With many more stops than the Coastal some in areas accessible only by train the Glacier Discovery opens up a number of unique day trip options, suited for all ages and energy levels. Spencer Glacier Things to Do Even though Anchorage is Alaska's largest city, wilderness is right at our doorstep. Experienced and professional guides will row between dazzling icebergs, with a panoramic view of Spencer Glacier and the surrounding mountains as a backdrop. 2023 Summer Season: May 27 September 17. During winter, the falls can freeze, forming fabulous columns of blue ice. Book early! We try to keep you as dry as possible but some splashes can make it over the sides. Accessibility, Wheelchairs & Reduced Mobility. We narrowed those trips down to the glaciers under 150 miles or a two- to three-hour drive from Anchorage. For those who are prepared and want a unique adventure, its also possible to visit the face of Spencer Glacier during winter. Anchorage to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve via - Rome2rio There are hundreds of unnamed glaciers on Denali, and 40 named ones, according to the National Park Service. Passengers can make reservations for an add-on Spencer Glacier tour, or explore the area on their own before the train returns at 4:30 PM. For a thigh-burning trip to incredible vistas, peel off from the glacier trail (about mile 2.4) up the Spencer Bench Trail toward the Spencer Bench public use cabin. Our tours focus on small group interaction with an average group size of six to eight guests per one guide to give you a personalized experience. Very rarely do people actually fall off, and when they do it is super easy to just get right back on. Exit Glacier is the only glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park accessible by road (and received a visit from former President Barack Obama in 2015). Alaska Railroad Anchorage Day Tour | Spencer Glacier Hike Cancellation Policy for Day Tour Bookings: Cancellations made 10 days or more in advance are 90% refundable. Free Cancellation. Select a departure below to see current availability. Crevasses and moulins (deep holes) form in the glacier. Sort: Popularity. 2020 Alaska Railroad. This trip is a blastcomplete with stunning views of sheer mountains and hanging ice. Chugach Adventures is an equal opportunity service provider.Operating under Special User Permit on the Chugach National Forest. Both locations are only accessible by train. 600 Barrow Street, Suite 200. Departure times and locations are listed below. Anchorage, AK 99503 # 1 beckydoodle Original Poster Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 57 Likes: 0 Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts Alaska RR Spencer Glacier Tour The Alaska Railroad offers a tour from Anchorage to Spencer. The train returns to Portage to pick up Wildlife Center guests and other passengers before continuing south, away from the road system and into the wilds of the Chugach National Forest. We will have a rental car. Campsite B: Campsite B has a capacity for 10 people. Our Stand-Up-Paddle board (SUP) and inflatable kayak tours give you an opportunity to see the beauty of Alaska with a whole new perspective. From Anchorage to the remote Spencer Glacier, accessible only by rail. Our picks for the best tours and experiences during your Alaska Cruise. Rome2Rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Many consider this the most scenic stretch of track, as the train winds along the Placer River Valley and amid the alpine meadows of Grandview. Summer access comes by way of Knik Glacier Trail. 45 reviews 35 helpful votes 1. Fish & Wildlife, Alaska Rivers Company, PO Box 827, Cooper Landing, AK 99572 | Mile 50 Sterling Hwy | 907-595-1226, Ice to Ocean! ), Thick wool socks or double socks (to wear with our rubber boots or to wear under our neoprene socks if you are paddle boarding. After exploring amid the icebergs on Spencer Lake, your guide will steer you down the pristine Placer River, still affording grand views of the mountains and hanging glaciers, until pulling over to the riverbank; the Glacier Discovery Train makes a special riverbank stop to pick up rafting guests. Either way we will arrange your train tickets to board the Alaska Railroad for a wonderful unique glacial experience. 6:45 PM Arrival into Anchorage. Stay overnight and enjoy the scenery! Alaska Railroad Glacier Discovery Train Route | AlaskaTrain.com Transfers to and from your Anchorage hotel, lunch, however meals can be purchased on board the train. This trip is one of the most scenic glacier river trips in Alaska. Lower stretch of river is tidal and a big rising tide will slow you down. Come experience the thrill of propelling yourself across Alaskas majestic waters one blade stroke at a time! We recommend visiting AWCC for an awesome combo day tour. 5:15 PM Anchorage & Girdwood guests board motorcoach bus / shuttle van for quicker transportation back to their original location Address About What to Bring Getting There Dates and Prices Photos Contact Alaska Railroad (2:06) The shortest route on the Alaska Railroad, the Glacier Discovery offers opportunities to escape Anchorage and take unique day trips to Girdwood, Portage or Whittier, and in the Kenai Mountains. Rafting near Spencer Glacier (Photo Credit: Juno Kim / Visit Anchorage) There is a 1.3-mile trail to the Spencer Glacier Overlook at the edge of Spencer Lake. Area campsites provide an additional overnight option (bookable via the Alaska Railroad), and the Spencer Glacier whistle stop also hosts a covered shelter and restroom facilities. Here are a few of their trips: Spencer Whistle Stop offers two developed campsites with room for multiple tents and up to 25 people. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. A train ride to Seward has the same glacier views. Tours are sold out of a gift shop and information center. Perfect Float for ALL AGES & Abilities. Crevasses especially are not always visible. Rome2Rio makes travelling from Anchorage to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve easy. Or, spend an afternoon exploring the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop -- a backcountry area only accessible by rail -- with a . The Alaska Railroad offers checked baggage service. The trail is about a 3-mile roundtrip. There are unclimbed mountains, untouched rivers, and unexplored glaciers within 20 miles of downtown, and even more stretches of remote country along the railroad route that links Anchorage to Seward. Anchorage Train Depot411 West 1st AvenueAnchorage, AK 99501. *Additional cost will be applied if riding the train from Anchorage or Girdwood. (Valdez is another launching spot, about a five-hour drive from Anchorage.). How to catch a salmon a short walk from an Anchorage hotel. Byron Glacier. Ascending Path | Kayaking with Icebergs at Spencer Glacier This ice-age setting is rugged and primevalmile-high peaks, sheer headwalls towering over gravel outwash plains, astonishing waterfalls and braided rivers. Chugach Adventures was the original guide service at Spencer Glacier pioneering the area since 2001. 7 Alaska Train Trips You Must Experience From Anchorage - TravelAwaits Alaska Tour & Travel uses cookies to track your trip selections and favorites. Once you reach the alpine zoneabove the brushyou might head out across country to explore meadows and ridges. The station area at the Whistle Stop includes a roofed shelter, restrooms, and the trailhead for a 1.3-mile well-maintained path to the Spencer Glacier overlook on the edge of Spencer Lake. A note: Despite the required 10.8-mile round trip and half-mile-plus ascent, the Spencer Bench Cabin has become very popular, with prime summer dates filling up fast. What can I do on an April visit to Anchorage? The Placer River is a Class I to Class II river and is suitable for all ages and abilities. Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. at the Alaska Railroad. Glacier Blue Kayak & Scenic Grandview Train Tour | ALASKA.ORG Marketing by LeapUp. This tour includes train tickets. The boat launch on Spencer Lake is a quick drive down a down former mining road. About 60 miles southeast of Anchorage, Spencer Glacier is only accessible via the Alaska Railroads Glacier Discovery Train, which runs daily from May 25 through Sept. 16 this year. As the train leaves the city, it travels 50 miles along the picturesque Turnagain Arm. On the hike you will learn about the flora, fauna and local history of this glacial valley. (For now, the trail ends about one mile out at a tributary to Spencer Lake.). If anyone chooses to not participate in the hike we will provide transportation to the iceberg filled Spencer Lake, where their glacier, river, or hiking adventure will begin! Learn More >, Alaska Tour & Travel Its a 12-mile, three-to-four hour float to the Seward Highway. Spencer Glacier - Anchorage Forum - Tripadvisor Spencer Glacier River Float. During the winter, frozen Portage Lake is a popular spot for skiers and bikers traveling to the toe of the glacier, although there are no park rangers around in case of emergency, so traverse the ice at your own risk. The only road-accessible route directly to the glacier face is through property owned by Matanuska Glacier Park LLC. Subscribe to the Under the Midnight Sun Newsletter, Roundtrip transportation to Spencer Glacier by train and bus from Anchorage, Narrated walk with US Forest Service Ranger. Experienced guides row you right up to picturesque icebergs and offer stunning views of Spencer Glacier. These are more important in August & September, but nice to have in June & July with AKs unpredictable weather. 1-907-595-1226. Any one group up to 25 people may reserve the entire site by booking both sites A and B, enabling exclusive use of the campsites and all onsite amenities. The Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop features two campsites, each with space for multiple tents. Alaska Railroads Glacier Discovery Train, The Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Area, Winter access is $100 per person for first-time visitors, guided only. Our Spencer Lake and Ice to Ocean rafting trips are suitable for all ages and abilities. Anchorage Spencer Iceberg & Placer River Float This 8.5-hour day trip includes: Round-trip transportation from Anchorage or Girdwood to the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Alaska is, after all, home to most of the glaciers in the United States.