Alaska Ice Cave Tours on Matanuska Glacier. The cave is hidden from view You will see the massive glacier in the distance and it just looks like piles of dirt and rocks. A word of warning: the very nature of glaciers make ice caves unstable and dangerous, so know the risks and your own skill level before attempting to trek to these frozen vistas by yourself. At 4 miles wide and 27-miles long the Matanuska … Dan-yr-Ogof, the National Showcaves Centre for Wales, Frasassi Caves (Grotte di Frasassi), Genga. Because of the greenhouse effect, ice caves tend to melt, therefore they may be dangerous for those who don’t know safe paths. Kick off your journey to the Mendenhall Ice Caves by heading to Juneau, Alaska’s state capital. Glacier tours are available from the abandoned mining town of Kennecott, where you can also tour the historic mill. Kluane Ice Cave trail: Once a well-kept secret by the locals, this hike went viral as scores of Yukoners and tourists have since flocked to this accessible ice cave (which is really a tunnel). The Mendenhall Glacier ice caves are among the world’s most stunning, with their eerie, swelling blue domes that resemble the underside of a rapid river, flash-frozen. As you venture inward, it’ll be impossible not to notice the supreme beauty that surrounds you. Mendenhall Ice Caves – So what exactly are the Mendenhall ice caves and why do people’s eyes seem to light up with an enchanting glow when they hear those words? The reward, though, are ice caves that you can explore. Mendenhall Glacier is a very popular tourist destination, conveniently located just 12 miles from downtown Juneau, Alaska, so if you happen to be in Juneau or are planning a trip there, a … However, if you’ve got cold-water paddling skills, the caves can be accessed by lake. National Geographic. I understand that during summer it is unsafe to enter into the cave itself. Mendenhall Ice Caves – Juneau, Alaska. I have been seeing several posts with photographs of the Byron Glacier Ice Cave. Deep among the spectacular peaks to the west of Haines Junction is an ice cave that first became public knowledge in 2016, and has been getting an ever-increasing number of visitors. The good news is you can still enjoy Chugach National Forest and the Byron Glacier blue ice trail without risking it all. See current Gray Line Alaska travel specials. Indeed, a glacier ice cave that was well-developed last year may even have disappeared come spring! If you’ve done any research into the Mendenhall glacier tours Juneau offers, and seen any of the hundreds of pictures and videos posted about the Mendenhall ice caves, you’ll understand why! Ice Cave Photography. Many people from all around the world come to Alaska to see this natural phenom​enon. For a hike to the caves, bring along a local guide who can ensure you’re stocked with the appropriate gear. The ice was melting and it was raining heavily inside, everything including my bag and camera went wet. Saved by Charlotte Szivak ... Ice cave in Alaska. We kicked off our Alaska trip with a couple of days in Anchorage. The glacier itself, visible from the Glenn Highway (Pro tip: the best view is at Mile 101) is 27 miles long and four miles wide and accessible through the private Matanuska Glacier Park. Recent warnings to stay away because it’s collapsing prompted me to post a hike on a local group’s Facebook page, and on Thursday, February 28, 7 of us met in Whitehorse and headed to the trailhead. The Byron Glacier Ice caves killed a woman in July of 2018 the roof of these blue ice caves partially collapsed on camera in Spring 2019. Visitors can explore and learn about glacial features such as crevasses and ice caves. The enchanting Root Glacier is located in America’s largest national park, the 13.2 million-acre Wrangell-St. Elias. Located a short 12 miles outside Alaska’s capital city of Juneau, the Mendenhall Ice Caves are ever-changing due to melting ice and glacier recession but an absolute wonder to explore. If viewing a glacier from a safe distance is more your style, and if you’d like to get an overview of the different types of glaciers in Alaska, take the Prince William Sound 26 Glacier Cruise that departs from Anchorage. Many people from all around the world come to Alaska to see this natural phenom​enon. It’s better to order a tour with an experienced guide … Best Glacier Hiking in Alaska. Visit other members of our travel family From an Alaska tour company website: “The term “ice cave,” it turns out, is sometimes used by geologists to describe a regular bedrock cave that features year-round ice, but as it’s usually meant when discussing Alaska, ice caves refer, well, to caves within a body of ice, namely a glacier. But visiting it was risky. The glacier terminates in Spencer Lake surrounded by alpine mountain vistas. Mendenhall Glacier Ice Caves, Alaska Located just 12 miles from downtown Juneau, Alaska, Mendenhall Glacier is a 12-mile long glacier within Mendenhall Valley. The water that flows from it creates the wild Matanuska River. This active glacier advances about a foot daily, slowly changing its own features. Ice caves make up its surreal interior. He checked the safety of this cave before let us go inside. A stay at the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge puts you just four miles from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park’s main visitor center in Copper Center, Alaska, about a three-hour drive northeast of Anchorage. Again, caution is advised: the glacier was named for a railroad employee who disappeared in 1905 while trekking on the ice. Few sites on the planet can rival the wonder of glacier-fed ice caves, and there are plenty to be found in Alaska’s wide open spaces. Here you can find tons of crystal clear ice, artistic shapes made by nature through millions of years, and soft sunbeams that barely pierce frozen walls… Looking at this miracle, only one thing may come to mind: it truly is a palace for a Snow Queen. Glowing blue walls