Matanuska Glacier Ice Climbing

Alaska Ice Climbing Tours

We’ve been helping people learn to ice climb on the Matanuska Glacier since 1999. Our step-by-step training will have you scaling vertical walls of ice and getting some incredible photos in this unforgettable day on the glacier.

Hike or Fly

To access the best features of the glacier for ice climbing you have to get to what we call “the backcountry”. This area is several miles beyond the toe of the glacier and features huge walls, deep crevasses and beautiful blue pools. Access to the backcountry requires a demanding 2 mile hike over uneven glacial moraine. Depending on your group’s ability and pace, this hike takes approximately an hour to an hour and a half and involves walking over loose rocks, muddy ice, and steep slopes.

While strenuous, this hike allows our groups to escape the larger crowds on the lower glacier and access some of the most dramatic terrain the Matanuska has to offer.

Or you can skip the hike and take a helicopter! MICA Guides is the only company offering helicopter access to the glacier. Flying conserves your energy for the climbing and gets you to the coolest features we can find.  And you fly in a helicopter!

Join an Ice Climbing group or go Private

Our small groups are a great way to make some new friends on the hike out to the backcountry. Sign up for our Ice Climbing trip and get ready for the hike.

For the Ultimate Matanuska Glacier experience book the Ultimate Heli. This private trip gets you to the best features we can find for your personal glacier adventure by helicopter. Combine that with Luxury Camping on a glacier for an unforgettable Alaskan experience.