Alaska Glacier Guide: 5 Types & Where to See Them

Alaska is home to an estimated 100,000 glaciers, covering roughly five percent of the state. These immense masses of snow and ice have been shaping the landscape for thousands of years, carving the valleys, mountains and fjords we explore today.

Many glaciers date back to the last ice age, but they aren't frozen in time. Glaciers are constantly moving and changing. Many are retreating as global temperatures rise, affecting ecosystems, water resources and coastal communities around the world.

At Pursuit, preservation starts with education — giving visitors the chance to experience Alaska's glaciers up close while encouraging connection to place, stewardship and a lighter footprint.

About a quarter of Alaska's glaciers are found within national parks. From towering tidewater glaciers to massive icefields, each type has its own character. Here's how to tell them apart — and where to find them in Alaska.

Ice Fields

What is it: Ice fields are large bodies of interconnected glacial ice that form in mountain basins where snowfall accumulates year after year. Some stretch for hundreds of miles — the Harding Icefield in Kenai Fjords National Park, for example, covers about 700 square miles (roughly one-and-a-half times the size of Los Angeles).

From these frozen reservoirs, ice flows into smaller outlet glaciers that carve through surrounding valleys. Mountain ridges guide the movement of the ice, and in some places only the tallest peaks rise above it, forming rocky islands known as nunataks.

Where to see them: Near Seward, the 8.2-mile Harding Icefield Trail climbs more than 1,000 feet to offer sweeping views of the ice field. Start the trek from the Exit Glacier area. Afterwards, stop by Resurrection Roadhouse for a well-earned meal of comfort-driven classics.

Alpine Glaciers

What is it: Alpine glaciers form in rugged mountain landscapes throughout many of Alaska's national parks. Some develop in bowl-shaped basins called cirques, where snow and ice collect along steep slopes. These glaciers often cling to high mountain terrain and may cascade over cliffs in dramatic icefalls.

Where to find them: Exit Glacier, near the tucked-away Seward Windsong Lodge, is Kenai Fjords National Park’s most accessible glacier. Visitors can hike the trail system or join a ranger-led walk for close-up views.

Valley Glaciers

What is it: Valley glaciers form in mountainous regions and flow downhill through existing river valleys, confined by steep valley walls. In some cases, when a valley glacier reaches flatter land beyond the mountains, the ice spreads outward into a broad lobe, forming a piedmont glacier.