of ice, light seeping through cracks and holes, rushing and dripping water and loose rock and mud shifting under foot – this is not a journey for the faint of heart or shaky of foot, but one you’ll not want to miss if you’re up for the challenge! The footage John captured of the ice cave was absolutely stunning! A visit to Root Glacier includes views of Donoho Peak and the rock-covered Kennicott Glacier, which might not look glacial, but there is actually ice underneath the dirt and stones. Ice caves on the Matanuska Glacier are often elusive, but our guides are out there every day and if there’s one that we can get you to we’ll know about it! The land route is unmarked and can be steep and slippery. They’re found in Southeastern Alaska’s rainy Tongass National Forest, but once you arrive you might think you’ve somehow traveled beyond Alaska and ended up in a fantasy land far, far away. It is hard to believe that such places exist on Earth. Ice caves like the ones in Alaska may change substantially from year to year, lengthening, widening, or changing direction as meltwater continues to flow and the glacier moves downhill. It is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime experience to hike across a field of ice and explore an Alaska Ice Cave. If you’ve considered visiting Alaska you have probably stumbled across surreal photos of people standing and walking in the bright blue Mendenhall Ice Caves formed on the Mendenhall Glacier. The network of cerulean ice caves is what makes Mendenhall Glacier so unique and special. This massive glacier is about 60 miles from Anchorage, south of the Turnagain Arm area of the Kenai Mountains in the Chugach National Forest. Under the edge of the Kennicott Glacier is a world that few get to see and experience. It is a six- to eight-hour hike to reach the iconic cave and you must bring the necessary glacier-travel equipment such as crampons and an ice axe. Aerial view of a glacier in Chugach State Park, Alaska, United States. Part of what distinguishes glacier ice caves, such as the Mendenhall Glacier ice caves, from normal bedrock caves is that they are, geologically speaking, quite temporary. Juneau is situated at the base of the 3,819-foot Mount Roberts on Alaska’s Inside Passage. The crystal ceilings look like the underside of a river frozen by a magician. It’s risky and it’s undeniably life threatening. The first thing I did was hiked on top of the glacier to get a better view. The most famous Alaskan ice caves are located under Mendenhall, Root, Spencer, Matanuska, and Kennicott Glaciers. You can … But there’s magic in the Mendenhall Ice Caves, where water runs over rocks and under frozen bright-blue ceilings inside a partially hollow glacier. The route is easy to follow up a creek bed, which takes you right to the cave, with its huge arch of blue ice. John Derting, an Alaska-based photographer, carefully explored the inside of a glacier in Portage Valley after ice melted and opened up some new areas. Mendenhall Glacier is a spectacular 12-mile-long glacier near Juneau, Alaska. Inside the glacier is a sight that few people have had the opportunity to see in person: the Mendenhall Ice Caves. Ice cave in Alaska. Simply put, it’s very dangerous. Download all free or royalty-free photos and vectors. Your Mendenhall Ice Cave Alaska stock images are ready. This massive glacier is about 60 miles … Accessible only by train, the USDA Forest Service partners with the Alaska Railroad to offer views of Spencer Glacier through hiking or kayaking tours that leave from the Spencer Whistle Stop. While visiting Root Glacier, you’ll have the chance to explore tide pools on the surface of the glacier as well as its ice caves, deep ravines, and moulins – the holes that melting water cut into the ice. The Mendenhall Glacier is a 12-mile-long … All the ice is of course, below this and the cave is hidden from view. Check with Tongass park officials about local guide companies that can take you there. Princess Cruises, Princess Lodges, Holland America Line & Westmark Hotels, 15 Amazing and Free things to Do in Anchorage. . Our expert glacier guides will guide you safely through the ice caves… A new unknown world is hidden under the majestic Alaskan glaciers. Answer 1 of 3: I am going on an NCL cruise stopping in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchican on Sept6th--13th.I really want to see an ice cave.I have looked at excursions for glacier treks but none specifically say they see ice caves. Download all free or royalty-free photos and vectors. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. This ice cave in Valdez glacier is a must see in Valdez. The most famous Alaskan ice caves are located under Mendenhall, Root, Spencer, Matanuska, and Kennicott Glaciers. Don't try this at home! The caves come and go as mother nature chooses and are accessible only to the most adventurous of travelers. Getting up close and personal with an ice cave in Alaska is not for the faint of heart. The glacier is constantly changing, so we cannot guarantee any specific features more than a week in advance. The Castner Glacier is an easily accessible glacier toe in the Delta Mountains of the Alaska Range. While there are plenty of things to do in Alaska’s largest city, we wanted to stick to outdoor activities. We took a kayak tour for this cave, our guide was experienced and quite helpful. Yet it’s hard for an adventure hound not to be totally captivated by the epic pictures floating around the internet. A quick drive from Anchorage and even quicker drive from Palmer, you can view the stunning and massive Matanuska Glacier. Once a little-known gem off the Alaska Highway, the ice cave had become a popular tourist attraction in recent years. A glacier (US: / ˈ ɡ l eɪ ʃ ər / or UK: / ˈ ɡ l æ s i ər, ˈ ɡ l eɪ s i ər /) is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight. Matanuska Glacier Adventures is proud to offer Ice Cave Tours on the unique and beautiful Matanuska Glacier.