It’s my favorite (camping) time of year again. From Labor Day weekend through the month of September, and sometimes well into October, is the best time of year for RVing in Alaska. I realize that the weather is significantly cooler than in the summer months, but it comes with several advantages.
First and foremost, no bugs! By now, our state bird (the mosquito) has been laid to rest. Hikers need not don their deet body spray and can trek the woods with their scent undetected. Strenuous outdoor activity can be accomplished in comfort with a light shirt or jacket and yet, still wearing shorts. The color of the trees begin to turn, providing beautiful landscape for the outdoor enthusiast. But you must be quick because those colorful leaves can be gone in a week or a month… you just don’t know. The month of September is the time to take advantage of exploring the Alaskan outdoors at it’s best.
In September the cool, crisp night air returns. The sky darkens once again. This sets the scene for the perfect night around a campfire. Cooking meals, toasting marshmallows and gathering around the warmth of a fire pit with friends is one of camping’s delights that can’t be fully appreciated during the summer months in the land of the midnight sun.
With the return of the night sky comes the opportunity to view the aurora borealis. Very late (or early morning) on a clear night, you may bear witness to the ribbons of light that dance in our northern sky. I like to head north this time of year to get beyond the city lights and improve my chance to be awe-inspired by their green, red and sometimes blue/violet mystical glow across the star studded sky.
Denali park closes after Labor Day weekend, but a lucky few will win passes to enter the park during a four day event in mid-September. During this time, pass holders will be allowed to travel through the park using their own vehicle for a single day. Those lucky ones will see wildlife roam amongst this luscious landscape and experience the 6 million acre park without limits, lines or having to ride school buses. The Fall is often spectacular in interior Alaska and Denali Park has it all. Lowlands with ample trees and thick brush, highlands with lush colorful tundra, and the majestic mountain that is often seen in it’s glory on a clear autumn day.
Another great benefit is that the campgrounds are no longer crowded this time of year. Most the tourists have returned to their everyday lives around the world. Locals have gone back to their jobs and school. Many of the campgrounds will remain open until the snow flies. They are often completely deserted mid-week and never come close to filling up on weekends (with the exception of Labor Day weekend). This is the perfect time to take the RV out and capture a pristine and commodious site beside a lake, river or amidst another picturesque, uniquely Alaskan vista.
So RVers, don’t be afraid to journey to Alaska outside of those tourist filled summer months. September is awesome and a delightful time to explore this Great Land that I am lucky to call my home.
Alaska is very RV friendly, but you might be surprised to learn that many of the public campgrounds do not have dump stations. But fear not, there are plenty of other places that will accommodate your needs. Many of the Holiday Gas stations around Anchorage have dump stations. There is also a Holiday on the highway just past Wasilla near the intersection with Vine street that allows dumping. In Soldotna, Fred Meyer has a very nice area for dumping and (I think) fresh water. These are the places I usually empty my tanks when I’m on the road.
There are many other places where dumping is available. Mostly gas stations and private campgrounds/RV Parks. Here are some resources for finding these places:
There are so many campgrounds in Alaska, it’s hard to know where to start. So I decided I will start with some of my favorites. First up, is South Rolly Lake Campground which is located in the Nancy Lake State Recreation Area. To access the campground, head north from Anchorage, turn west off the Parks Highway at milepost 67.3 onto Nancy Lake Parkway and travel 6.5 miles southwest to South Rolly Lake. The road is paved all the way up to the campground entrance where it turns to dirt and gravel. No guarantees, but if you drive Nancy Lake Pkwy at dawn or dusk, you are likely to see wildlife such as moose, bear, fox, porcupines, loons, grebes, sandhill cranes, etc.
This campground offers over 90 spacious, beautiful, wooded campsites for your selection. If you are lucky, you might even score one of the lakefront campsites on this (rainbow trout) stocked lake.
As you enter the campground, the lake will be on your left and there will be a turnoff on your right where the campground registration, payment box and trash bins can be found. This is one of the FEW campgrounds in the area which are NOT on a reservation system. Campsites are strictly first come, first serve with no holding allowed. Cost to overnight here is $10 per site which my contain up to two vehicles. There are NO RV hookups available in this campground and also no dump. It is strictly “dry” camping.
