Guided Matanuska Glacier Tour Adventures in Alaska

Try our most popular tour! Journey two hours north of Anchorage and explore the Matanuska glacier’s incredible features and sweeping views of this scenic valley. This is considered a moderate activity – guests should have good knees, good back, and good balance to join us on the glacier hike. Total trekking distance is 2-3 miles, in approximately 2 hours.

The Matanuska glacier is a frozen 27-mile river of ancient ice. Thousands of years old, this massive glacier is tucked at the head of the Matanuska valley. On the ice with our expert guides, take stops to learn how the Matanuska glacier was born and how it shaped the surrounding landscape.

Walking on ice is slippery fun, so we provide our guests with helmets, a trekking pole and microspikes that attach to your boots. Please bring stiff-soled hiking boots/shoes in summer (May – October) and winter boots rated for below zero in the winter months (November – April). We also suggest you bring an extra pair of socks. Don’t be surprised if your boots get wet and/or covered with “flour,” the glacial till of finely-ground rock with a texture like talcum powder when it dries – it makes for great facials, but doesn’t clean off of your shoes easily!

This all-inclusive tour allows you to warm up with hot beverages and a hearty lunch (provided) at a local lodge as well as complimentary snacks and water in the vehicle. Conclude your adventures with transportation back to your Anchorage hotel.

Need additional outdoor winter gear for your tour? By request at the time of booking, Salmon Berry Tours can provide snow pants, boots, and gloves from our lending closet, if available.

What to Expect

Total trekking distance is 2-3 miles, in approximately 2 hours. There are no benches or places to sit while on the glacier. The route is ever-changing, with unassisted inclines and declines, taking place entirely on the uneven snow and ice covered terrain. If you choose to book the tour and our guide determines that you are not able to do the tour safely, the tour is non-refundable. If in doubt, please call us to discuss before you book.

If interested in a more adventurous glacier tour, we would be happy to put you in touch with one of our local partners for more strenuous glacier hiking ice climbing trip (summer only)

Why Choose Salmon Berry Tours…

Glaciers present an inherently dangerous environment, and Matanuska glacier is no exception. Salmon Berry Tours has been in business since 2005, and we have been trekking on Matanuska Glacier since 2011. We are fully-insured for glacier trekking. We take our training very seriously, with twice-annual crevasse rescue training. We operate in small groups, for additional safety, with one glacier guide for every six guests.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED

• Local Alaska guides
  • Narration provided by a CDL-certified, English-speaking, local-Alaskan guide
  • Certified Wilderness Aid and Glacier Trekking/Rescue Training
• Small group
  • Up to 18 guests
  • 1 to 6 guide-to-guest ratio while on the glacier
• All inclusive Tour
  • Admission to Matanuska Glacier Park
  • Two hours of guided hiking
  • Lunch at a local lodge overlooking the glacier
• Snacks and water
  • An assortment of complimentary snacks and water are available in the touring vehicle to and from the glacier
• Gear (Complimentary)
  • Glacier gear (helmets, trekking pole, and microspikes) provided to each guest
  • Access to our gently-used gear (boots, snowpants, winter coats, raincoats, mittens, hats, etc.) is available
• Hotel pick up or Downtown Anchorage Office* pick up
  • *Please select “Meet at Salmon Berry Tours Office”
• Drop off
  • Drop off is available at major hotels located within Anchorage
  • Drop off at Anchorage’s Ted Stevens International Airport may be available if requested in advance

NOT INCLUDED

• Guide gratuity
  • Basic guide gratuity for this tour starts at $20.00 per guest to be shared by both glacier guides.
• Drone Usage Permit
  • Guests coming with Salmon Berry Tours are not allowed to fly drones on the Matanuska Glacier. Please reach out to Matanuska Glacier Park Adventures to purchase a permit. Please organize a rental car or private transportation to/from the glacier if you have a permit to fly a drone over the glacier. Salmon Berry Tours does not allow drone use on tour.
• Ice climbing
  • While we don’t offer ice climbing, we can book you an alternative tour with one of our trusted local partners in the summer months only.

Day Tour Cancellation Policy

For direct bookings, cancellations outside 7 days before your tour, a 10% fee will be withheld. For cancellations inside 7 days, no refund applies.

Salmon Berry Travel & Tours recommends travel insurance provided by TravelSafe Insurance. Our recommendation is based on positive guest feedback. In particular, the experience of one Salmon Berry guest is instructive:

• Our guest had booked the vacation of a lifetime and the ultimate Alaska package. She had to cancel the trip a week before it began due to unfortunate circumstances.
• She later told us that within ten minutes of phone time her claim was processed in full. She was very pleased with TravelSafe Insurance’s immediate and empathetic response. Getting a refund for her trip was the last thing she wanted to think about, and TravelSafe Insurance took care of her needs and concerns immediately.