10 Amazing Glacier Locations In Anchorage (2024)
Do you love mountains and glaciers? Anchorage is a big city in Alaska, highly known for its beautiful location. Anchorage has some of the most beautiful scenic views from where you can spot the Glacier Mountains, or you can say the voices from ice. Being able to go on the top of the glacier is one of the best feelings ever. There are many ways you can see glacier mountains in the city, be it a helicopter, cruises, or by climbing. Whether you live in Anchorage or some other country, you can always visit these places to witness the most mesmerizing views of the city.
In this article, we are going to learn about a few places in Anchorage where you can get close to the glaciers. The natural beauty of the glaciers in Anchorage can be enjoyed by hiking, by plane, and by cruise. Apart from that, there are several glacier tips for all age-group people which have to be followed while you are on the way to the glacier.
10 Amazing Glacier Locations In Anchorage
They are:
1. Mendenhall Glacier
Mendenhall Glacier is one of the top glacier locations in Anchorage, which can be reached by road. More than 400,000 visitors visit this place each year, and the best way to reach the place is either taking a taxi, bus, or shuttle. Mendenhall Glacier has a lake that has many icebergs however, it is one of the best places to do glacier exploring. 
There are many walking trails, which are maintained by the Forest Services. You can click some surreal photos from any of the trails. Apart from that, the best ways to explore this place is through East Glacier Loop, Mendenhall Glacier Float, and Glacier View Sea Kayaking.
2. Denali National Park
Denali National Park is one of the largest national parks in the United States, which has the highest mountain in North America. The park is stretched into six million acres which has tundra, wide river valleys, glacier draped mountains and high airplane ranges. If you want to visit this place, you have to travel with the only approved buses because there is only one road that leads to this place. The Denali National Park is home to wolves, reindeer, bears, elk, and many other animals. You can also spot more than 167 species of birds.
3. Prince William Sound
Who does not love seeing iconic glaciers? Prince William Sound is one of the top glacier locations in Anchorage, one can visit. This place is surrounded by high mountains and tidewater glaciers. It is located at a distance of 90 minutes from Anchorage and you can reach there by using a train or car. It has the maximum amount of tidewater glaciers that cannot be found anywhere else on the earth. You can explore the glaciers at this location through slower cruising boats. You can reach out to Alaska Wild Guides Jet Ski Tours, North Pacific Expedition, Discovery Voyages, etc., to plan the trip to explore.
4. Dalton Highway
Dalton Highway is one of the most beautiful locations to explore, which is easily accessible from Fairbanks and Anchorage. It is an ideal location for all the sightseers. In the northern area, to the end of Dalton Highway, you can explore the Arctic Circle where in the summer it is 24 hours daylight and 24 hours darkness in the winters. You can visit this place to spot beautiful glaciers and click some amazing pictures. This place is going to leave you love-struck with this place.
5. Spencer Glacier
Spencer Glacier is located at a distance of 60 miles, also considered as one of the top-rated glacier locations in Anchorage. You can visit this place through Alaska Railroad’s Glacier Discovery Train, which runs daily from May 25 to September 16. Visitors top at the Chugach National Park around 1:45 where one can enjoy 1.3 miles of one-way hiking to view the platform of the glacier. Apart from this, what you can do is take another hiking of 1.7 miles to the edge of the glacier. You can choose to hike on your own or you can choose to take a guide with you by the US Forest Service ranger.
6. Portage Valley
Portage Valley is located at a distance of one hour drive from Anchorage, situated at the Highway of Seward. You can explore the two glaciers through this highway. Byron Glacier is highly accessible for all age groups of people. The trail to the glacier is easy, flat, and walkable for everyone. The first half of the trail is well-taken care of while the other half is filled with rocks. Portage Pass Trail is the second trail that is accessible from the valley, which is at the distance of 4 miles round hike, having glacier views. Portage Lake is highly known for biking and skiing during winters.
7. Matanuska Glacier
Matanuska Glacier is located on the Glenn Highway at a two-hour drive from Anchorage. It is proclaimed as one of the few major ice sheets in the world that can be found. It is a huge glacier that is stretched over 26 miles and 4 miles wide. The State Recreation Area has around 12 campsites and 20 mint walks to the platform of the glacier.
8. Stay At The Kennicott Glacier Lodge
Do you want to stay in a room that has a view of a glacier? If yes, then this is the only glacier in the state which has a hotel on the street. It is one of the best glacier locations in Anchorage, which is not going to disappoint you. On clear sunny days, you can witness ice falls on Mount Blackburn at the head of the glacier. Here comes the difficult part, it is located at a distance of an 8-hour drive from Anchorage. The second option you can choose is a 2-hour flight to reach there. Some of the popular activities you can enjoy are white-water rafting, hiking, flightseeing, and more other things.
9. Glacier Bay National Park
Glacier Bay National Park is one of the popular destinations to get close to the glacier. It has more than 50 recognized glaciers as well as two significant arms known as East Arm and West Arm. More than 400,000 visitors visit this place every year by ships. You can spot seals on the ice chunks, besides this, you will also be present in the sight of Grand Pacific Glacier.
10. Flightsee Ruth Glacier
Flightsee Ruth Glacier the George deeper than the Grand Canyon, which is 3,800 feet deep. One of the best ways to tour this glacier is through a plane because of its granite walls. Some of the tours allow glacier landing at a few places where you can enjoy half an hour, taking pictures of the astonishing glaciers, and making some memorable memories. The one important thing to do is to follow the advice of the guides to prevent any miss-happening on the trip.
These names are the list of some top glacier locations in Anchorage, which you can visit. The earlier mentioned places are highly recommended to the people who are looking for adventure on their journeys. If you are planning to visit the glaciers, then do not forget to pack all the essentials such as gloves, scarf, hat, woolen hiking socks, hand warmers, body warmers, waterproof hiking boots, etc.