If you continue straight after entering the campground, you will be on campground loop A. The first 8 or so campsites on the left will be lakefront. Also, just about all the campsites on Loop A are large and have been newly renovated. About 75% of these are also pull throughs which can accommodate any size RV. They are the most popular campsites in the campground, but on weekdays you can usually snag one. On weekends, you’ll want to get there early if you require one of these highly coveted campsites. However, the other loops have equally nice sites. They are further from the lake, but still within walking distance. Many of them offer quiet and seclusion amongst the densely wooded grounds.
There is much to do in the area besides camping. The lake is stocked yearly with rainbow trout, so fishing is possible. Whitefish and Dolly Varden have also been present in the lake for many years. Fishing was very popular here years ago, but I believe South Rolly Lake (like many of it’s neighbors) may have been invaded by pike. I haven’t seen fishermen having much luck, but it hasn’t stopped them from trying.
At the South Rolly Lake campground and lakefront, you will find a canoe rental shack. Headquartered out of Willow, Tippecanoe has canoes stacked at several lakes in the area for rental. So for a very reasonable fee, you can explore South Rolly Lake by canoe while camping here.
Near the campground entrance you will find the trailhead to Red Shirt Lake. This easy 3 mile trail will bring you to a lakeside tent campground and another stack of rental canoes. From this spot you can take off and explore the largest lake in the Nancy Lake SRA (which does not include Nancy Lake itself).
If you REALLY enjoy getting your paddles wet, then head to the Lynx Lake Loop Canoe Trail (at mile 4.5 Nancy Lake Parkway) and travel this 8 mile canoe trail with portages. This trip can be accomplished in one long day or enjoyed over a weekend with stops at one of the Nancy Lake SRA campgrounds or public use cabins.
I should mention that on hot Alaska summer days, you are likely to find the South Rolly campground occupied by local families with children eager to jump and swim in the lake. There is a small dock that is a popular jumping off spot. There are also life jackets for kids use at the prominently displayed “Kids Don’t Float” board at the lakeside.
I’ll take a moment to plug one of my favorite activities, geocaching. There are several caches located in Nancy Lake SRA, including at the South Rolly Lake campground, along the canoe trails, and also along some of the winter trails.
For more info on the Nancy Lake SRA, go to http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/brochures/nancylake.pdf
Seward, AK is about 2 1/2 hrs by RV or car and 4 hrs by train from Anchorage. Whatever transportation you choose, your journey out of Anchorage will include a ride along Turnagain Arm. This beautiful stretch of roadway or track offers wildlife viewing opportunities and majestic scenery. The luxury of driving the road to Seward in an RV is that you can stop or pass many sites along the way.
Just on the outskirts of Anchorage is Potters Marsh http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=viewinglocations.pottermarsh . For you bird watchers out there, this is a must stop as it is habitat for a rich variety of birds, some only found in Alaska. There is ample parking in the lot which can accommodate RVs. Once parked you will find the entrance to the wooden boardwalk which spans 1,550 feet from the parking area through the marsh.
As you continue on your way to Seward, you will enter the 3rd largest state park in the US, Chugach National Park. Shortly thereafter you will pass a weigh station and then you will see a sign for McHugh Creek (MP 110.9). McHugh Creek is a nice stop that offers views of the Turnagain Arm, a beautiful waterfall, a picnic area and several hiking trails. I recommend a quick stop here to take pictures, eat lunch and a short hike. There is a short hike with an excellent vista that begins near the picnic pavilion. Head up this trailhead and you quickly come to a bridge over a waterfall.
After crossing the bridge the hike becomes steep, but it a short hike (probably only half a mile or so) up the hill til you notice a path off to the right. I believe there are more than one now, so it’s probably the 2nd or 3rd trail off the beaten path that you want to take. This short path will lead you out to the rocky (but safe) edge where you will find a magnificent view. Snap some photos before you head back down the trail.
