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Matanuska
Glacier trail head |
Things to do
This is one of the best places in
Alaska to experience a glacier up close.
- Hiking:
You are welcome to hike the glacier trails on your own. Trails
are located within the park area offering a variety of skill
and fitness levels. Guided glacier hiking is also available.
- Camping:
Spend a few days exploring the park. Camping areas available
near and within park.
- Ice Climbing:
Guided ice climbing is available as well as basic ice climbing
instructions. Matanuska glacier is an excellent glacier to learn
the basics of ice climbing. We do recommend you be in fairly
good shape for this adventure.
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Fields
of fireweed bloom along the glaciers edge |
Photograph:
The drive to Matanuska Glacier is an adventure in itself. The
Glenn Highway National Scenic Byway follows a path carved by
ancient glaciers. Following the braided Matanuska River for
over half its length, this Byway winds through 135 miles of
the most impressive terrain on earth. Winters
present you with a splendid sky show when the Northern Lights
dance among the snow-capped mountains, while summers bring you
endless days to roam in fields of wildflowers and ancient forests.
What
to bring:
Lot's of film or memory cards for the digital shutter bugs. Hiking
boots, a day pack, sunglasses, sunscreen, gloves, jacket and rain
gear. Hat (for wind). Even in the long summer months the weather
is unpredictable and changes quickly. Be prepared for any kind
of weather.
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GLACIER
FACTS |
The Matanuska
Glacier is a large ice flow, 24 miles long and 4 miles wide
at the terminus, averaging approximately 2 miles in width.
This glacier is a valley glacier; it exists on a valley
floor. The majority of glaciers in Alaska today are smaller
alpine glaciers which hang off mountain slopes.
The Matanuska is an active glacier which advances at one
foot per day. It takes approximately 250 years for the ice
to form upglacier and advance to the terminus. The ice of
an active glacier always moves forward due to gravity; like
water in a river, the ice will flow downvalley. When ice
melts at a higher rate than snow accumulates, the glacier
margin 'recedes'. (The
term 'receding' does not refer to the ice actually travelling
back up the valley.)
A frequently asked question
concerns the cause of the blue ice. The density of glacier
ice allows the entire spectrum of light to be absorbed with
the exception of the blue light which is reflected, and
can therefore be seen by your eye.
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