The Knik Glacier Helicopter Tour is our most popular option, offering breathtaking views of five Alaskan glaciers. From above, you’ll witness incredible ice formations, rivers of ice, and stunning blue glacier landscapes.
This 70-minute flight also includes a 30-minute landing on the Knik Glacier, giving you the chance for a guided glacial walk. This tour flies over glaciers such as Eklutna, Whiteout, Lake George, Colony, and the Knik Glacier. Book your spot today and make your Alaskan adventure unforgettable. Our Knik Glacier flightseeing tours give you an incredible bird’s-eye view of the area’s massive ice fields and wildlife.
You can expect a dramatic flightseeing experience over the Knik Glacier area, with views of glacier ice, rugged mountain terrain, braided river valleys, and the surrounding Chugach landscape. Depending on the route, weather, and visibility, guests may see deep blue pools on the glacier surface, ice formations, crevasses, and the remote terrain around Lake George.
Yes, this tour includes a remote landing, conditions permitting. Your pilot will choose a safe landing area based on weather, terrain, and seasonal conditions, which may include glacier ice, a gravel bar, or an alpine meadow. Remote landings are one of the best ways to experience the scale, quiet, and isolation of the Knik Glacier landscape.
The Knik Glacier area is part of a wider glacial landscape that includes Lake George, Colony Glacier, Cataract Glacier, and surrounding mountain terrain. The exact views depend on the route, weather, and flight conditions, but this area is known for its dramatic ice, water, and mountain scenery. On clear days, the flight can offer incredible views across Lake George towards the nearby glaciers and remote Chugach landscape.
As you fly through valleys and along the Little Susitna River, you’ll spot the area’s sharp mountain peaks. Keep an eye out for amazing local wildlife viewing opportunities like black bears, moose, Dall sheep, mountain goats, and sometimes caribou. As the area with its scenic vistas is their natural habitat.
Want to know more about Knik helicopter tours with Heli Alaska? Learn about our unique blue glacier landings and Chugach State Park. We’ll share many glaciers you’ll see on this glacier tour near Anchorage, featuring glacier walk. Below we talk about opportunities for taking photos of sights such as the glacier fed river and icy landscapes. Our Knik glacier flight tour is the one for you.
Add an extra landing to your tour in the checkout and take your experience to the next level.
Step out of the helicopter again to get even closer to Alaska’s awe-inspiring natural wonders, stretch your legs, and immerse yourself further in the breathtaking scenery. This additional stop lets you soak in the stunning views like never before, making your adventure even more unforgettable.
When we land on the Knik Glacier, your pilot will help you gear up with crampons for safe exploration of the blue ice and surrounding ice field. You’ll have plenty of time to take photos or videos of the stunning ice formations and glacial melt pools. Whether you’re capturing the icy landscape or just enjoying the fresh air, the experience is sure to be unforgettable. This Knik Glacier landing lets you step onto ancient blue ice and see melt pools up close, a highlight of any Alaska trip.
If you’re feeling adventurous, take a dip in the chilly glacial melt pools – just be sure to bring some dry clothes or a towel! For a different kind of fun, try a natural glacial mud mask using the mud from the Knik Glacier. Many pay for an Alaskan mud mask, but here you can enjoy the real deal, straight from nature. After your glacial walk, you’ll return to the helicopter, refreshed and with memories of this once-in-a-lifetime glacier tour.
Our Knik Glacier Helicopter Tour takes you southeast of Wasilla and Anchorage, flying over the massive Chugach State Park. Covering over 495,000 acres in the coastal region of South-central Alaska, this park offers endless exploration opportunities for both locals and visitors. Created in 1970, it protects the rugged Chugach Mountains, preserves Anchorage’s water supply, and provides plenty of room for outdoor activities. Whether you’re here for a glacial walk or to enjoy the untouched wilderness, Chugach State Park is a must-see.
Managed by Alaska State Parks, Chugach State Park is the third-largest state park in the United States, behind California’s Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Alaska’s Wood-Tikchik State Park. To give you a sense of scale, you could fit New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago within its boundaries! The park’s size and its diverse landscapes, from glacier mountains to dense forests, make it a popular destination for glacier tours and wildlife enthusiasts alike.
Video from AlaskaStateParks: Chugach State Park borders Alaska’s largest city, the Municipality of Anchorage, and is a 495,000-acre dream-come-true for outdoor enthusiasts. Once you’ve visited Chugach State Park, you will understand why Alaskans rarely leave The Last Frontier State in summer.
Within Chugach State Park and the surrounding Chugach Mountains, you’ll find Eklutna Glacier, located just west of Lake George. Also known by its Dena’ina name, Idlu Bena Li’a, this glacier stretches for seven miles and plays a crucial role in Anchorage’s water supply. It feeds into Eklutna Lake, which provides drinking water for the city and powers the Eklutna Hydroelectric Project. This renewable energy source supplies electricity to over 24,000 homes, making it an essential part of life in south central Alaska.
