Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site

State park · Glacier View

Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site

State park · Glacier View

3

Glenn Hwy, Sutton-Alpine, AK 99674

Photos

Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by Photo by age fotostock
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by Photo by age fotostock
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site by null

Highlights

Hike on glacier, ice climb, view scopes, informative signs  

Featured in Conde Nast Traveler
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Glenn Hwy, Sutton-Alpine, AK 99674 Get directions

dnr.alaska.gov

Information

Static Map

Glenn Hwy, Sutton-Alpine, AK 99674 Get directions

+1 907 745 5151
dnr.alaska.gov

Features

wheelchair accessible parking lot
wheelchair accessible entrance

Last updated

Aug 8, 2025

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@afar

"The Matanuska Glacier is one of the easiest to reach from Anchorage, and the largest one in the state accessible by car. The 229-acre recreation site is best for learning all about the science of glaciers. (You can also just go to a pullout on the highway if your goal is a quick photo before continuing on.) To trek out onto the glacier itself, you need to head off the Glenn Highway at mile 102 and onto private land, where you’ll pay a $30 access fee. It’s worth it! Area guide companies offer the chance for newbies to take their first steps onto a glacier or, even better, to do some ice climbing."

The Perfect Week in South-Central Alaska
View Postcard for Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site
@afar

"The Matanuska Glacier is one of the easiest to reach from Anchorage, and the largest one in the state accessible by car. The 229-acre recreation site is best for learning all about the science of glaciers. (You can also just go to a pullout on the highway if your goal is a quick photo before continuing on.) To trek out onto the glacier itself, you need to head off the Glenn Highway at mile 102 and onto private land, where you’ll pay a $30 access fee. It’s worth it! Area guide companies offer the chance for newbies to take their first steps onto a glacier or, even better, to do some ice climbing."

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The Best Things to Do in Alaska
View Postcard for Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site
@cntraveler

A Beginner's Guide to Renting an RV

"Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Area, near Anchorage, is recommended as a good state park option for RV travelers, as it's often less crowded and just as beautiful."

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-to-rent-an-rv-a-first-timers-guide
View Postcard for Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site

Jesse Dailey

Google
What's to say... It's a glacier and you can drive to it. I will repeat it's a glacier you can drive to... So go do it! As you would expect there is some amount of physicality needed since you are walking on a glacier. But there are guides and equipment available (and required). We went with a small tour group, but I am told that you can also walk up.

Sarah Bogdan

Google
What an incredible hike! I was expecting just a blah snow trail with a giant group of strangers, but our group was pretty small and the hike was such an adventure. (It’s $60 for Alaskans and military vets, and $150 each for everyone else. Restrooms are in the gift shop/pay station and in the gear station, where they provide helmets. Crampons are provided later on.) Our guide Kate was awesome; she told us tons of glacier facts, let us take our time and take pictures of whatever we wanted, let us explore nooks and crannies, and took pics for us. The views were gorgeous; we went from hot sunny temps to freezing cold, crossed from rocky terrain to the slippery ice, and climbed through blue ice canyons. We drank glacial water and put glacial mud on our faces. Super fun! Bring a ziploc bag or something to bring back glacial mud in, for a skin-care-lover’s souvenir.

Mimi Wind

Google
There’s a small day-use fee, I think it was $5 or $7, can’t remember exactly. You just get the envelope from the parking lot and put money in there then put it in a box. It’s a nice green space for picnic and family hangout. Nice short trail to the viewpoint of Matanuska Glacier, lots if mosquitoes on the trail. There are plenty of restrooms around.

Peter Copley

Google
Beautiful area for viewing the valley and Glacier. The views are expansive, stretching for miles. The Glacier stretches into the distance and around the mountain out of site. There is a short trail (one mile) that leads to different views with informative signs describing what you are seeing. We had a picnic her at one of the many tables available. All in all, this is a great place to visit.

Melissa

Google
Worth the drive from Anchorage. One mile hiking trail that's a nice break from the car ride. The trail is not flat due to tree roots and there are slightly steep portions. The additional view points with information are great.

