Matanuska Glacier Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Matanuska Glacier. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Matanuska Glacier Hike Day Tour

• Full-Day Matanuska Glacier Hike And Tour

• Matanuska Glacier Winter Tour

• Hike Matanuska Glacier w/Alaska Local Honey, Wine Tasting

• All Day Matanuska Glacier Hike from Anchorage

You can only access the glacier via a guided tour, which includes a US$55 entrance fee to the private Matanuska Glacier Park access road. Guided glacier tours are available that include the chance to hike on the glacier. A full-day glacier tour costs around US$300-US$350 per person.

Yes, the Matanuska Glacier is worth visiting, especially for nature lovers who are looking for Alaska's most striking scenery. Learn about ice formations and natural history, and get up close to one of the state's most impressive glaciers. To see the glacier up close, book a hiking tour that sets out over the glacier's icy terrain (necessary gear like crampons is usually provided). 

Per one customer who booked the Matanuska Glacier Hike Day Tour, "We had a blast!! The glaciers were so absolutely beautiful, the snow had freshly fallen so it was truly a winter wonderland. Our tour guide Alyssa helped us up into beautiful hard to reach places and we explored so many glacier caves and beauties. Also wasn't a hard hike in the slightest."

No, you can’t go to Matanuska Glacier on your own. You used to be able to take a self-guided tour, however today you have to explore as part of a tour for safety reasons. Most tours include equipment that makes walking on the glacier easier.

You’ll need around 2–3 hours at the Matanuska Glacier. This includes the hike in, which usually takes around 20 minutes. Most glacier tours last from morning until evening, to make time for the 2-hour drive each way from Anchorage, so it’s best to budget an entire day.

No, you can’t walk on the Matanuska Glacier without joining a tour. In the past, you were allowed to take self-guided tours, but today you need to join a tour to visit the glacier for safety reasons. Most tours include round-trip transport from Anchorage.

The Matanuska Glacier hike is not too strenuous and is recommended for travelers with a moderate fitness level—it usually takes around 20 minutes to reach the glacier from the trailhead. The entire loop is 1.6 miles (2.6 kilometers) long. Make sure you take water, wrap up warm, and wear sturdy footwear.

The hike to Matanuska Glacier takes around 20 minutes via the Matanuska Glacier Trail, a loop of 1.6 miles (2.6 kilometers). Guided tours usually take a bit longer as they include plenty of time at the glacier to take photos and learn about its geology.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Matanuska Glacier. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in and around Anchorage:

• Portage Glacier

• Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

• Lake Hood

• Cook Inlet

• Denali

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in and around Anchorage.