Like many glaciers, Eklutna Glacier is shrinking due to climate change, losing more ice each summer than the snowfall can replace in winter. As the glacier melts, it affects Eklutna Lake, which is Anchorage’s primary water source. The glacier’s retreat is a reminder of the changing environment in the region and the importance of preserving these natural resources for future generations.
After flying over Eklutna Glacier, you’ll pass over expansive ice fields and dramatic rivers of ice before reaching Whiteout Glacier. Along the way, you’ll see stunning aerial views of water crossings and the rugged icy landscape of the area. Whiteout Glacier shares a unique history with Eklutna Glacier as both were used for military training from the 1950s to the mid-1970s. Soldiers trained here for arctic warfare, learning vital skills such as cross-country skiing and glacier safety during the Cold War.
In 1963, the Mountaineering Club of Alaska named the glacier after nearby Whiteout Peak, which stands at 6,818 feet. The club also built a cabin on Whiteout Glacier, later named Hans Hut, where adventurers could take shelter from storms. The challenging terrain, with its crevasses and frequent storms, makes the glacier a tricky but rewarding hike. Many travelers have left their stories behind, documented in the Alaska Digital Archive, a testament to the glacier’s rugged beauty and history.
As you leave Whiteout Glacier, you’ll catch your first glimpse of Lake George Glacier, which was historically part of North America’s largest glacier-dammed lake. Every spring and summer, as the glacier melted, it filled the lake to the brim. For nearly 49 years, until 1967, the advancing Knik Glacier blocked the lake’s outlet, causing it to fill up each year. In the summer, the ice dam would burst, sending a flood of water through the Knik River’s glacial carved valley. This annual event was so powerful that bridges on nearby highways and railroads had to be reinforced to withstand the water.
Today, Lake George no longer floods, but it remains a breathtaking sight, surrounded by glacier mountains and the icy landscape of the area. Visitors can witness the history of this natural wonder during our glacier tours. The remnants of the glacier-dammed lake offer insight into Alaska’s ever-changing environment and provide spectacular views of the rivers of ice and surrounding wilderness.
South of Lake George, you’ll find Colony Glacier, also known as Diltishi Bena Li’a. It sits at an elevation of 1,037 feet (316 meters) and calves into the lake each year, creating stunning ice formations. To the east of Colony Glacier stands the towering glacier mountain of Mount Gilbert, named after Grove Karl Gilbert, a geologist from the 1899 US Geological Survey Harriman Expedition. This group explored much of the area, and the mountain, at 9,638 feet (2,938 meters), was named in Gilbert’s honor.
Every year, as the glacier calves into the lake, it offers spectacular views for those on a glacier tour. The surrounding area showcases the rugged beauty of Alaska’s wilderness, with views that can be appreciated from the air during your Knik Glacier helicopter tour. Whether you’re there for the history or the natural beauty, Colony Glacier is a must-see on your journey through Alaska’s iconic landscapes. From these dramatic ice formations, your flight continues toward the Grand Knik, where the glacier carves through rugged mountain terrain
This short film from the Alaska Film Archives shows how Lake George breaks through the Knik Glacier. But keep in mind, this natural event, which used to happen every year, hasn’t occurred since 1967. The film is a silent, color, super 8mm clip from the Stewart’s Photo Shop collection at the Alaska Film Archives. If you’d like to know more, please visit the Alaska Film Archives.
The area around Colony Glacier is stunning. With waterfalls, blue ice formations, and green slopes. The glacier terminates into Lake George, and sometimes you can see it calving at the toe. The glacier’s toe reaches into the lake and cascades down a high face. All that’s left of the larger Lake George we talked about earlier is Inner Lake George. In 1967, Lake George was named a National Natural Landscape. On our Knik helicopter tours, you’ll often see mountain goats around the Colony Glacier area.
The Knik Glacier is the star of our tour and one of the largest glaciers in south-central Alaska. Located 50 miles east of Anchorage, on the northern edge of the Chugach Mountains, this massive ice field spans more than 25 miles in length and 5 miles in width. With a thickness of 400 feet (120 meters), the glacier towers over the landscape, making it perfect for glacier exploration and a memorable glacial walk. Imagine standing on a wall of ice that’s over 28 stories high, more than twice the height of the Statue of Liberty!