Siddhartha Sinha

Google
We had limited time and reached there around 6PM from Denali National Park and Talkeetna. So didn't have time for the Glacier Tour. But the view feom hear was very good. There ia small 1 mile trail. The park has a small fee.

Brett Ruprecht

Google
Smaller campground, we squeezed out 42’ Class A into site 8 and barely parked tow in front. $20 had fire ring and picnic table in need of repair. Hindsight would have paid $10 to stay overnight in large day use area parking lot with better views of glacier. There is also a really nice free view at mile ~99.3 with a double ended paved pullout that allows overnight stays. More road noise of course though.

Aishwarya Patil

Google
Hiking Matanuska Glacier with MICA Guides was an unforgettable experience! The guides were knowledgeable, ensuring safety while making the trek exciting. Walking on the glacier, exploring crevasses, and seeing the stunning blue ice up close was absolutely breathtaking. The gear provided was good, and the small group size made for a personalized adventure. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a thrilling and scenic Alaskan adventure!
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Sapna S.

Yelp
Gorgeous views all around! The hike was a bit intense for someone who doesn't hike much. They provide helmets and spikes for shoes when walking in the ice. You definitely have to be extremely careful as I did slip coming down. Good hiking boots and waterproof clothes are a must. I was wearing 3 layers and did end up getting hot during the tour. Better to be over dressed than under. It's about 2-2.5 hours and $150 per person. They recommend tipping your tour guide at least $20 per person. Our guide was Cora and she was awesome! She explained to us lots of things about the glacier and was super patient with us when taking pictures and walking carefully. Each group is about 10 people. Overall super fun tour and definitely a once in a lifetime experience that i would highly recommend.
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Meg H.

Yelp
Loved this tour. Had so much fun and I would 100% go ahead. They ask about your level of hiking experience and what you are looking for in this trip. We had an awesome tour guide who explained everything in detail and took us to some breathtaking views. The drive to get down to the Glacier is narrow and a bit scary but after that it is one of the coolest, most breathtaking things I have ever experienced.
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Andrew H.

Yelp
This cabin exists in a weird middle ground between "primitive cabin" and "hotel". Like a cabin, it doesn't have running water, or electric/gas heat. But yet...it has mattresses (bring your own sheets though, weird) and it also has...power? Heat comes from...a wood stove? Seriously, this place doesn't have a sink but it has a microwave and a refrigerator. It's just such an odd hybrid. Not sure how I feel about it. The views of the glacier are great though.
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Benton M.

Yelp
We didn't stay in a hut. But we did visit the glacier. It was kind of hard to find, perhaps because we were there off season. Had to go down a dirt road that says do not enter several times. But turns out we ended up at the right spot. Staff was friendly and even filled up our water bottle. It's kind of pricey to walk on a glacier, but since it's melting so fast (FU Global Warming) we had to do it. We also went when it was raining bad, so we got drenched. And it's a glacier, so it's icy. We could have done the guided tour, but felt like exploring it ourselves would be fine. Was it worth it? Based on the 5 stars, you know the answer. Even though we went on a crappy day, the glacier is beautiful and amazing. The surrounding landscape it equally as impressive and simply driving here from Anchorage is worth the time spent. This landmark won't be here forever, so it's a worthwhile stop.
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Rachel W.

Yelp
You are forced to pay a $65 per person guided fee because locals block the entrance to the public park. We drove 2 hours from anchorage to see this glaciar but greedy locals are claiming ownership rights. Really sad.
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Kas V.

Yelp
We went in March, and it was a little hard to find the place at first but we ended up finding it. The directions do need improvement as well, but we didn't stay to long. Overall scenery is nice in the park, and lovely view.
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Joy L.

Yelp
Meh. The glacier has receded so far it's not as impressive as it once was. The nice thing is that the valley is so huge that you can appreciate the glacier not just from the official stop, but other pull outs as well. It's cool that you can make a quick pit stop with little effort. They even have those dorky binocs and a purposeless pavilion.