The Ultimate Guide to Matanuska Glacier

There are a number of ways to see glaciers in Alaska. Goodness, there are so many glaciers to see! You can fly over glaciers and even land on them. There are boat cruises that bring you to the point the glacier cascades into the water. And, believe it or not, you can hike on glaciers! During our epic Alaskan vacation, we spent the day at Matanuska Glacier. This is my best tips for what to expect, the types of tours and activities you can sign up for, and an overall review of the experience!

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Matanuska Glacier Overview

Matanuska Glacier is located about 100 miles East of Anchorage at approximately mile marker 102 on the Glenn Highway. It is a massive glacier at 27 miles long and 4 miles wide. Matanuska Glacier is famous for its mesmerizing blue ice (yes, it’s really blue), but also the fact that it’s one of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska.

Matanuska Glacier from the Highway

You can actually see the Matanuska Glacier from the Glenn Highway. Yes, it’s in the distance. But you can’t miss it because it looks like someone who went overboard on teeth whitener. It’s really so bright!

And because the glacier is 4 miles wide, there are numerous places you can pull over to take a look and photos. But honestly, as one of the most accessible glaciers you can see in Alaska, I would highly recommend booking a tour that will allow you to get a closer look or even walk on the glacier itself.

We spent one full day at Matanuska and did two back to back tours. There are a number of tour operators but I really liked the fact that MICA Guides has their basecamp/office super close to the glacier parking area.

In the morning we dove right in (literally) and did the Alaska Zipline Adventure. After lunch we opted for a private glacier hiking tour. Both were must-do highlights of our entire trip. Below is a detailed review of the experience and what to expect.

Matanuska Glacier Zipline Adventure

The G2 Zipline is the longest and fastest zipline within 800 miles of Matanuska. When we did this zipline, I think it was actually the longest and fastest zipline in North America. Either way, it is completely exhilarating!

The check-in for the zipline is at Howdy Hall, a large building with a red roof at mile marker 99. We booked the 1pm tour and arrived at the parking area by 1230pm.

As soon as everyone was checked in we were fitted with hard hats and the zipline gear. From there everyone walked to the MICA vans. The guides drove us to the zipline start point.

The starting point for the zipline is at the top of a cliff. You walk up the stairs to a platform where one of the guides secures you to the zipline and does all the safety checks.

The G2 is a dualing zipline so you can ‘race’ your family or friends. The zipline also slopes down so you definitely will not get stuck. The G2 is 2,200 feet long (almost 1/2 a mile) and the average speed on the zipline is 45-60 mph. 45 mph is for small adventurers (like kids) and 60 mph is for people at the top of the weight range. My husband is 6’4″ tall and we are pretty sure he clocked in at over 60 mph.

One of the amazing things about this zipline (other than the speed) is that you are not zipping through a canopy of trees (except at the start and end). Most of the zipline is out in the open, over the Matanuska River. So, you have a full view of the glacier the entire way.

Not that you will be able to appreciate the view… you are going really fast! This is absolutely a thrill-seeker’s sweet spot. We all loved this adventure. My daughter (10 years old at the time) was in heaven!

Matanuska Zipline details and safety

Clearly if you are careening down a zipline over the vast Alaskan wilderness safety is a concern. The Glacier Zipline Adventure is considered an extreme adventure. Inherent in that is the acceptance of risk. However, the guides are true professionals and their safety rating is the highest.

We felt perfectly safe and cared for during the entire zipline experience.

This is a family friendly zipline adventure. Minimum age is 7 years old and that is dictated more by weight than anything else. Minimum weight is 60 lbs and maximum weight is 285 lbs.

During the operational months (Memorial Day- Labor Day) MICA Tours offers zipline at 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm. Each tour lasts 90 minutes from check-in time until when you are back at the parking area.

Cost for the tour in 2025 is $99 for adults and $79 for children (age 14 and under). Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Matanuska Glacier Guided Hike

Glacier Hike Tour Details

Regardless of whether you book the zipline or not, the one MUST DO tour at Matanuska is the Glacier Hiking Tour.

These tours last anywhere from 3 hours to all day, depending on the tour you book. The most popular tour is the Ice Fall Trek. This is a group tour but the groups are maxed out at 8 people. So, depending on the size of your group, this tour could be a semi-private tour.

We opted for a Private Glacier Trek for two reasons. First, our daughter was just shy of her 10th birthday and the cut off for the group tour is 10 years old. But also, I was recovering from a hip injury and I didn’t know how I would do hiking around on a glacier. A private tour seemed the best option.

