Matanuska Glacier Backcountry Ice Climbing

Join the original guiding company on the Matanuska Glacier, founded over 35 years ago! Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of one of Alaska's most accessible glaciers on foot and elevate your adventure with our popular Backcountry Ice Climb! Located in the Chugach Mountains, just 100 miles north of Anchorage, the Matanuska Glacier is a 26-mile-long advancing valley glacier that provides the perfect setting for ice climbing. With shallow vertical ice walls, it's an ideal spot for beginners to intermediate climbers.

This is an introductory ice climbing experience, featuring lower-angle walls of 50+ feet. Our top anchor systems require only a few minutes to set up. Once everything's in place, our expert guides will harness you up, review safety protocols, and teach you the fundamentals before you start climbing!

Reaching the glacier's climbing areas requires a trek over the rocky glacial moraine and past the white glacial face, leading you into the rarely explored backcountry. The glacier's features are constantly shifting, and its unique climbing walls evolve with the changing landscape. As the glacier molds and melts, new features emerge, meaning every day is a different experience.

You'll be outfitted with top-of-the-line gear, including hiking boots, crampons, helmets, ice axes, harnesses, climbing ropes, and hardware. This is a great opportunity for first-timers to push their limits in a safe environment with expert guidance. Please note, this is an introductory adventure—not a technical course—and we do not recommend glacier trekking or ice climbing without proper guidance and training.

With our 1:4 guide-to-guest ratio, everyone gets ample attention and opportunities. We recommend bringing a small pack for personal items such as jackets, snacks, sunglasses, sunscreen, and cameras.