Johns Hopkins Glacier lies beyond Johns Hopkins Fjord. Other well-known glaciers in the Park include Johns Hopkins, Reid, Carroll and Lamplugh glaciers. Take Alaska Railroad from Denali to Fairbanks & see glaciers at Kenai Fjords National Park. Worthington Glacier is found along Thompson Pass, 28 miles northeast of Valdez. It is about two hours north of Anchorage on the Glenn Highway. The glaciers of the Fairweather Range on the western side are advancing while the glaciers of the Chilkat Range to the east are receding. Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. Located near Fairbanks International Airport, a short drive from downtown Fairbanks. Also, a longer hike to the Harding Ice Field (a trailside walk to a 3,500-foot summit) takes place at 9 a.m. on Saturdays in July and August. 193 Reviews. This duplex is set up with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a 1 car garage. The surging glacier has a tendency to dam off the waters of Russell Fjord on its left. The average amount of snowfall in the mountains that feed this glacier is over 250 inches per year. There are lots of other places to explore and camp for the avid backpacker. North of Yakutat in Yakutat Bay and Disenchament Bay. For more information on Portage Glacier visit the Chugach National Forest website. There are also beautiful ice caves and rivulets to see, but be careful not to walk too far onto the ice of this tempting glacier. Car, train, or group tour. In 1891 it was renamed in honor of Thomas Corwin Mendenhall. McBride Glacier, the only tidewater glacier in the East Arm, is approximately 40 nautical … The Center offers opportunities to learn about the Chugach National Forest and glaciers with fun and interactive exhibits. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights, Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse!). From the center one can take a short boat trip to view the glaciers or hike along the nature paths. Discover Alaska's second largest metropolis Fairbanks. Exit Glacier (near Seward) View on Map. Some 15,000 years ago, this glacier reached another 50 miles west to the Palmer area. You can hike right up to Seward's Exit Glacier and feel the dense blue ice while listening to it crackle. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. Visitors can take a short walk to reach the face of the glacier or hike a little further to the Harding Icefield. This glacier once filled the entire bay, reaching Icy Strait in the late 1700s. Hubbard Glacier is a valley glacier that outlets near Yakutat, Alaska in Disenchantment Bay. For more information please visit https://www.nps.gov/glba/index.htm. Child's Glacier is certainly Alaska's most spectacular roadside glacier--it's the only one where you can see calving. Know what to look for from afar and up close. After his arrival in Fairbanks, Harrison became fascinated with “surging” glaciers, which rumble forward with unusual quickness after decades of being slow and sluggish. The Begich, Boggs Visitor Center is your gateway to the glaciers. For more information, visit the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve website. But even on warm, sunny days, it's like standing in front of an open refrigerator. There are elevated access boardwalks for wildlife viewing and trails for more glacier observing opportunities. Arctic Circle Day Trip from Fairbanks with Lunch. Intervals of clouds and sunshine. The entire duplex has had extensive updating with new carpet and paint throughout. Some of Alaska’s sparkling glaciers you can practically walk up to (Exit Glacier in Seward, Worthington Glacier in Valdez) or even walk on (Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Matanuska Glacier outside of Palmer, Kennicott Glacier in the old mining area of McCarthy-Kennecott). Thompson Pass holds the honor of being…. Not too spectacular in size, these hanging glaciers dangle from mountains in the Chugach National Forest. Located just north of Valdez by road. Important COVID-19 Update [as of August 3, 2020]. Receding rapidly, its face is now covered with rocky moraine. Thompson Pass holds the honor of being the snowiest place in the state: During the peak winter of 1951-52, it got more than 80 feet of snow. You would have to fly from Fairbanks to Anchorage. There was a problem with your submission. Alaska glaciers are incredible to see, and incredibly easy to reach. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. Bring a light jacket, as winds tend to pick up around the face of the glacier itself.Distance: 48 miles south of Anchorage.Drive Time: 1 hour.Explore Time: 1-4 hours. See Alaska's highlights by railroad or motorcoach in a group of up to 50, Travel in small groups, stay at exclusive wilderness lodges, and spend more time outdoors, All-inclusive multi-day vacation packages at a remote wilderness lodge, Travel with a professional photographer to the best photo locations around the state, Trips range from backpacking, rafting, to upscale remote lodge retreats, Cruises depart Juneau or Sitka. The glacier closed off this waterway twice within about 15 years, causing the water levels in the resulting lake to rise dramatically. The distance between Denali and Anchorage is approximately 130 miles by air and approximately 225 miles by car. For more information, call the Anchorage office at 907-644-3661 or the Fairbanks office at 907-459-3730. Stops include Seward (Kenai Fjords), Girdwood, Whittier & Spencer Glacier, Stops include Wasilla, Talkeetna, Denali National Park & Fairbanks. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. During portions of its cycle, a tidewater glacier is relatively insensitive to climate change. out of the 3-4 days, i really do not have anything firm yet in mind rather than explore something from out there in Alaska. Alaska Airlines and Ravn are the only two carriers. Some of these collapsing icebergs are so large, they send a 10-foot wave rocketing across the river and crashing onto the opposite shore. Bring a light jacket, and as always, dress in layers. Photo about Taken from an airplane at about 10,000 feet. Winds pick up near glaciers as well. Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. Credits: University of Alaska Fairbanks/Christopher Larsen. However never paddle (or take a boat) into McBride Inlet due to its hazardous entrance. Be aware that many of the parks, forests, and refuges in Alaska have closed their visitor centers in light of these events. Campgrounds, RV Parks & Public Use Cabins. Choose flightseeing, kayak tours, a day cruise, or an ice trekking adventure tour for a chance to admire these natural wonders. It is approximately 400 square miles, 32 miles long and 1,800 feet thick. Is one of the most visited glaciers in the state, and the only part of the Kenai Fjords National Park accessible by road. Byron Glacier trailhead is near Portage Lake. Mendenhall Glacier For more information visit the Alaska State Parks website at http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/matsu/matsuglsrs.htm. Glacier Bay National Park. Technically, Portage is no longer a roadside glacier, as it recedes an average of one foot a day and is now no longer visible from the road, but its big blue icebergs are often found along the shore of the lake, right in front of the parking area. You can hike right up to Seward’s Exit Glacier and feel the dense blue ice while listening to it…. Also, near the visitor center there are a total of 50 campsites at the Williwaw and Black Bear campgrounds. Book Glacier House Hostel, Fairbanks on Tripadvisor: See 7 traveller reviews, 15 candid photos, and great deals for Glacier House Hostel, ranked #19 of 27 hotels in Fairbanks and rated 3 of 5 at Tripadvisor. This glacier is the largest piedmont glacier in North America; spanning 60 miles across. When the Begich-Boggs Visitors Center was originally built, it was right at the foot … About 60 miles southeast of Anchorage, Spencer Glacier is only accessible via the … For more information visit the Alaska Railroad Spencer Glacier webpage. then i came across the aurora and became very interested that i plan to ditch plans for Anchorage and do Fairbanks instead. Keep an eye out for summertime ice-climbers at this most impressive roadside glacier. If you are on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, you should be able to see Denali at Point Woronzof, Eathquake Park, and Resolution Park but, again, only if the day is very clear. He spent many days on Variegated Glacier near Yakutat, and started a measuring program that continues today on Black Rapids Glacier, south of Delta Junction. Glacial flour? Your guide to experiencing Alaska's Public Lands, Discover Alaska's Parks, Forests and Refuges, Alaska Department of Commerce and Economic Development, Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, Stewardship of Public Lands: Do Your Part, How to Protect Yourself from Mosquitoes and Pests, http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/matsu/matsuglsrs.htm, For more information visit the Kenai Fjords Naitonal Park website, Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation: Prince William Sound website, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve website. A short hike (3/4 mile) allows visitors a view of the glacier and a raft trip down the river to the train if desired. Directions: From downtown Juneau, take Egan Drive and turn right at Mendenhall Loop Road. Here are Alaska's seven best roadside glaciers: Note: Stepping out of your car to scratch the face of a blue ice glacier is awe-inspiring. Find important safety tips & and guides on: McBride Glacier in the Glaciers in Alaska. Please check your email to verify your subscription. The high point of the icefield that feeds Yakutat is about 2,000 feet above sea level, lower than Flattop Mountain near Anchorage and even Ester Dome near Fairbanks (neither of which have glaciers). Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Directions: Head south from Anchorage on the Seward Highway-or north from Seward-the turnoff is clearly marked at Seward Highway mile 3.7 and is nine miles long (half of it's gravel).Distance: 125 miles south of Anchorage.Drive Time: 3 hours.Explore Time: 1 - 5 hours. The Gulkana Glacier is an excellent summer destination to experience the many features of glaciers. near Glacier (in Kalispell, MT) N.P., but came to the conclusion that if I am seeking nature and wildlife, the best place to go is Alaska. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. The icefield that feeds Yakutat is large enough to cover the five boroughs of New York City. my original intent was to be just in Anchorage, do a day trip to the glaciers and the remaining part just around downtown and near Anchorage. After his arrival in Fairbanks, Harrison became fascinated with “surging” glaciers, which rumble forward with unusual quickness after decades of being slow and sluggish. Our 7 day Alaska Train tour is a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? Overwhelmed by choices? There is a short ranger-led walk daily at 11am and 3pm, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The 13 most accessible and spectacular glaciers out of over 30,000, Most Alaskan cruises include a visit to a tidewater glacier — here are the best, Ice sizzle? This 12-mile glacier is part of Tongass National Forest and its visitors’ center is just a half mile from the glacier’s face. That's why they've built a viewing platform--and why you should use it. Directions: Head north from Anchorage on the Glenn Highway. If you're standing anywhere near the shore when this happens, you will get washed into the river. McBride Glacier, the only tidewater glacier in the East Arm, is approximately 40 nautical miles from Bartlett Cove. Or, take the more challenging Nugget Falls trail that ends at a five-story-high waterfall neighboring the glacier. It still gets plenty today, which keeps this 4-mile glacier from retreating as much as others. Look for salmon splashed into the forest! So in the near future I have the opportunity of transfering to Fairbanks or Anchorage, Alaska, but I cannot choose which one.
Both cities have their advantages and their disadvantages. The Peters Glacier flows from the north and northwest portion of the mountain, whereas the Kahiltna Glacier is situated on the southwestern side of Denali and shares the southern slopes with an arm of the Ruth Glacier. Glacier Bay is an interesting stop because you can actually view receding and advancing glaciers side by side. It now has a…. Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. Also located in Chugach National Forest, can only be accessed by railroad from Anchorage or Portage. Worthington Glacier is found along Thompson Pass, 28 miles northeast of Valdez. You can do a two-mile hike here along a sometimes treacherously narrow ridge, or you can also just do a short, paved hike to a viewing platform. Several pullouts allow for viewing. Yes, on a very clear day, you can see Denali, which is Koyukon Athabascan for "The Great One", all the way from Anchorage. Located near Juneau in the Tongass National Forest. This 12-mile glacier is part of Tongass National Forest and its visitors’ center is just a half mile from…. After his arrival in Fairbanks, Harrison became fascinated with “surging” glaciers, which rumble forward with unusual quickness after decades of being slow and sluggish. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. Glaciers near Anchorage include a total of 60 within 50 miles of the city. 7-10 days is the most common. Alder trees now grow on new soil above the ice at the part of the glacier near the river. Directions: Head south from Anchorage on the Seward Highway, to the end of the 5-mile Portage Spur Road. You’ll find more glaciers in the Alaskan national parks than anywhere else, which keeps these ancient monuments of ice accessible to all, including scientists who are closely studying the role of glaciers in our changing climate. Fairbanks Named in 1890 after Gardiner G. Hubbard (regent of the Smithsonian Institution and first president of the National Geographic Society), it is the longest tidewater glacier in Alaska, with an open calving face over ten kilometers (6 mi) wide. Travel to the Arctic Circle from … They feed the nearby stream systems that harbor many species of salmon and trout. Tidewater glaciers consist of recurring periods of advance alternating with rapid retreat and punctuated by periods of stability. Originally known as Sitaantaagu ("the Glacier Behind the Town") or Aak'wtaaksit ("the Glacier Behind the Little Lake") by the Tlingits, the glacier was named Auke (Auk) Glacier by naturalist John Muir for the Tlingit Auk Kwaan (or Aak'w Kwaan) band in 1888. Yakutat Glacier, near the Alaska town of the same name and flowing from the mountains near the Canada border, calves into a lake as deep as an ocean bay.