Alaska Glaciers

You can see a glacier just about anywhere in Alaska. But in the Mat-Su Valley, you can actually experience one. Hike on Matanuska Glacier. Flightsee the glaciers of Denali, "the Great One." Tour Knik Glacier by jetboat and enjoy a picnic lunch in view of the glacier's majestic and cathedral like spires of ice. The Matanuska Glacier The Matanuska Glacier is one of Alaska's most spectacular glaciers, is also one of the oldest. It looms 13,000 feet high over the Glenn Highway, is 27 miles long, stretches four miles across its foot and is easily seen and accessed from the Glenn Highway. Guided treks are available! The Knik Glacier The Knik Glacier averages about 200 feet thick. Its face is about three miles long at the head of Knik River, about five miles long along the gorge and 3.5 miles long in the valley of the Lake George. Before the great earthquake of 1964, Knik Glacier used to seal off Lake George Gorge causing Lake George to form. Each spring, the water would erode the glacier ice dam and as much as 150 million gallons of water per minute would begin to pour through the gorge, at times forming a wall of water 150 feet high. Presently, there are air boat tours of Knik Glacier as well as flightseeing tours. Flightseeing the Glaciers Flightseeing the glaciers at the base of Mt. McKinley, including Ruth Basin and Tokasitna Glacier, is a popular activity. During certain times of the year, pilots land on the Kahiltna and Ruth Glaciers, allowing passengers to walk on the ice rivers.