Wander through walls of ice with a Matanuska Glacier Park guide. PHOTO BY MARC LESTER
WANT TO GET UP CLOSE TO A GLACIER? HERE’S WHERE TO GO IN SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA the glacier. Crevasses especially are not always visible. If you want to trek on the surface of a glacier, you need to either know what you are doing — i.e. be an experienced outdoorsperson with training in glacier travel — or hire a hether you live in Alaska or guide. are visiting, glaciers are one of If you are on a kayak or boat near a glacier, the state’s most awe-inspiring stay half a mile away, as glaciers shift and calve and unique attractions. Alaska without warning and create massive waves, is, after all, home to most of the glaciers in the Dalpes said. Land on a beach at least a mile United States. from a glacier, and camp 2 miles away. There are glacier trips for people of all ages When walking around the toe, where and abilities. We narrowed those trips down the glacier ends, keep a distance of twice to the glaciers under 150 miles — or a two- to the glacier’s height. Same goes for paddling three-hour drive — from Anchorage. around an iceberg. But before we get to the adventures, let’s talk And keep in mind — some of these glaciers briefly about glacier safety. may be hard to access depending on the time Michelle Dalpes, a park ranger at Denali of year you visit. Make sure to contact local National Park and Preserve, urges all glacier visitors centers for information on current travelers to bring warm, layered clothes, sturdy conditions. shoes or boots, and a windbreak layer. Glaciers Got it? Phew. Now for the fun stuff. are colder than surrounding areas, and often Disclaimer: This list explores some of the windy. most popular glaciers and ways to see them, Walking on glaciers can be dangerous but for brevity’s sake it does not include unless — and sometimes even if — you have many of the tour operators that offer hikes, proper training and equipment. boat trips, scenic flights, kayaking, etc. More “Ice is unpredictable,” Dalpes said. information about tours can be found with a Crevasses and moulins (deep holes) form in simple online search.
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VISITORS’ GUIDE • 2021
PORTAGE VALLEY About an hour’s drive from Anchorage on the Seward Highway is Portage Valley and the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. Two glaciers are easily accessible in the valley. Byron Glacier is considered highly accessible for all ages. The 1.4-mile trail is a flat, easy walk. The first half is well-maintained, with a wide path. The second half is rocky, and to get closer to the glacier, visitors must cross boulders and small streams. Then there’s Portage Glacier. The glacier has receded out of view from the visitor center, but in the summer there’s a daily cruise and a pull-off where you can see the glacier from the road. A little farther down the road, Portage Pass trail is a 4-mile round-trip hike with glacier views. During the winter, frozen Portage Lake is a popular spot for skiers and bikers traveling to the toe of the glacier. There are no park rangers around in case of emergency, though, so traverse the ice at your own risk. Please note: The Begich, Boggs Visitor Center was closed for the 2020 summer season. Check the center’s website for up-to-date information, on.adn.com/3eUY49H.
