per person for a group guided tour. Even more dollars if you want to climb up a glacier. We went with the self tour because we had climbed a glacier before in Canada. It was fun hiking through ice and mud to get to the glacier. The view was worth the price of admission. read more

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As of 8/5/2011, the price per person was $20. A bit higher than Becca C's review, but it might be because I was there during peak travel time for Alaska. Driving down the highway towards the glacier, it definitely stands out with it's crisp bluish-white color. You drive down a private unpaved road, and stop in the gift shop to pay your admission. There is another 2-mile drive into where the glacier parking lot sits. The hike into and onto the glacier gets more amazing with each step. The hike culminates with a glacier lake, which is the beginning of Matanuska River. Without photo stops, the hike to the lake is about 30 minutes. With picture stops, it took about 1 hour for us to get to the lake. If you are planning to visit, the hike on the glacier to the lake is definitely worthwhile. Note: There is also an option to have a guided tour to the lake for $50 per person. I felt the hike was very manageable on my own. If you're cautious, you can make it all the way in and save $30-35. read more

It's pricey per person. That's my only set back from 5 stars. 2 of the 5 of us were able to get military discounts so that was nice. They offer a guided tour or self tour by following the cones out there. They have picnic tables so you can take food if you would like. It's not close to much of anything. We chose to eat a good meal before we went and brought snack for afterwards. It is colder once you get down there. Waterproof shoes are your best way to go. I wore rain boots with an awesome grip. People I saw on tours had helmets and spikes on. I wore jeans and a plaid shirt. Three of my friends wore yoga pants and dry fit tops or hoodie. I purchased ear muffs prior to coming out here which were a life saver. Have layers. read more

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Such a fun afternoon! You drive down a long dirt road. We paid $20 per adult and nothing for our under 2 year old. Its about a 1/2 mile walk to the glacier, over a lot of silty mud, but they have done a good job of laying down boards to get you there clean. BEAUTIFUL GLACIER! Really a lot of fun, and a nice little walk. It's pretty much as good as everyone else says. Beautiful! We went a little bit out on to the glacier because we have a toddler and the 1/2 mile mud walk there and back was about all she could do. Also they don't make glacier footwear for tiny feet. I am coming back here every time I visit Alaska! It's fun, and like nothing else I have done. Makes you feel really rugged, even with a little one. Totally not stroller or wheelchair accessible. Though I did see some dads with kids in back packs on the walk. If I had older kids I would totally spring for the guided tour, maybe next time! read more