The Private Glacier Trek can accommodate up to 6 people and kids as young as 6 years old can participate. That makes this tour super family friendly. In 2025 the cost for the Private Glacier Trek is $575. This is the same rate as a party of 6 with a group discount. But even if you are a smaller party, the private tour might be a great idea because the guide really will act as your personal concierge.

Note: All glacier tours that involve walking on the glacier itself are subject to a Glacier Park Access Fee. Currently that fee is $45/person and it completely separate from the cost of the tour. The fee will be collected on the day of the tour and when we visited, MICA requested we pay the fee in cash.

MICA Glacier Guide Tour Review- Getting Geared Up!

The zipline started at mile marker 99. However, the Private Glacier Trek (and Ice Fall Tour) meet at Milepost 102.5. It’s not hard to miss but it’s easy enough to drive right by if you aren’t paying attention. There is a dirt parking lot area next to the access road to the tour buildings. MICA Guides asks that you don’t turn down the road that says ‘Glacier Access’ because it’s not access for everyone. It’s only access for the guided tours.

In the recent past, you could pay a small fee and drive the parking lot area to get a view of the glacier. But by 2022 the public access was discontinued and now the only access is through a private tour.

Once we parked and checked in at the MICA Base, it was time to get geared up. Scratch that, it was time to go potty one last time before the 4 hour tour.

After using the facilities, it was time to gear up. MICA Glacier Guides really took care of everything. You enter the gear shed and your guide fits you with boots, rain pants and jackets (if necessary) to go over your own clothes, and crampons.

You might be thinking, ‘Why do I need to wear someone else’s boots and pants?’ Let me tell you, this is a godsend. Your feet (at a minimum) will get so muddy from the glacial mud and sediment. The hike would literally ruin your boots. So, MICA lets you borrow a pair (kind of like rollerskating), and after the tour one of the guides cleans them for you!

MICA Guides really did all the work here. They pulled out the boots and other gear. And then before we set off for the glacier our guide showed us how to put the crampons on the boots. The first part of the tour we would not need crampons, but as soon as we started walking on the ice, the crampons would be necessary.

MICA Glacier Guide Tour Review- The first part of the tour

After we were geared up, we piled into the tour van and our guide drove us to the parking area.

The photo below is the view of the glacier from the parking area. You can see how blue the glacial ice is even from this far back.

Notice how cloudy it is? That is actually a good thing. The clouds bring out the blue hues in the ice. So, don’t stress if it’s cloudy or even drizzling. That might make for a better tour experience!

The first part of the glacier hike is actually not on the ice. You will traverse the glacial mud and moraines (rock deposits from the glacial movement). This area is wet, muddy, and very rocky.

Even though the first part isn’t as cool (pun totally intended) as hiking on the glacier itself, it’s still incredibly interesting and fun!

It’s also still a little dangerous. It’s important to stay with the guide and follow his (or her) instructions because they know where the stable ground and the best path to get to the ice itself.

See the photos below of the mud? Yeah, that’s why using the MICA Guide boots is the best. The mud is very thick and sludgey.

We all had a blast squishing in the mud. There was a springy buoyancy to the glacial mud. Not quite as bouncy as a trampoline, but more fun than splashing in puddles for sure!

During the entire Glacier Hike the tour guide gives so much information about the glacier, geological and environmental facts, and other interesting stories.

Check out that mud! Yeah, so glad we didn’t lose our personal boots to this muddy madness!

As we approached the main glacier area, the guide had us stop and put on the crampons. He also reminded us about how treacherous hiking on a glacier could be. It’s really important to literally walk where he walks… and no where else.

Once we started walking on the glacier most of the time we were single file and walking in each other’s footsteps.

MICA Glacier Guide Tour Review- Hiking on the Glacier!

I am just going to stop for a second and let you know that hiking on an actual glacier is so surreal. As we navigated the ice, I felt a constant sense of awe and wonder. Look at that photo above. That is a glacial ice mountain! And the criss-cross ‘graffiti’ is 100% glacier made.

If you are wondering how the glacier hike could be so potentially dangerous, check out the photo below. That crevasse is one of hundreds that are littered throughout the surface of the glacier. There are deep blue (and sometimes murky brown) pools of undetermined depth. And the surface of the glacier can be incredible unstable.

Our guide told us if we took a wrong step it could mean a drop of 3 ft…. or a drop of 300 ft. Not a situation you want to be reckless with.

