Glacier Adventure
Catch a flightseeing tour, ride a snowmobile, lace up your hiking boots, or climb aboard a glacier cruise. There are 60 glaciers within 50 miles of Anchorage, and countless ways to experience them all.
Day 1
Know Before You Go
The busiest floatplane base in the world, Lake Hood is also the departure point for a number of popular flightseeing tours.
Featuring
Flightseeing
Glaciers
Wildlife
Average Duration:
Half to Full Day
Google Street View
Learn About Flightseeing
Explore the lay of the land with a flightseeing tour of Chugach State Park or distant Denali. Catch a plane at Lake Hood (the buzzing floatplane base directly adjacent Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport), then spend a few hours enjoying expansive aerial views of snow-capped peaks and sparkling glaciers — you might even find yourself landing on a glacier for a photo op against a glittering backdrop of ice.
Then drive out to Eklutna Lake to see the source of Anchorage’s glacier-fed tap water. Kayak, bike, or take an ATV tour: Eklutna Glacier itself is visible from the end of the 13-mile Eklutna Lakeside Trail.
Day 2
Know Before You Go
Girdwood was once known as Glacier City — spend some time there and you’ll see why.
Featuring
Hike
Sightseeing Tour
Scenic Viewpoint
Average Duration:
Full Day
Explore Girdwood Glaciers
Head south to Girdwood: Hop aboard a helicopter tour to explore the surrounding glaciers, dine at Seven Glaciers Restaurant, or book a snowmobile tour or Alaska Train ride out to Spencer Glacier. In the summer, hikers can enjoy panoramic views of Raven Glacier from a scenic overlook 3.5 miles up the Crow Pass Trail.
Day 3
Know Before You Go
From glacier cruises to family-friendly hikes, Portage Valley is packed with ways to experience up-close encounters with iconic glaciers.
Featuring
Scenic Drive
Visitor Center
Glacier Cruise
Average Duration:
Full Day
Google Street View
Glacier & Wildlife Cruises
Follow the Seward Highway south to the tip of Turnagain Arm, the Portage Glacier Highway and the entrance to Portage Valley.
Stroll the Trail of Blue Ice to enjoy towering views of surrounding glaciers, then head to the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center to learn more about the natural forces that shaped the region’s stunning landscape. The flat, fast trail to Byron Glacier (3.2 miles round trip) leads to close views of cavernous ice caves; for a picturesque perspective of Portage Glacier, board the mv Ptarmigan for an hour-long, iceberg-lined tour across Portage Lake.
Soak up the sunset over Turnagain Arm on the 1.5-hour drive back to Anchorage.
Popular Itineraries
Select an Itinerary
- Glacier Adventure
- To the North
- To the South
- A Wildlife Safari
- A Day Downtown
- On Wheels

Did you know?
The Municipality of Anchorage covers an area of 1,961 square miles between Eklutna to the north and Portage to the south.
Alaska is known for towering, sparkling glaciers. Anchorage makes it easy to get close to the very best.
Featuring
- Flightseeing
- Hike
- Glacier Cruise
The areas north of Anchorage feature important historical sites and accessible wilderness parkland.
Featuring
- Scenic Drive
- Nature Center
- Cultural Site
The land to the south of Anchorage sparkles with natural splendor, glaciers, and wildlife watching opportunities.
Featuring
- Scenic Drive
- Wildlife
- Cultural Site
See meandering moose, lumbering bears, teeming salmon, beluga whales, bald eagles, and more.
Featuring
- Scenic Drive
- Wildlife
- Hiking
From art and culture to wildlife and views that wow, downtown Anchorage offers a walkable introduction to Alaska’s largest city.
Featuring
- Sightseeing Tour
- Botanical Garden
- Museum
Featuring hundreds of miles of bike paths, trails, and lanes, Anchorage is perfect for exploring by bike.
Featuring
- Bike Path
- Museum
- Wildlife

Did you know?
The Municipality of Anchorage covers an area of 1,961 square miles between Eklutna to the north and Portage to the south.