Depart McHugh creek and continue south on the highway. You will pass many pull offs including beluga point (MP 109.4), bird point (MP 95.3), and many other unmarked stopping areas. As you are heading South, most of the rest areas on the right side will accommodate RVs. Most of the ones on the left, will not. Take your time on this drive. If you see a lot of cars pulled over, someone has probably spotted some wildlife. In these areas you can see beluga whales in Turnagain Arm (especially if there is a run of red salmon in), dall sheep on the rocky cliffs ( even on the road) or near beluga point, eagles, possibly a bear (if you have binoculars) or a bore tide. http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/chugach/14boretidesched.pdf
Approximately 30 miles south of Anchorage at approximately MP 90, is the road to turn off to the town of Girdwood. There is a huge gas station at this intersection so it’s hard to miss. If you have time, turn off here to see Anchorage’s ski resort in the town of Girdwood. Drive towards the mountain and then to the left and back to the hotel. There are nice hiking trails there. Girdwood isn’t much of a town, but it has a few things I like. The Double Musky http://www.doublemuskyinn.com is my favorite restaurant in alaska and is located just off the main road at 3 Crow Creek Rd. If it’s dinner time, stop here! If you get there when it opens you won’t have to wait, but go later and the wait times can be as long as 2 hrs. They do not take reservations. After dinner, take a quick ride up Crow Creek Rd to the campground and back. Here you can possibly see bear and moose.
Now head back out to the hwy and head South again. You will begin to pass through an area which has many scrawny, dead trees in a low lying marsh. This is a result to the 1964 earthquake. The land here rose and fell and the salt water then penetrated these trees through their roots and killed them. You can see moose in this area at times.
At MP 79 is the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center http://www.alaskawildlife.org , hereafter referred to as AWCC. AWCC is a non-profit group which takes in and cares for injured and orphaned alaskan wildlife. Here you can most always see Bears, Moose, Elk, Musk Ox, Eagle, and Wood Bison. At times they also have Sitka Black-tailed Deer, Caribou, Linx and other animals. They charge $12 per adult, $9 for seniors, active military and children (4-12) with a limit of $35 per vehicle. There are BOGO coupons offered in the Northern Lights Coupon Book and the Alaska Toursaver.
Just beyond the conservation center is the Whittier/Portage Glacier Access Road. Turn off here and head to the Portage Glacier area (bear right at the split of the road because left goes to the tunnel to Whittier). Spend some time visiting the Begich Boggs Visitor Center http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/chugach/home/?cid=stelprdb5251094 located at the end of Portage Lake. The BB Visitors center is filled with exhibits about glaciers and the chugach national forrest, a movie theater and offers daily, free informative walks and educational programs hosted by park rangers. At one time Portage Glacier was visible from the visitors center, but it since receded and cannot be viewed there.
There are several other things to do in this area. There is a Portage Glacier Cruise http://www.portageglaciercruises.com which charges $34 adult/$17.00 child (there are also discount coupons in the 2 above mentioned coupon books) to ride an hour long cruise aboard the MV Ptarmigan to base of Portage Glacier. In my opinion, you should skip this cruise if you have the time, money and ability to take the Phillips 26 Glacier Cruise out of Whittier or a Kenai Fjords tour out of Seward. Instead, park at the Byron Glacier trail head and get up close and personal with a valley glacier. Or take a walk on the Trail of Blue Ice. I love this trail! It’s and easy trail which walks you past several hanging glaciers, by a stream with red salmon (in season mid July – early Sept), and through some beautiful scenery.
Along the Whittier/Portage Glacier Access Road there are also some campgrounds. Williwaw campground is a favorite with RVers because there are several pull throughs and many wide, open campsites which will accommodate RVs. Black Bear campground is a very small campground, probably better suited to tent camping, but it’s personally my choice when I camp in the area. It is heavily wooded with a small number of primitive campsites. There is also a private campground called Portage Valley Cabins and RV Park which offers RV spots with hookups and a private dump station.
You can read more about both Portage and Byron glaciers in my prior post:
Lastly, if you were to veer to the left where this road splits, you will reach the entrance for the tunnel to Whittier. Whittier is the entrance to Prince William Sound. The only way to get there is through this tunnel (whether by car, RV or train). There is a fee and schedule http://www.dot.state.ak.us/creg/whittiertunnel/schedule.shtml for this tunnel. Some cruises leave out of the Whittier port and really, a cruise tour, ocean cruise or fishing charter is the only reason to go to Whittier. It is only really a sight seeing destination if you are on the water.
So you want to see glaciers? Well, Alaska is the place to do just that! The state of Alaska is home to over 100,000 glaciers. There are many ways to experience these “rivers of ice” which are slowly carving the Alaska landscape. They can be viewed by air, sea and/or land.
