Peter Appareti

Peter Appareti

Hike Matanuska Glacier

09/01/15

Experienced this great place in July. Located in a little community called Glacier View, definitely worth the trip out if you find yourself driving on the Glenn Highway. It was not very clearly marked, but luckily we had the "Milepost" (If you ever travel in Alaska, get this book! Hands down the best guide to the road system out there. Updated every year.) which helped us out. Turn down a little dirt road which leads down to the river/ glacier. You have to stop at the store/ visitor center before you can gain entry past the gate. I will say the prices were a little steep. ($20 entrance fee per person as well as a camping fee of $15 per person) because the designated camp sites are overgrown and littered with many kinds of animal droppings. But good news! The people behind the counter said we could camp in the parking lot for the glacier, and thats what we did. Much better view and more places to pitch a tent. Just know the parking lot fills up super quick in the mornings with all sorts of people and guided tours and whatnot. If you have crampons bring them, or rent them. We did not have any but we made it out a good distance with trekking poles walking mainly on the ice that had gravel on top. Once out onto the bare ice it was a little slick but manageable. Spend time watching little streams of melted glacial water as well as the many hikers and ice climbers. If you can make it to the more central part, where the river starts flowing out of the glacier, the views are amazing. The light blue color and striations of the ice are something indescribable. Totally worth it. Do it if you have the chance.