Reaching the Knik Glacier by road is impossible, as it’s tucked away in a remote location. Most visitors access it via helicopter, plane, or jetboat, though some adventurers hike or fat bike the 8-mile journey. The blue glacier face stretches 5 miles and flows into the glacier fed river, where chunks of ice calve and fall into the water. The glacier’s western face once blocked Lake George during the winter. From your birds eye perspective on the Knik Glacier flight tour, you’ll witness these natural wonders as they unfold in Alaska’s rugged wilderness. To find out more about the grand Knik Glacier, visit www.alaska.org. Many visitors choose our Knik Glacier helicopter tour to fully appreciate the size and beauty of this iconic Alaskan landmark.
Imagine capturing the awe-inspiring icy landscape from a unique birds eye perspective. The Knik Glacier helicopter tour offers photographers an unforgettable opportunity to document Alaska’s natural beauty from a new angle. From the vibrant blue ice to the striking ice formations, every moment provides a chance for breathtaking shots. During your flight, you may even witness massive chunks of ice calving into the glacier fed river, creating stunning photo opportunities. Whether you’re a professional or hobbyist, this tour is ideal for knik glacier helicopter photography.
While we can’t guarantee specific events, we can help you choose the best times for optimal photography during your Knik Glacier flight tour. The combination of glaciers, glacier mountains, and the vast ice field creates a dynamic backdrop for your photos. Capture the majesty of the grand Knik Glacier and its surrounding wilderness on this unforgettable experience. Be sure to book your helicopter ride with us to take full advantage of these stunning landscapes from the sky.
If you need tips for photography, or if there’s something specific you want to see on your tour, talk to Robert from our team. He’s not just an experienced pilot but also a great photographer. You can send us a message on our contact page if you want to know more.
You can begin your Knik Glacier flight tour from our partner locations in the Mat-Su Valley, with convenient pick-up options at the docks of Mat-Su Resort or the back lawn of Lake Lucille Inn. For more information, visit our contact page to get all the details on how to connect with us and book your helicopter ride. Whether you’re starting from these locations or elsewhere, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.
During the flight, you’ll soar through Chugach State Park, capturing incredible views of glacier mountain peaks and the glacial carved valley below. Flying in one of our R44 helicopters, our local pilots share their knowledge of the region’s landscapes, wildlife, and weather patterns. Don’t worry if clouds are rolling in; sometimes the best sights are revealed through the fog, making the icy landscape even more dramatic. Whether the sky is clear or cloudy, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable journey through Alaska’s wild beauty.
Alaska has bigger and wilder wilderness areas than Chugach State Park, but none are as close to a big city or as full of wildlife. The park is easy to access and offers activities for all skill levels. It has 16 trailheads leading to 280 miles of trails. You can do so many different things here: hiking, biking, horseback riding, glacier exploration, helicopter tours, hunting, fishing, camping, gold-panning, ATV riding, snowmobiling, Anchorage glacier tour viewing, photography, and animal viewing, to name a few.
If you love nature and landscape photography, you’ll love this park. It’s a popular spot for photographers because of its diverse wildlife and the rugged beauty of the Chugach Mountains including water crossings and glaciers. The park is home to over 45 different mammal species. That includes nearly every species found in Alaska. The park’s 495,000 acres are estimated to be home to over 1,000 moose, 80 black bears, 40 brown bears, 2,000 Dall sheep, a wolf pack, and populations of lynx, beavers, river otters, foxes, and mountain goats.
Does the Knik Glacier Helicopter Tour sound like the right one for you? If so, it’s easy to or over the phone. Our automated booking system lets you pick your date and number of passengers with your phone or desktop computer. However, if you have any issues or questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Are you thinking about booking the Knik Glacier Helicopter Tour? As one of Alaska’s premier tour companies, we make it easy for you to book online or by phone. Our booking system lets you choose your date and the number of passengers using your phone or computer. We consider ourselves to be one of the friendliest tour companies in Alaska so, if you have any problems or questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!
If you are nervous about flying for any reason, we will be happy to walk you through the process or make arrangements to make the experience better for you. Again, please feel free to get in contact using the contact page. Our pilots love our tours and think you will too. Above all, though, we understand that everybody’s needs are different. One of us will be happy to assist you wherever possible.
Do you feel the Knik Glacier Helicopter tour is not quite what you want? If you’d like to discuss customizing your tour, call us, and we’d be happy to accommodate your needs.
For the Knik Glacier Helicopter Tour, we recommend dressing in layers for comfort and warmth. Even on sunny days, the temperature can drop as you fly over glacier mountains and land on the icy landscape. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes for your glacial walk. Sunglasses are a good idea, as the sun reflects off the blue glacier and ice formations. Gloves and a hat are helpful during the glacier landing. Bring a light jacket, even in summer, to stay warm during your Knik Glacier flight tour.
