The 11 Treks in Anchorage That Earn Their Price

1.Glacier Hike on Matanuska Glacier – Best Vacation Value

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 463 reviews · 7 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $325Our pick

Leave Anchorage at 8 a.m. for Matanuska Glacier, about two hours away. Your guide, such as Patrick, Holly, Hunter, or Grace, handles the drive, safety briefing, and glacier route. Expect spiked footwear, helmets, blue ice, narrow passages, photo stops, and a hike of roughly two hours.

“This was an amazing experience! Holly was our main guide and Chris was our glacier certified guide. Both were super knowledgeable, and Holly took pictures of us throughout so we could enjoy the experience and not to have to worry about always getting a great pic. Our group ended up being small (8) which worked out well. We had a variety of physical fitness levels but everyone made it through. It was mostly pretty easy with a few moderately strenuous parts. Per the guides, the trail changes depending on what time of year you go so some may be easier and some may be harder than what I experienced. You…”

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2.Matanuska Glacier Hike Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 396 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $329

Ride from Anchorage to Matanuska Glacier in a small Mercedes Sprinter van, then spend about two hours on the ice with guides such as Sophia, Jason, or Elias. Expect microspikes, helmets, glacier formations, photo stops, and lunch at a lodge with a glacier view. Minimum age is 8.

“It is a MUST activity! You won’t be disappointed!! The glacier walk is amazing. Drive to glacier is gorgeous. Lunch at the lunch is delicious! Such an incredible tour!”

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3.Full-Day Matanuska Glacier Hike And Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 216 reviews · 8 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $310

Travel from downtown Anchorage to Matanuska Glacier in a small group, stopping in Palmer for food before a guided three-hour ice walk. Guides such as Sophie, Jacob, Jason, and Chris provide glacier safety, crampons, warm gear, and stories about Alaska along the way.

“We really like the tour and guide is really knowledgeable and friendly!! Highly recommended!!! Will definitely join the tour again next time!”

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4.All Day Matanuska Glacier Hike from Anchorage

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 66 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $329

Travel from Anchorage to Matanuska Glacier in a small group of up to 10. Guides such as Daniel, Petra, Leona, and Will lead a two-hour ice hike, explain glacier features, and help with photos. Pickup, snacks, water, winter gear, and safety equipment are included.

“Generally the tour took 2 hours drive to Matanuska, a 2 hour hike and 2 hours drive to return. I am not sure why limit the time for hike to two hours, wonder to cater for the physical and safety of the visitor.. The tour guide at the glazier site was strict, unpleasant tone and everyone must follow the walk on the glacier one by one with few stopovers for photo taking. I can understand it was for the safety of everyone particularly the tour had pre-teen/teen. But kind of boring. We expect something more interesting and challenging. Also October was a shoulder season which is lack of snow and…”

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5.Full-Day Matanuska Glacier Hike and Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 48 reviews · 8 hours · from $369

Ride from downtown Anchorage to Matanuska Glacier, then cross the ice with cleats and a local guide. Drivers Gary, Slim, and Martha have led engaging trips, while the glacier guide explains the ice and area's natural history. Bring warm layers and lunch money for the road stop.

“The entire experience was one I’ll never forget! Our drivers, Slim and Martha, were so friendly, funny, and engaging. They made the 2 hour journey to the glacier and back feel like nothing! Our glacier guide was incredible as well, and knew so much about the area! Would highly recommend. 10/10.”

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6.Alpine Classic Trek

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $179Best value

Spend about four hours hiking a Chugach State Park ridgeline with a small group and an English-speaking naturalist guide. Choose between Rendezvous or Mile High Ridgeline based on weather and group ability. Expect steep climbing, 360-degree views, wildlife chances, snacks, trekking poles, and micro-spikes when needed.

“What awesome views!! This is not the right hike for you if you don’t want to put in the effort to get to the top. The first 45 minutes of the climb are the toughest. But if you do, the views are spectacular. Our guide Greg was great. Providing interesting facts about the area and just general information about Alaska. Would do it again just for the view!”

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7.Matanuska Glacier Hike with Transfers

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 20 reviews · 8 hours · from $329

Travel from Anchorage in a small group of up to 13, then spend about three hours on Matanuska Glacier with an English-speaking professional guide. Admission, gloves, snow pants, safety gear, and hotel or Airbnb pickup are included. Guides and exact pickup times are assigned after booking.

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8.Matanuska Glacier Adventure Trek

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 6 hours · from $225

Walk deep into the Matanuska Glacier with a guide-led group capped at four people per guide. You’ll cover 6 or more miles over steep, uneven ice, using provided gear to reach features beyond the busy Ice Falls area. Guides such as Thomas and Betsy have led groups through this changing frozen world.

“The guide was very informative and friendly. Made sure all the folks in the group enjoyed the hike. The rappelling with the hike is added fun.”

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9.Chugach State Park Guided Alpine Trek

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 5 hours · from $179

Join Go Hike Alaska for a five-hour alpine trek from Anchorage into Chugach State Park. Your English-speaking guide leads you along a ridgeline, explains edible and native plants, and helps you watch for sheep, marmots, bears, and eagles. Guides including Eli, Brit, and Rebecca have led hikes to O’Malley Peak and Baldy.

“Just a small mountain but a huge experience, one of our favorite memories of our Alaskan adventure!!”

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10.Matanuska Glacier Ice Fall Trek

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 10 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $299

Leave Anchorage at 7:00 am for a guided three-hour trek on Matanuska Glacier. Your guide handles the glacier instruction while crampons, a helmet, water, snacks, and hotel transport are included. Routes change with ice conditions, and private treks are available for younger children.

“Albert was a great guide and driver. He is extremely knowledgeable about the area and all things Alaska. the transition to Mica for the glacier trek was extremely smooth. The glacier trek was truly incredible.”

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11.Matanuska Glacier Hike with Lunch Summer and Winter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $315

Leave Anchorage at 8:30 am for Matanuska Glacier, where a certified guide leads a 1.5 to 2-hour walk across ancient blue ice. The day includes lunch, water, snacks, transport, fees, and winter clothing if needed. Expect a small group of up to 14 people.

“I joined a glacier walking tour and had a really great experience overall. Our guide clearly loved his job and was incredibly enthusiastic throughout the trip. Along the way, he shared many interesting stories about life in Alaska, which made the journey even more enjoyable. I originally expected lunch to be something simple like a sandwich, but we actually stopped at a restaurant near the glacier where we could try some local Alaskan food—I had a salmon taco, which was a nice surprise. On the way back, the guide was also very helpful in recommending restaurants in the downtown area, which I really appreciated. Once we arrived at the glacier,…”

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