Topo Maps Board aTEMSCO flight that whisks you thousands of feet above sea level to the Denver glacier and adog mushing camp hidden away on asnow field, where Alaskan sled dogs will greet you energetically, ready to take you on the ride of yourlife. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon) Alaska's top tourist attraction, the Mendenhall Glacier . Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. One of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska, it can be reached by hiking afew miles up arelatively. **Local tip** While many visitors aspire to visit the extraordinary icebound realms like Ruth Glacier in Denali or the Kennicott and Root glaciers of Wrangell-St. Elias national parks, dont count out the less remote backcountry of the Chugach, Kenai and Talkeetna mountains. (Otherwise, you might be no closer than 12 miles.). With agorge deeper than the Grand Canyon, and glacial ice 3,800feet deep, its hard to finda. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. Today, the rock is not only exposed, but the glacier has pulled back away from it another several hundredfeet. Highlights plus less visited destinations. Youll have two hours to explore the area before you have to catch the train heading southbound. Glacier Bay's glaciers follow this trend. Apush moraine is sediment that, in this case, has been bulldozed from the floor of Russell Fiord by the advancing ice. Note the fresh moraine deposits on the valley floor. From the left the three are Prospect, Spoon and Porcupine glaciers. Skagway excursions (skagwayalaskatours.com). Check out the best glacier tours in Alaska-- from the air, from land, or by sea! Alaska's Best Roadside Glaciers It snakes its way 32miles through the Chugach Mountains before dumping into the Columbia Bay, about 40miles by boat from Valdez. An intermediate age photograph shows the glacier on September 4, 2000. 7-10 days is the most common. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, The 9 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! (It opens to ATV use on certain days.) Go Ziplining 3. The visit to Glacier Bay fills just one day of the seven-night trip. Take acruise from Seward and envision the entirety of of Northwestern Fjord filled with ice, as you make yourway more, Just a10 to 15minute drive out of Seward, you can hike right up to the Kenai Fjords. Gustavus, AK. Alaska may be the best place in the world to witness this spectacular phenomena. Off the coast of Yakutat200miles NW of JuneauHubbard. It has awood stove and bunks 6. If youre looking for more of an adventure, take the Harding Icefield Trail, which climbs 3,500 feet in 4 miles, and gives great views of the glacier. While fairly stable, the glacier calves most actively in May and June. Map Ruth Glacier Flyover (:30) The Ice Age hasn't ended in Alaska! Remote Glacial Point is a serene and scenic spot of Alaska. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. Skagway Alaska - Davidson Glacier A Must See - The Travel Bite Glaciers In Alaska: Best Ways to See Alaska's Glaciers Intermittent views of the glacier from the Gold Mint Trail will only get better the further you hike up the valley. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. THE 5 CLOSEST Hotels to Glacier Point Wilderness Safari, Skagway Check for mountain goats at the base of the glacier. In her spare time she enjoys running and yoga to balance out her food obsession. Want some dramatic scenery? Naturalist and author John Muir first made his way to Alaska in 1879, where he went to explore Glacier Bay. In 1937, Yale Glaciers terminus was located at about the same position that it occupied when it was visitedby During the busy climbing season, there canbe Shuttles regularly operate between McCarthy and Kennecott. Skagway, AK | Things to Do, Recreation, & Travel Information Spencer Lake is filled with blue icebergswhich, in fresh water, are called growlers. Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. Required fields are marked *. Plan your camping trip through the National Forest Service! Now adays Godwin glacier is avalley glacier and behind the low hills you see in the foreground Godwin glacier Look for tents or rafts next to the river. Exit Glacier is not huge, but it looks big up close, so it makes a great place for photos. Which one is right for you? Abase camp manager coordinates communications between climbers and air taxis. Alder has become established on the hill slopes, but is difficult to see from the photo location. Davidson Glacier - Wikipedia Just a 2.5-hour drive from Anchorage, the Matanuska Glacier sits off the scenic but less-traveled Glenn Highway. With a five-mile-wide face and daily calving, the glaciers an impressive sight: Its 400-foot-tall ice walls rise up from the lake where those icebergs are floating, turning, and breaking apart. Billings Glacier is named for British Commodore Joseph Billings who commanded aRussian exploring and surveying expedition in 1791 and 92. Youll cross it 35miles up it, at an elevation of 5500feet above sea level. Your adventure begins at your cruise ship where we'll board a high-speed vessel made for wildlife viewing en route to an Alaskan paradise. