Best Glacier Hikes in Alaska 2026 Beyond Mendenhall
Alaska Has More Glacier Than You Can Hike in a Lifetime
Alaska contains roughly 100,000 glaciers covering about 5 percent of the state's landmass. Most visitors to Southeast Alaska see Mendenhall and call it done. That is understandable — Mendenhall is extraordinary. But several other glaciers offer walk-on access, guided technical routes, and full-day adventures that match or surpass Mendenhall while drawing a fraction of the crowds. These are worth planning around.
Matanuska Glacier — Best Drive-Up Access in Alaska
Matanuska Glacier is 27 miles long and sits directly off the Glenn Highway about 100 miles northeast of Anchorage near the small community of Glacier View. It is the largest glacier accessible by road in the United States. The access point is through Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site or through MICA Guides, which operates on the private property providing the main glacier trail. The MICA access fee is $30 per adult and includes a guided orientation walk to the ice edge. From there, self-guided exploration of the lower glacier is permitted. The crevasse field begins about a half mile onto the ice, where guided hikes with MICA start at $75. Bring yaktrax or microspikes — the ice is often slick near the edge.
- Location: Mile 101.9 Glenn Highway, near Glacier View, AK
- Access fee: $30/adult at MICA Guides (includes guided intro walk to glacier)
- Best time: June through September; surface conditions best in July-August when melt pools are most dramatic
Root Glacier at Kennecott — Walk-On, Free, Spectacular
Root Glacier in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is the best free glacier hike in Alaska. The trailhead starts at the Kennecott footbridge (accessible from McCarthy) and the 2-mile approach through spruce forest is pleasant in its own right. Once on the ice, the lower ablation zone is straightforward terrain — meltwater rivers, ice caves, and pressure ridges that form and collapse each season. St. Elias Alpine Guides offers crampons and guided upper glacier hikes for $85 to $175 per person for those who want to explore beyond the accessible lower section. The glacier sits below the Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark, adding cultural context to the visit.
Mendenhall East Glacier Trail — Beyond the Crowds
The main Mendenhall Glacier viewing area in Juneau draws thousands of cruise ship passengers daily in summer. The East Glacier Trail, accessible from the same Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center area, is walked by a fraction of those visitors. The trail is 3.5 miles and gains 400 feet through old-growth temperate rainforest before emerging at views of the glacier's eastern face. It is free. The West Glacier Trail (4 miles, more strenuous) goes to the glacier's edge and requires some boulder scrambling — closer views and far fewer crowds than the visitor center boardwalk. If you are in Juneau, do one of these trails instead of staying on the viewing platform.
Harding Icefield — The Kenai Peninsula's Crown
The Harding Icefield Trail in Kenai Fjords National Park is not a glacier hike in the traditional sense — it climbs 3,000 feet above the Exit Glacier tongue and onto the 700-square-mile Harding Icefield itself. The round trip is 8.2 miles with a sustained grade that should not be underestimated. The payoff is standing on the surface of one of the largest sub-polar icefields in the world, with nunataks (rock peaks) poking through the ice surface in all directions. The trail starts at the Kenai Fjords National Park Exit Glacier area near Seward; parking is free. Start early — afternoon clouds frequently obscure icefield views.
Gulkana Glacier — Off the Beaten Path
Gulkana Glacier sits in the Alaska Range east of the Parks Highway and is reached via a rough 4WD road from the Richardson Highway near Paxson. It is one of the glaciers used by the USGS for long-term mass balance research, but it receives almost no tourist traffic. The approach hike is about 5 miles through open tundra with creek crossings. No fee, no permit, no services. This is for travelers who want genuine solitude on glacial terrain and are comfortable with navigation and self-rescue. Bring a topographic map and a bear canister.
What to Bring on Any Glacier Hike
Regardless of which glacier you choose, certain gear is non-negotiable. Microspikes or crampons dramatically improve traction and confidence on glacial ice — do not rent cheap instep crampons if you plan to do anything beyond flat walking. Trekking poles help with balance on uneven ice. Waterproof boots are more important than insulated ones in summer — your feet will get wet from melt streams. Sunglasses with side protection are essential; glaciers reflect UV at high intensity even on cloudy days. And bring more water than you think you need — hiking on ice is dehydrating in ways that sneak up on you.
Exit Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park
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