There are MANY flight seeing services around the state that offer glacier tours by plane, float plane, or helicopter. Weather dependent, these can offer unsurpassed views of the expansive glaciers from top to bottom. Many of these tours which focus on glacier viewing also incorporate a glacier landing into the flight plan. I don’t think it can get any better than that! Flight tours are spendy, but it also offers access to some glaciers that cannot be viewed any other way. The opportunity to land and walk on these glaciers is a huge bonus! If it’s offered, do it!
There are flight seeing tours which depart out of Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, McCarthy, Seward, Homer, etc. Each of these areas will offer a slightly different experience. My opinion is that your best bet is to head to Talkeetna for a combo tour of Denali (Mt McKinley), wildlife and glaciers.
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So you want to see glaciers? Well, Alaska is the place to do just that! The state of Alaska is home to over 100,000 glaciers. There are many ways to experience these “rivers of ice” which are slowly carving the Alaska landscape. They can be viewed by air, sea and/or land.
Today I will tell you about seeing glaciers by boat. There are 3 main areas close to Anchorage that offer glacier (and wildlife) viewing tours by boat. They are Whittier, Seward and Homer. I feel that each of these destinations will offer you a different experience.
I, personally, prefer to take my guests out to Whittier to enjoy the 5 1/2 hr 26 glacier cruise offered by Phillips Cruises and Tours. You can check out their website here: http://www.phillipscruises.com I prefer and recommend this tour for several reasons:
1) You will view an amazing number of tidewater glaciers (and hopefully see some calving).
2) You will also see numerous types of Alaskan wildlife often including whales, dall’s porpoise, sea otters, harbor seals, eagles, birds, mountain goats and on a really good day, a bear and/or moose.
3) The $149 price includes a small meal.
4) The boat is large, stable, comfortable and everyone has an assigned seat (most with a view).
5) There is plenty of both indoor (which are kept clean) and outdoor viewing areas.
6) It departs out of Whittier which is only an hour from Anchorage by car and there is also a train that can get you there.
I have done this cruise several times and have never been disappointed. If you want to see glaciers, head out of Whittier in Prince William Sound for the best viewing experience by sea. My kids actually call this the “too many glacier cruise” because they are spoiled rotten by the beauty of our state and after a while don’t really appreciate the majesty and awesomeness of our “rivers of ice”. But both my kids and I ALWAYS go with our guests because we LOVE the wildlife viewing, especially the sea animals that we don’t see in Anchorage. Phillips offers 2 different glacier viewing cruises out of Whittier, but I prefer the 5 1/2 hr 26 glacier cruise because it goes much further out into Prince William Sound and includes a one way ride through the stunning Esther Passage.
Major Marine offers cruise tours out of Whittier as well and out of Seward. Out of Whittier, Major Marine has two cruise tours which are very similar to what Phillips offers. They are priced about the same, but do not include meal service (however, it can be purchased separately). You can find their info here: https://www.majormarine.com/pws/ Major Marine DOES offer a number of ways to receive a discount on their cruises. Online (at their website: https://www.majormarine.com/contact/specials-and-packages/) you may find specials including early purchase discounts, and kids free promotions. They also offer transportation options from Anchorage for their guests (for a fee). Major Marine is also big on offering printed discount coupons to sell through their open seats on many of their boats. They are often printed in the Alaska Toursaver Coupon Book and the Northern Lights Coupon Book. However, the coupons are usually only good on selected tours which tend to be their shorter trips. For example, out of Whittier, Major Marine only offers discount coupons on 4 1/2 hr Blackstone Glacier cruise. If it’s in your budget to take the 5 1/2 hr cruise, do it! It’s a better total experience. If not, then look into getting these coupons and take advantage of the discounts.
Next cruise tour place is Seward. Seward is the gateway to the Kenai Fjords. I will have another post specifically about the Kenai Fjords in the future, but for now I am focusing on glaciers cruise tours. There are several companies that depart out of Seward which offer Kenai Fjords tours that make stops at glaciers also. The number of glaciers in this area is far less than what you will see out of Whittier. There are a couple of big tidewater glaciers in the Fjords and some alpine (in the mountain) glaciers.
The main focus of these tours out of Seward is on Alaska wildlife and the beautiful scenery of the Fjords. The Kenai Fjords is home to MANY varieties of birds and the “Puffin”, which is usually the one everyone wants to see. I’ll tell you now that I’m not much of a birder, so this doesn’t excite me. You will probably also see some sea lions (if you stop at Chiswell Island) and possibly some otter. These tours are usually offered in different lengths from 4 1/2 hrs to 9 hrs. I have ridden the shorter tours (in Resurrection Bay) MANY times and the one thing I have NEVER seen is a whale. From what I have heard from others, to have the best opportunity to see whales you really need to take an 8 or 9 hour tour.