You don’t need to bring any special gear for the tour. We provide everything necessary for a safe glacier walk. However, it’s always a good idea to wear sturdy shoes and dress in layers for comfort. We suggest bringing a camera to capture the stunning views during your aerial adventure over the glacial terrain and glacial melt pools. If you’re interested in knik glacier helicopter photography, you’ll have plenty of chances to take breathtaking shots of the glacier fed river and rugged landscapes. No special equipment is required to enjoy this guided glacier tour, just come ready for an unforgettable experience.
Yes, you can definitely bring a camera on the tour. In fact, we encourage it! This aerial adventure offers incredible opportunities for knik glacier helicopter photography, capturing the rugged landscapes, snow-capped mountains, and the stunning glacial terrain. You’ll get a birds eye perspective of the glacial carved valley, glacier fed river, and glacial melt pools. Just make sure your camera is secure during the flight.
The best time depends on what you want to see. Summer offers clear skies and ideal conditions for wildlife viewing, including dall sheep and bears. In winter, you’ll get stunning views of snow-capped mountains and the glacial terrain during your scenic helicopter flight. Both seasons offer great opportunities for photography. Whether you’re interested in a summer glacier walk or winter’s icy beauty, the tour is available year-round and always offers a memorable experience over the 28 miles long glacier.
The Knik Glacier Helicopter Tour lasts about 60 minutes in total, with a 30 minute flight and a 30 minute glacier landing. During the flight, you’ll get a birds eye perspective of the glacial carved valley and stunning rugged landscapes of central Alaska. The landing gives you time for a glacier walk and plenty of chances for photography. Covering over 25 miles of the glacial terrain, this tour is designed to give you a full glacier exploration experience in just one hour.
During the Knik Glacier Helicopter Tour, you’ll fly over five glaciers, including Eklutna Glacier, Whiteout Glacier, Lake George Glacier, Colony Glacier, and the Knik Glacier. Each offers unique views, from the glacial carved valley around Lake George to the stunning glacier ice sheet of Knik Glacier. This tour provides an unforgettable birds eye perspective of glacier exploration in central Alaska, making it a top choice for those interested in seeing Alaska’s iconic natural wonders.
Yes, you can add an extra landing to your Tour for an additional fee. During the checkout process, simply select the option to extend your aerial adventure and get even more time on the ice. The extra landing allows for further glacier exploration and more opportunities for photography of the glacial terrain. You’ll also enjoy extra time to take in the rugged landscapes and snow-capped mountains of central Alaska. Adding a landing is a great way to enhance your experience with Heli Alaska.
Yes, the tour is perfect for first-time flyers. We make sure every passenger feels comfortable and safe during the scenic helicopter flight. Our experienced pilots guide you through breathtaking landscapes, including views of the grand knik glacier. Whether you’re interested in wildlife viewing or taking photos during the flight, this tour offers an incredible experience for beginners.
Heli Alaska is located just outside of Wasilla. Our launch site is conveniently positioned for easy access to some of Alaska’s most stunning landscapes, including the Grand Knik Glacier. From here, you can book Alaska helicopter tours for various adventures. We are just a short drive from Anchorage, making it easy for visitors to enjoy a scenic helicopter flight over the northern edge of the Chugach Mountains and experience incredible wildlife viewing opportunities.
Yes, we offer free parking at our location. Whether you’re coming for the Knik helicopter tour or another Alaska helicopter tour, you’ll find convenient parking near our launch site. After parking, you’ll be just steps away from boarding your helicopter for a scenic flight. We make it easy for you to book helicopter rides and start your adventure right from our lot.
Our pilots at Heli Alaska are highly experienced and well-trained in conducting scenic helicopter flights and glacier tours. Each pilot has flown numerous routes and has extensive knowledge of Alaska’s landscapes. They are experts in providing a safe and enjoyable experience, whether you’re taking in views of glacier lakes, spotting dall sheep, or landing for a Knik glacier hike. Our team ensures you have a memorable and secure adventure.
The tour has a 2-person minimum booking.
Heli Alaska, Inc. – Hanger #4, 4130 West Aviation Ave. 99629
The Knik Glacier is one of Alaska’s largest and most accessible glaciers, stretching over 25 miles. Its stunning blue ice and rugged landscape make it a prime location for glacier exploration. To learn more about the glacier’s formation and ongoing changes, Alaska.org provides insights into its history and significance in the region.
The Knik River Valley is home to a diverse range of wildlife, from moose and bears to bald eagles soaring over the glacial rivers. Visitors looking to understand more about the valley’s ecosystem and wildlife spotting opportunities can find helpful information through Travel Alaska.
For those interested in the geology of Alaska’s glaciers, the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Geophysical Institute offers research and educational resources on glacier dynamics, ice flow, and climate impact studies. Their work provides a deeper understanding of the natural forces shaping the Knik Glacier and surrounding landscapes.