As we hiked along the glacier, our guide took us to a number of different spots like this glacier grand canyon. Will this feature be present on your tour? Doubt it. Why? Because the glacier is actively moving and changing every minute of every day. The good news is that there will be canyons and glacier features that are similar to this!

Look at the photo below for an up close look at that blue ice. It really is so vibrantly blue.

One of the many things I loved about the Private Tour and our guide was that we went at my slow pace, but he didn’t short change the trip just because I had limitations. There were numerous rest/stop points and he was always checking in with me before we headed further onto the glacier.

Yes, if I was in better shape or our daughter was a little older, we could have seen a lot more. But honestly, look at how close we got! This was easily one of our top experiences in Alaska!

When you are on a glacier boat cruise you can typically get within 1/4 mile of the glacier. But on the Matanuska Glacier Hike, you are literally walking on top of the glacier! Wow. And yes, if you listen you can hear the glacier move with creaks and groans. It’s so surreal.

I think the photo below might be my favorite of the entire excursion. That little glacier ice finger is so fun! I wonder how long it lasted before toppling into the rest of the glacier. I bet it didn’t last more than another day or so!

MICA Glacier Guide Tour Review- More Fun Activities on the glacier!

At one point we stopped at a wall of blue ice and the guide broke out a ice pick. He let all of us have a turn chipping away at the glacier.

But the best part was near the end of the tour. Our guide whipped out a spigot, jammed it into the glacier, turned it on, and water came out!

We then filled our water bottles with crisp, fresh, and ice cold glacier water! I have never drank water so deliciously crisp.

The entire tour lasted about 4 hours and that was the perfect length to get on the glacier and explore. And even though I had compromised mobility, I did fine. It was not too strenuous at all!

Other Glacier Tour Operators

MICA Glacier Guides are not the only Matanuska Tour Operators. Here are some of the other outfitters. I believe they are all highly rated. You really can’t go wrong with this tour!

Additional Matanuska Glacier Activities and Tours

In addition to the ziplining and glacier hiking, there are other activities you can sign up for in the Matanuska Glacier area. With MICA Guides there are more strenuous and demanding tours like ice climbing and overnight tours.

MICA Guides also offers a variety of helicopter tours and in the winter you can explore ice caves or go on a snowmobiling adventure.

Where to Eat Near Matanuska Glacier

If you are planning to spend the day in Sutton, Alaska you need to plan for what you will eat. You can bring food with you, especially if you are coming from Anchorage. But there are also a few delicious options in the area.

Located at the MICA Guides Basecamp, MICA Mocha basically serves great coffee and ice cream. They also bake cookies, muffins, and other baked goods fresh daily.

Ok, I scoured the internet for the menu at Howdy Hall but couldn’t find one. I am telling you though they serve lunch. This. is great because it’s the perfect place to grab a bite to eat before or after your extreme zipline. Howdy Hall is the check-in for the zipline adventure.

The food isn’t gourmet but it’s good. We had burgers, fries, and ice cream.

Grand View Cafe is located at Milepost 109.7 and is really a fantastic place to stop for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

They serve a variety of hot and cold sandwiches, burgers, salads, pizza, and more.

But honestly, Grand View Cafe is known for their mouth-watering delicious multi-berry pie.

How Could Matanuska Glacier Fit into an Alaska Vacation Itinerary?

Matanuska Glacier is only about 2 hours from Anchorage and it is on the Glen Highway (Highway 1) on the way from Anchorage to other Alaska attractions like Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Valdez.

You don’t need more than 1/2 day at Matanuska and I would recommend using that half day as a break between other, more substantial stops in your itinerary. On our vacation, we drove from Chitina, Alaska (Wrangell-St. Elias National Park) to Wasilla, Alaska and spend the bulk of the day at Matanuska. It took us 90 minutes to drive from Chitina to Sutton and about 90 minutes to drive from the MICA Guide Base to Wasilla.

We used the day trip at Matanuska as a hinge between visited the attractions on the Richardson Highway and heading further north to Denali and Fairbanks.

If your trip was shorter and you didn’t have time for Wrangell-St. Elias or Valdez, you could easily make the trip from Anchorage.

Either way, the glacier hike and zipline at Matanuska Glacier were absolutely high points of our Alaska vacation. I would consider this a ‘must-do’ stop if you are visited South Central Alaska and the Anchorage Region.

The Ultimate Guide to Matanuska Glacier

Matanuska Glacier Overview

Matanuska Glacier from the Highway