The Kenai Fjords tours are wonderful cruise tours (I will get into that more in a future post), but they are not the best option for glacier viewing. However, if glaciers aren’t your priority, the few that you see may be enough and you can focus on the jagged cliffs of the majestic fjords and the wildlife.
The other way to experience glaciers out of Seward by sea is by kayak. There are kayak rentals available and also a few companies which will take you on a guided kayak tour. I’m not as familiar with these kayak tours, but I have always heard people have good experiences. Obviously kayaks can’t go as far out into Resurrection Bay as a bigger cruise tour, but I do know that you can paddle to the foot of a glacier and be up close and personal with the marine wildlife.
Small boat and kayaks are the main vehicles to experience glacier viewing out of Homer, AK. There are two glaciers (Wosnesenski and Doroshin Glacier) that are partially visible from land in Homer. The big tidewater glaciers are viewable from beautiful Katchemak Bay. The three most visible glaciers are close to Halibut Cove. (Grewingk, Portlock and Dixon Glacier). They are easily accessible by water taxi or small boat. You can also get off and hike these glaciers (at your own risk of course) or camp in a nearby area (obviously not in your RV). There are not a lot of bigger glacier cruises that head out of the Homer docks as glaciers are really not the focal point for visitors to Homer. Glacier views are normally a bonus during a fishing trip, visit to Seldovia or outing to Halibut Cove. While Homer offers some lovely reasons to visit (which I will discuss in a future post), it’s not a sea cruise mecca for glacier viewing.
For additional info on glacier viewing tours, check out these websites:
So you want to see glaciers? Well, Alaska is the place to do just that! The state of Alaska is home to over 100,000 glaciers. There are many ways to experience these “rivers of ice” which are slowly carving the Alaska landscape. They can be viewed by air, sea and/or land.
There are 4 glaciers within driving distance of Anchorage which are the most visited and also accessible by land.
#1 Portage Glacier which is 50 miles south of Anchorage. There you will find the Begich,Boggs visitors center http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/chugach/home/?cid=stelprdb5251094 which is open from 9am – 6 pm 7 days a week from late May tip mid Sept. Winter hours vary, so call or check their website for days and times of operation. At the visitors center there is both car and RV parking available at no charge. The visitor center charges $5 per person for entrance to the exhibits and movie. They also accept the federal national parks pass for entry. If you are a senior, you can purchase a national parks pass on-site for $10 and it allows you and 4 guests free entry to the visitor’s center exhibits and also any national park (including Denali). There are restrooms located in the visitors center which can be used at no charge.
Unfortunately, Portage glacier is no longer visible from the road or visitors center. At times, pieces of ice break off the glacier and float to where they can be viewed from the visitor’s center. However, that occurrence is becoming rarer and rarer. Therefore the only way to really visit Portage Glacier is to take a 1 hour cruise which will cost you $34 per adult / $17.00 per child. There are several discounts available from $5 off (through their website) to buy one, get one free (using the northern lights coupon book or other coupons books which you have to purchase).
The Portage Glacier cruise http://www.portageglaciercruises.com/tours.cfm is narrated by a park ranger and departs 5 times a day during the summer months (closed in winter). This cruise is of value to any person with physical limitations because you can comfortably rest while the boat takes you right up to the face of the glacier. To the more mobile visitor, I suggest that you read on…
#2 Byron Glacier is a very small valley glacier located in Portage valley very close to Portage Glacier. It is accessible by foot via a trailhead which is located just past the Begich, Boggs visitor center, but before the Portage Glacier Cruise entrance. At the trailhead you will find parking for both cars and RVs. The trail itself is a mostly flat, easy 3/4 mile walk (one way) suitable for all ages. The trail ends at a snowy ice field and there is usually an ice cave present, but it may not be accessible. Remember, glaciers are constantly changing, so visitors can have very different experiences depending on the timing of the visit.
At the Byron glacier, a fairly sure footed visitor of any age can get on to the snow field and say they have walked on a glacier or have a snow ball fight. It makes for a fun picture on a sunny day to be playing in the snow in your shorts and t-shirt 🙂 While it’s a very small glacier (not really impressive), it’s a nice little walk through the natural vegetation of portage valley and along side of the glacial river.