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Talk about a room with a glacier view: This is the only glacier in the state with a hotel across the street. 2 Map Website Season: May 2 - Sept 29 $379 2 hrs Taking a TEMSCO helicopter tour shows off the Gold Rush lands around Skagway in a new light, revealing gorgeous, glacier-filled valleys, tumbling waterfalls and peak after icy peak at the north end of the Juneau Icefield. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. In fact, 10 times more of Alaska is covered by glaciers than is settled by humans! And dont forget the uncounted thousands in remote areasmany accessible by air charters or mountaineering trips. Maybe best of all: You have to take atrain to getthere! Taking aTEMSCO helicopter tour shows off the Gold Rush lands around Skagway in anew light, revealing gorgeous, glacier-filled valleys, tumbling waterfalls and peak after icy peak at the north end of the Juneau Icefield. Glacial superhighway. The park features seven tidewater glaciers that actively shed icebergs and brash into 65-mile deep bay that didnt yet exist in the 1700s. Or take an exciting all-day ATV adventure to experience the shimmering lake at the glaciers face. Most visitors arrive in Skagway by cruise ship rather than bringing their own transportation. TEMSCO Skagway | Glacier Discovery by Helicopter | ALASKA.ORG The Tongass National Forest the largest national forest in the United States and the largest . The Skagway Valley also includes a number of hanging valleys. Snap photos, revel in the beauty, and wander to your heart's content. Evidence of only the two most recent periods of glaciation are visible today in the Skagway Valley. Further along during our journey on the water, our guides pointed out a hanging glacier in the distance, Rainbow Glacier, cradled by two mountain peaks with a huge waterfall gushing in between. By AnnH446. more, Gorgeous Portage Glacier lies just 48miles south of Anchorage. 7-10 days is the most common. Flightseeing transforms glacier viewing into something like the grandest amusement park ride youve ever imagined. 5 Juneau, Alaska 99801. 4. 20miles west of Valdez, this short glacier features avery steep dropoff from ice toocean! Being able to walk up to any glacier is a stunning experience, and this big boy is the biggest, and perhaps most impressive roadside glacier, in part because you can easily touch it. While not the most spectacular glacier, it nonetheless deserves note because one of the creators of The Alaska App went to Amherst College. Photograph taken by Bruce F. Molnia,USGS. The state recreation site features parking, pit toilets, and acovered pavilion with amodel of the glacier and interpretive signs, all close to smalllake. Another mile past the pass, and you can approach the edges or toe of the glacier itself, for amore intimate experience of its texture, colors and gnarled shape. There are some glaciers you can drive to, but very few that you can stroll to. The icefield may be aremnant of the Pleistocene ice masses once covering half of Alaska. Highlights plus less visited destinations. Youll stare in disbeliefat If youre wanting amore adventurous visit, go sea kayaking in Glacier Bay and make Lamplugh Glacier astop on yourroute. Its fed by the same ocean-driven weather that creates the vast glacial crown surrounding Prince William Sound. About Topo Maps Skagway C-1 (1948), Skagway C-1 (1948), Skagway C-1 (1951), Skagway (1952), Skagway (1952), Skagway (1952), Skagway (1952), Skagway (1961), Skagway (1961), Skagway (1961), Skagway (1961), Skagway C-1 SE (1992), Skagway C-1 SE (2017), Places Near Glacier Gorge Bays: Nahku Bay, Smugglers Cove, Taiya Inlet, Capes: more, Cross the Tokositna River which marks the southeast corner of Denali National Park. Inside Passage Region. Higgins, is an August 6, 1909 view of the then retreating northern part of the terminus. The only glacier in Southeast Alaska accessible by road, Mendenhalls grand edifice plunges from the immense Juneau Icefield, dropping. Back in the 1700s, Grand Pacific Glacier filled the entire bay, and reached all they way to the Icy Strait. The inlet is incredibly narrowoften times no more than mile wideand cliffs rise over 3,000 feet on either side, with waterfalls covering the sheer rock walls. Great photographic potential during summer, with picnicking, wild blueberries and restrooms. If you have further questions please email [emailprotected] or if it is an urgent matter you can call 1-888-586-8489, Please email us at [emailprotected] or call 1-888-586-8489In order to check the status of your reservation request, please use the following link: alaskashoreexcursions.com/order-status. In fact, you can walk almost right up to the face of it in 30 minutes, by way of the Edge of the Glacier Trail. Only a short hike on a flat trail south of Portage Lake near the head of Turnagain Arm, Byron dominates its own gorge-like valley, offering a rugged, remote atmosphere that feels as though youve traveled deep into the backcountry. Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve: The complete guide The face is up to 400 feet tall, and icebergs 3 to 4 stories in height arent uncommon. **THIS TOUR IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE 2023 SEASON** On this unique adventure, enjoy a scenic boat ride through the world's second-largest fjord system on your way out to the Davidson Glacier. You can hike right up to Sewards Exit Glacier and feel the dense blue ice while listening to it crackle. Heres where to find Alaskas glaciersthe slow-moving rivers of ice that make for some of the most beautiful natural attractions, The 13 most accessible and spectacular glaciers out of over 30,000, Some of the most impressive glaciers in Alaska are surprisingly accessible, Most Alaskan cruises include avisit to atidewater glacierhere are thebest. After about an hour on the water, we arrived on a rocky beach and our captain lowered a stairway for us to step out onto a remote island where another group of guides were waiting for us to arrive. During the drive, our guides told us more about the area including the names of the flowers we were seeing (thats how I knew about the fireweed) and the bear sightings around the camp. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, The 9 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! The sheer ice walls, deep blue holes (called moulins) and creaking ice make it an unforgettable experience. Later, avalley glacier in Glacier Bay National Park was named after him. These three photographs show the significant changes that Tazlina Glacier has undergone in recent years. And it is actually advancing! One of the most popular natural attractions on the Valdez-to-Fairbanks highway corridor, this active glacier descends almost to the Richardson Highway, and can be easily approached via a short trail system. Those surges were big enough to cross the bay, turning the fjord into a lake and threatening to flood the coastal town of Yakutat. Nonetheless, the glacier is in rapid retreat; you can spot bedrock becoming exposed at the base of the glacier. The reason? Glaciers, massive bodies of ice, snow, rock & water, have advanced and retreated through the Skagway area for millennia. The terminus has alarge Once you enter the canyon, you will see the rugged, boulder-choked terminus with fluted ice above. The September 9, 1961 photograph shows the lower reaches of Plateau Glacier, then atidewater calving valley glacier with parts of its terminus being land based on either side of the fiord. Just 15miles. Thats two glaciers in one day! Free personal GPSdriven travel guide to Alaska. Guides offer activities such as sea kayaking and rafting, hiking and climbing. If you love marveling at blue slabs of glacier ice, Skagway is calling. His brother Willard (who gives his name to the nearby island) searched for him but found only the mail packet atop the glacier which now bears hisname. Highlights plus less visited destinations. This tidewater glacier may be abit of sleeping giant. 6. The ice is 3700feet deep, some of it more than athousand years old. Between 13,000 and 24,000 years ago a smaller ice age occurred in this area. Our picks for the best tours and experiences during your Alaska Cruise. This one in Skagway Alaska for the Glacier Point Wilderness Safari was the perfect fit for us when it came to price, adventure level, and sight-seeing. The mountains and valleys that surround us were formed by their movement. This road trip gives you a feel for the colorful adventurers, guides and backcountry Alaskans who live in these remote corners of the state. Active glaciers still calve and crash into the sea as visitors watch from tour boats here. Icy Bay lives up to its name with an active tidewater glacier often clogging the fjord with icebergs. THE BEST Restaurants Near Glacier Point Wilderness Safari Relative to the rest of the Earth, the crust is very thin. This area offers ocean views, mountain peaks, boreal forest, lakes, waterfalls, and more. Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. The 700-square-mile Harding Icefield, one of four major ice caps in the United States, crowns Kenai Fjords National Park. Menu. Just under 90miles from Juneau, Muir Glacier was apopular stop for many tourists in the late 19th century, and still is today. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. Glaciers: Denver Glacier, Laughton Glacier, Schubee Glacier, South Glacier, Villard Glacier, Lakes: Box 517 Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Or, you can hike to the glacier. Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. It is the larger of the two glaciers, and if conditions are good you can come within 12mile of the face. Please send an email to [emailprotected] letting us know which tours you would like to cancel as we must have all cancelation requests in writing. Fromhere If you're ok with a view from afar, the West Butte Trail offers a great view (first picture) of the Knik Glacier tucked into the valley. Big ship or small ship? Gustavus is the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park, the most stunning place in Alaska to witness a fiord system newly exposed by retreating ice. After a scenic helicopter ride, we'll take you up to the Denver Glacier dog camp where you'll meet professional 'mushers' and their friendly dogs before embarking. more, Coxe Glacier forms adramatic and noisy backdrop to Black Sand Beach. The 13 most accessible and spectacular glaciers out of over 30,000. THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Skagway - Tripadvisor Uplift causes running water to cut a V-shaped valley. Rachelle is the founder of TheTravelBite.com and was named one of USA Today's 10Best Food and Travel Bloggers. Watch for climbing campsThese may be the worlds most impressive granite monoliths. If the sea later fills in the valley, it is called a fjord. This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Just fifty miles southeast of Juneau, this glacier is not one tomiss! Bear Glacier, found in Kenai Fjords National Park, is atidewater glacier and apopular spot for kayakers, but you can easily see it on acruise from Seward. Located in Hatcher Pass, the Mint Glacier area is apopular day-hike, summer backpacking and ski mountaineering destination. 13-mile glacier in the Kenai Mountains. If you travel for the photo ops, the twin Sawyer Glaciers will keep you very busy: touring themgives. Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. Dogsledding is Alaska's favorite sport and now you have a chance to take part! 15 IDEAL Things to Do in Skagway, Alaska in 2023 - Cruise Hive The two included photographs were taken on the northeast side of Wachusett Inlet, Saint Elias Mountains, Alaska. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. Youll step out of the plane and onto an ice sheet nearly amile thick. 2023. Once we connected with our group, we boarded a speed boat that would take us deeper into the fjord to see the glacier while also getting a closer view at wildlife. The famous surveyor Mendenhall named this glacier for aminer who was carrying mail from Cook Inlet to Whittier in 1896, disappeared in asnowstorm, and was never seen again. Theres a Forest Service Visitor Center overlooking the lake and glacier, which has a large aerial map of the icefield, an informational video and spotting scopes ($3). By the second half of the 20th century, Northwestern Glaciers recession revealed anumber of islands in the Fjord that had previously been covered in ice. You see rock ridges deposited everywhere. Its afamily-friendly recreation destination featuring camping, hiking, glacier exploration, nature walks, paddling and sightseeing. You see rock ridges deposited everywhere by the glacier before it retreated 4miles to its current location. Nearby, too, is the famous Million Dollar Bridge. 374. Visit on akayak trip or day cruise from Seward. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. Spencer Glacier rises 3,500feet in astunning, natural ramp from alake of royal-blue icebergs in the Chugach National Forest just 60miles south of Anchorage. " 08/12/2019 " Good food but slow service " 12/29/2018 Cuisines: Seafood Old Field Kitchen Be the first to review this restaurant 34 Ft Seward Parade Grounds 9.7 miles from Glacier Point Wilderness Safari 1-4 of 4 1 Map of Glacier Point Wilderness Safari Unfortunately, a washed-out bridge on the road to the glacier currently complicates access. The full cancellation policy can be found here. With a gorge deeper than the Grand Canyon, and glacial ice 3,800 feet deep, its hard to find a more impressive alpine glacier environment than this in Alaska. Use our calculator to find out, Stay casual, dress in layers, and get proper footwear, View All Southcentral & Interior Towns on a Map, Cruises depart Juneau or Sitka. One of them is The Trail of Time, a -mile paved interpretive walk, with signs marking the glaciers recession. Holgate Arm is often filled with ice, but on agood day you can get to aclose and safe distance from the glacier. The Muldrow Glacier is the parks longest and it is agreat example of the power these behemoth ice masses have on the landscape. more, A popular place for cruises and kayaking. Many tour companies and small-boat operators offer daily excursions into Western Prince William Sound from this port town on the road system about 60 miles from Anchorage. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 14 min to complete.