12 Glacier Hikes in the USA to Build a Trip Around

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.Grewingk Glacier Hike in Kachemak Bay

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 30 reviews · 6 hours (approx.)

Take a Coldwater Alaska boat from Homer Harbor into Kachemak Bay, then hike to Grewingk Glacier Lake. Choose a longer Glacier Spit route with an optional hand-operated river tram, or a shorter Saddle Trail outing. Captains such as Ben and Zach provide the boat transfer, trail directions, and pickup.

“We did the short challenging hike, close to 4 miles. We enjoyed our hike to the beautiful view of Grewingk Glacier, awesome scenery! Captain Ben did a great job taking us to our drop off and picking us up and then showing us some puffins and sea otters! Thanks Captain Ben!!”

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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 $225Best value

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.Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $872

You’ll fly 25 minutes from Juneau to Norris Glacier, then paddle a single-person packraft and hike across the ice with a guide. Gear, rainwear, boots, snacks, van transport, and the return flight are included. The five-hour trip suits fit adventurers age 10 and up.

“What an amazing experience. Seaplane, pack rafting, and hiking a glacier. You can do it all with this one! Highly recommend and all of the staff were wonderful.”

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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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12.Matanuska Glacier Adventure Trek

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $225

Join NOVA Alaska Guides for a six-hour Matanuska Glacier Adventure Trek beyond the Ice Falls area. With a guide-to-client ratio of 1:4, you’ll use crampons, boots, helmets, and ropes while hiking more than six miles across steep, uneven ice. Guide Ben is noted for careful safety briefings and strong geology knowledge.

“As an active below knee amputee, I kept my expectations low, as hiking and repelling down a glacier is definitely far beyond anything I have tried in 15 years. Our guide Ben, was amazing. Ben called me approximately two weeks before our trip to discuss my abilities and any challenges that I thought I may experience. By the time the call was over, I was confident that Ben would provide an excellent experience. On the day of the hike, Ben and I spoke prior to check-in. We went over equipment and expectations. As an avid hiker, we both agreed the hiking part would be easy, it was the unknown repelling…”

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