#3 Exit Glacier in Seward is about a 2 – 2 1/2 hour drive from Anchorage. Seward is also accessible by railroad (4 hr ride), but then you’d have to find your own transportation to the glacier. The road to Exit Glacier can be found at mile 3 of the Seward highway. The access road is 8.6 miles and ends at the Exit Glacier Nature Center. Car and RV parking is available at the Exit Glacier Nature Center at no charge.
Exit is another valley glacier and is actually part of the Harding Icefield. Depending on your level of mobility, you can access the glacier and ice field by foot. The trail from the nature center is a one mile loop which brings the visitor to the face of the glacier. While a lot of the trail is an easy stroll and wheelchair accessible, there are sections which can be moderately challenging for persons with limited mobility. The one mile trail does climb some slight elevation and there are parts which involve walking on rocks. Know your limitations if walking is an issue for you.
An agile adventurer could trek beyond the one mile trail. When you arrive at Exit glacier, you can venture onto the ice with moderate effort. There is also a 4 1/2 mile trail that runs along side the glacier’s edge that will bring the hardier hiker up to the Harding Ice Field. This is a very strenuous 6 – 8 hour hike which gains over 4,000 ft in elevation over the course of 4+ miles. Don’t attempt this hike if you are ill prepared. It requires hiking stamina, carrying water, food and supplies (like bug dope, sun screen etc), and proper footwear and clothing. It’s an amazing hike if you come prepared. You are sure to see some Alaskan wildlife along the way and if you are really lucky, a bear or mountain goat.
#4 The Matanuska Glacier is another valley glacier which is located about 2 hours Northeast of Anchorage. It is the largest glacier accessible by car in the U.S. From the road you can view a majority of this 27 mile long river of ice. It spans 4 miles at it’s widest point. When I have visitors in town who are mobile enough to walk a mile or so and can handle walking on snow and ice, this is where I take them.
There is no glacier access from the Matanuska Glacier State Recreation area at Mile 101 on the highway. In order to get up close and personal with this glacier, you will have to pay a $20 fee ($15 for seniors and AK residents) to the landowners who have built and maintain a road, parking lot, and pathway to the glacier. At Mile 102 you will find the entrance to the Matanuska Glacier Park (sometimes referred to as the Glacier Park Resort). For glacier access, turn right at sign for the Glacier Park Resort which is just passed MP102.
Drive slowly down the steeply graded dirt and gravel road down into the valley, over a bridge, and continue until you reach the small parking area parking area and gate located outside at the landowners home (Glacier Park Resort). Park your vehicle and head inside where you will find a gift shop, rest rooms and the counter to pay the fees. After you sign a waiver and pay the fee, the gate will be opened for your car to proceed. Drive a few miles further and you will come to a parking lot (cars and RVs) and the glacial ice will be directly in front of you, and you will also come to realize that you have parked right on the glacial moraine!
After parking, you’ll have to walk a bit. There are cones in place to guide you. You definitely need to wear good shoes and bring a jacket as it’s often windy. To get where you want to go, you may have to cross water (via hand made rock bridge) or walk around an obstacle. The beginning part of the glacier is covered with dirt and rock which allows you to hold your footing. As you proceed further on to the glacier, under foot becomes pure ice. At that point it is nice to have ice grips or cleats to put onto your shoes.
At the Matanuska Glacier you can walk right up and onto the ice. My 65 year old Aunt was able to walk far enough on to the glacier to get a nice picture with the ice spires behind her. My husband and I ventured further. We were able to walk into crevasses and climb a spire or two. Whether you just walk near the edge of the glacier or right up on to it, you will be impressed. You get a real feel for how massive it is and you will feel small in comparison. Your experience will well exceed in value the $20 you spend to get here.
Nova river runners offers guided tours of the Matanuska Glacier. http://www.novalaska.com/rafting/glacier_hikes_treks_and_ice_climbing I would NOT recommend the Glacier Hike ($70 p/p). If you are considering that tour, you are more than capable of walking out to the glacier yourself. The guide did not take it’s group as far on to the glacier as we went the last time I was there. If you are adventurous, I would recommend the Ice Climbing or Adventure Trek. These tours get you out climbing on the ice, you get further on to the glacier and all the necessary equipment is provided.
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