See Alaska's Grandest Glaciers

If seeing a glacier up close is every traveler's dream, what about seeing seven or more? That's the object of this eight-day itinerary through Southeast and Southcentral Alaska, which showcases the state's prettiest, most active glaciers along with dog mushing, scenic train rides, and museums.

Day 1-2: Juneau (Mendenhall Glacier and Glacier Dog Sledding)

Start your journey by flying to Juneau, Alaska’s capital city. Spend an afternoon exploring Mendenhall Glacier, where you can choose from a selection of day hikes, go kayaking in the lake at the glacier’s foot, take a guided trek into the glacier ice caves, and maybe even see a bear fishing salmon out of a nearby stream. Spend the evening browsing the many excellent, locally owned shops and restaurants in downtown Juneau. Overnight in Juneau.

On your second day, start your morning with a trip to the magnificent Alaska State Museum in downtown Juneau. The museum offers a fascinating, informative look into some of the most challenging and transformative times in Alaska’s history. In the afternoon, take a short helicopter ride to a nearby glacier, where you’ll experience the unusual thrill of mushing across the snow in a dog sled, even at the height of the summer. Overnight in Juneau.

Day 3-4: Petersburg (LeConte Glacier)

Catch the daily commercial flight from juneau to Petersburg. This hard-working fishing town was founded by Norwegian settlers and is accessible by commercial jet flights, the Alaska Marine Highway ferry, and small cruise ships. Once you’re in town, enjoy a delicious meal of fresh-caught seafood, visit the small but excellent Clausen Memorial Museum, and look for examples of rosemaling—a distinctive Norwegian art form—on the city buildings and sidewalks. Overnight in Petersburg. 

The next morning, embark on an exciting jet boat trip to the face of the LeConte Glacier, an unusually active tidewater glacier that's famous for its underwater calving, which sends submerged icebergs shooting up to the surface. Overnight in Petersburg.

Day 5: Anchorage

From Petersburg, fly to Alaska’s largest city – Anchorage – via Juneau. Consider taking advantage of Anchorage’s many urban amenities with a rest day: visit the Anchorage Museum and tour recreated village sites at the Alaska Native Heritage Center, or stop by the Alaska Aviation Museum to learn about the outsize role small “bush” planes and their daring pilots have played in the state’s history. You can also sit and watch float planes taking off from the shores of Lake Hood, the world’s busiest seaplane base. Overnight in Anchorage.

Day 6: Seward (Spencer Glacier and glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park)

Board an Alaska Railroad train for a scenic day trip to the port town of Seward. Along the way you’ll pass by the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop, a train-access-only backcountry area where travelers stop to kayak or raft among the icebergs cast off by the glacier. You can book your tickets to stop here for guided hiking or rafting trips, or continue on to Seward, gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. Once in Seward, you can take a day cruise to see whales, marine wildlife, and the the towering tidewater glaciers of Kenai Fjords National Park. Or, you and catch a shuttle to the Exit Glacier Nature Center, also in Kenai Fjords National Park, where hiking trails take you very close to the toe of the glacier. Take the train back to Anchorage in the evening and overnight in Anchorage.

Day 7-8: Mat-Su Valley (Knik Glacier and Matanuska Glacier)

Rent a car in Anchorage for the last leg of your journey to explore glaciers in Alaska’s Mat-Su Valley. Head north to the town of Palmer to explore beautiful Knik Glacier. Several guided tour options take you out to the sprawling glacier, including ATV tours, jet boat tours, and helicopter tours. If you opt for the helicopter tour, you can choose to land on the glacier, go glacier dog sledding, or even stand-up paddleboard on the glacier. Overnight in one of the many cabins, yurts, and vacation rentals in the Palmer area. 

The next day, take a scenic one hour drive out to Matanuska Glacier, the largest road-accessible glacier in the U.S. You can see sweeping views of the glacier from the Glenn Highway, but to really experience the glacier, it’s best to take a guided glacier trekking trip. Local guides will supply you with all the gear you need for glacier trekking and lead you through the glacier’s icy blue maze. After your tour, head back to Palmer or Anchorage for the evening, and then fly out of Anchorage the following day.