Glaciers: Alaska’s No. 1 Attraction

By : Glacier Cruises

It is no wonder that glaciers are Alaska’s no. 1 visitor attraction - they are probably the most breathtaking sights on the planet. Taken together, these massive sheets of ice cover 5 % of Alaska; the 60 most accessible glaciers are in Southcentral Alaska.

Portage Glacier isn't just accessible it is one of most visited attractions throughout Alaska. Just 50 miles south of downtown Anchorage, visitors can learn the area's geology in the Begich, Boggs Visitors Center, stroll along the iceberg-choked Portage Lake or hop aboard a one-hour cruise to the face of the glacier.
The drive to Portage is an experience in itself. Twentymile Glacier and Explorer Glacier can both be seen along the way. The snowfields below Byron Glacier are simply one mile away. Hike solo or join a guided "iceworm safari" available from the visitors center.For an extended hike, Exit Glacier, just north of Seward, is a good spot. Get close by following the half-mile trail to the toe of the glacier. Adventurous hikers can take an extended 7.4-mile roundtrip to the truly massive Harding Icefield, 300 square miles of solid ice.
Approximately 90 miles north of Anchorage, Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site offers excellent views from the 27-mile-long Matanuska Glacier. The Edge Nature Trail leads through the forest to glacier viewing platforms.

Glaciers by Boat

Glacier cruises are one of the best methods to get views of many of Alaska’s tidewater glaciers, the ones that terminate in a large lake. Whittier and Seward are two departure ports for full and half-day glacier and wildlife cruises in the calm waters of Prince William Sound or beautiful Kenai Fjords National Park. Sea bird rookeries and marine mammal sightings can be as awe-inspiring as the countless glaciers.