Near the Glenn Highway, about 100 miles (160 km.) north-east of Anchorage, Matanuska Glacier is one of the must-see places when traveling in Alaska. 
Can you imagine a 27-mile (43 km.) long glacier? Here’s some information on Matanuska Glacier.

Alaska’s Matanuska Glacier is a valley glacier, 27 miles long by 4 miles (6.4 km.) wide that forms the headwaters for the Matanuska River. It is the largest glacier accessible by car in America and flows about 12 inches (30 cm.) each day.

Connected to Chugach Mountains, 229- acre (92.6 ha) Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site is located at Mile 101 of the Glenn Highway and offers a campground and rest area. The Edge Nature Trail is a short walk (about 20 minutes) through the forest to glacier viewing platforms with information signs about the area. The site does not allow access to the glacier, but provides some of the best public views of the glacier. Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site is closed during the winter due to ice and snow conditions.

This is Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site.


Would you like to walk for forever along this trail through a blueberry field?


This is Matanuska Glacier viewpoint.


This is a zoomed in view of Matanuska Glacier.


Now, let’s walk on Matanuska Glacier. 
You have to be very careful since regular sneakers can be very slippery.


Even though this is a cold glacier area, fireweeds grow well.


This is a lake created by the melting glacier. 
Even though the area looks like it is covered with soil, it is covered with ashes from a volcano.


Boards placed on the ground made it easy to go through this part of the trail.


If you look closely to the ground that looks like soil, you can see the glacier.


It takes about 30 minutes to the area to see the white glacier.


People just assume that it will be cold since it is a glacier area and wear thick clothes.
But while walking on the trail, you can get warm and sweaty. So a wind breaker would be the best to wear.


There were many crevasses.
Instead of walking alone, go with group in case of an accident. 

FYI, visitors can get a helmet and crampons for free when they take a guide at the place for paying the admission. Alternatively, there is a rental company that rents helmet and crampons at the admission office.


Standing in front of the white glacier and touching it and tried to have a bite and it is simply astonishing!