Matanuska Glacier
Our trip to Alaska would not be complete without walking on a glacier. Matanuska Glacier is accessible by car located about 2 hours north of Anchorage tucked between the Talkeetna and Chugach mountain ranges. According to Matanuska Glacier Adventures Matanuska Glacier is 4 miles wide and 27 miles long.
Glacier Access & Gift Shop
When you get to the glacier access information center and gift shop, this is where you will pay and sign a waiver to access before heading out to the glacier. I was a little nervous about signing a waiver, as I am one who reads everything before I sign. It made me wonder what exactly am I getting myself into. There are several options and pricing, we did the glacier access. This allowed us the opportunity to explore at our own pace, however only going one third mile in on a designated trail just up to the edge of the main glacier. For beginners this was good enough for us, if we were to go again we would probably opt for a tour. This trip at this time of the year, September, was $30 per person.
What to Wear When you Walk on a Glacier
It is often hard to guess the temperature by looking at AJ and I in pictures because I am always cold and AJ is always warm. I wore jeans, long sleeves, wind breaker, hat, gloves and a layer of Cuddle Dudes. AJ wore shorts, short sleeves and a windbreaker. We both wore tennis shoes and with Yak Tracks attached to them. You would be fine without the Yak Tracks it really was not slippery where we were. Maybe if we went in further? As long as you have comfortable warn clothes and tennis or hiking shoes you will be fine. We had some drizzly rain when we first arrived. Fortunately, it stopped and we did not have to deal with getting wet. This was mid September in Alaska. Different times of the year will certainly change your outer ware and for the limited glacier walk that we did you do not need any additional gear, more extensive tours may require more gear.
Walking on the Glacier- Getting Out There
There are metal walking paths to guide you out and onto the glacier. You can see my dad & his wife Judy walking out on the trail.
Glacier Looks Like Up Close
From far away it looks like a lot of black dirt but it is really ice. You can see an up close picture (below) that shows a crevice where you can see the layers of ice. The black you see is sediment that has been carried down from the glacier.
Size Of the Galcier
In these pictures the glacier does not look as big as it really is. However if you look at how small the people look on the left it will give a little more perspective to the enormous size of Matanuska Glacier.
Walking on a glacier is an incredible experience.
For those of us from Florida maybe once in a life time experience. If in Alaska I would put this on your list of “To Do’s”. At the end as we were walking back I found my own little rock Island at Matanuska Glacier.
Meredith at Chasing Abandon
This brings back the memories! I walked on the Matanuska glacier in the summer of 2000! It looks a bit grittier than when I was there, but maybe it’s the overcast sky. Were you able to see any of the vibrant blues in the pools of water?
Donna
Meredith there were so many rocks and what looked like frozen dirt, but it was ice with the sediment. We could see the blues in the layers of ice. Such a great experience.
Teresa | Happymomhacks
Beautiful pictures! I would think it would be pretty cold on a glacieer but you seem dress for fall. What was the temperature like in September? And do you think that time of year is the best time to go? Thx
Donna
Teresa, We went in September, do not remember the exact temperature I am thinking it was probable in the 50’s it was cold but not unbarable for this Florida girl. My husband is never cold. The only thing I would say about Alaska in general in September is a lot of their tourist tours are finishing up about the 2nd week of September. So if there is something you really want to do I would check into it before you plan your trip. Would probably try for August if you are wanting to do any trips or guided tours. Enjoy, It is beautiful.
Cristine
What a cool experience. We’re planning a summer-long trip to Alaska in a couple years. This looks like an adventure to add to our itinerary.
Donna
Cristine, This was a great experience. Plan for a lot of driving when you go. Everywhere you go is a good drive to get to it.
Valerie Linhoff
I hadn’t heard about the Matanuska Glacier. I’ll have to check this out and see if it’s possible to add it to our Alaska trip we’re planning. I was thinking glaciers were only accessible by boat/ sea.
Donna
Valerie, We drove to this one but it was a lot of driving to get to it. Well worth the drive. A GREAT Experience. We saw one by boat, totally a different experience. Both great, just different, do both if you can.
Link to the boat tour we did. https://www.alaskacollection.com/day-tours/kenai-fjords-tours/
bridget
Alaska is definitely on my bucket list! Thanks for the info. Glacier-walking a lot different than I would have expected!
Donna
Bridget, I was not sure what to expect, I was really very nervous when they had me sign a release. But it was a beautiful and memorable experience.
Cindy
What a fun and unique experience! It would be a great first for me.
Donna
Cindy, This was our first visit, but I am ready to go back. Our first trip was in September, if I were to go back would probably try to go June-August. We missed the whales and a lot of the tourist stuff was starting to close up. -Donna
Barbara
How interesting! I think this is really cool!
Donna
Barbara,
For this ‘Florida Girl’ It was a very different and interesting experience. Would love to go back. – Donna
Leeanne
I really want to go to Alaska. I’m glad you explained about the sediment from the glacier being the black rocks onto otherwise I would have thought the glacier was just the ‘white’ part in your pictures. It’s so interesting that the glacier moves the sediment as well. Super cool.
Donna
Leeanne, You really have to get up close to see it. From far away it just looks like dirt. It was an amazing trip. I hope you get the chance to go to Alaska! Donna
Pam
What a neat experience! I would love to get to Alaska someday and I will definitely want to walk on a glacier!
Donna
It was a great experience, loved Alaska and hope to maybe get back there this year.
Chantelle
Just another reason I’m longing to visit Alaska!
Donna
Chantelle, I know I am ready to go back. -Donna
lisa Manderino
That sounds amazing! Alaska is on my list. This looks like a fun place to check out!
Donna
Lisa, It was a wonderful trip. -Donna
Carey
This would be such a great experience. My in-laws have visited Alaska and loved it.
Donna
Carey,
This was my first trip we did a lot, but I am ready to go back for another visit. -Donna
Marianne
Amazing photos! Can’t wait to visit Alaska! Your pics remind me of our trip to Alberta. We hiked up to one of the glaciers there… though not quite walking on it, to see it was incredible!
Donna
Marianne, Thank you, Alaska will not disappoint, such a beautiful place. -Donna
Trisha
This is awesome! I didn’t know there were any glaciers that you could drive to.
Donna
Trisha, It was a long drive, but everything in Alaska is a long drive. Be prepared to do some driving in Alaska. Seems like everywhere we went was about a 3-hour drive. But it was so well worth it. -Donna
Sara Moore
I have never hiked a glacier- this looks amazing- what a cool experience! I would love to check out Matanuska Glacier someday 🙂
Donna
Sara, I was not sure what to expect, but it was so interesting. – Donna