Matanuska Glacier Helicopter Tour & Glacier Walk

Arrival at Sheep Mountain Air

Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled departure at Sheep Mountain Air, located at 17701 Glenn Highway, Chickaloon, AK 99674, approximately 2 hours northeast of Anchorage along the scenic Glenn Highway. The drive from Anchorage follows the Matanuska River through the Matanuska Valley, with views of the Chugach and Talkeetna Mountains along the way. At the helipad, your pilot reviews the flight plan, provides a safety briefing, and distributes personal headsets for in-flight communication and narration.

Helicopter Flight Over the Matanuska Glacier

You lift off from Sheep Mountain and fly directly toward the Matanuska Glacier. The helicopter climbs over the Matanuska River valley, and within minutes the glacier fills the view below: 27 miles of ice flowing from the peaks of the Chugach Mountains down to the valley floor. From the air, you see the full scale of the Matanuska Glacier, features that are invisible from the ground, including deep crevasse fields, towering seracs, meltwater channels carved into the ice surface, and the vivid blue pools that form as winter snow melts in the early summer. Your pilot narrates the flight through your headset, pointing out mountain peaks, ice formations, and wildlife sighting opportunities. The Matanuska Glacier functions as a natural "weather hole" that pushes warm valley air upward, often creating sunny, clear conditions even when surrounding areas are overcast.

Matanuska Glacier Landing and Walk

The helicopter lands on a remote section of white ice far from the glacier's terminus, in an area accessible only by air. You step out onto the surface of the Matanuska Glacier beside a vibrant blue glacial pool, formed by meltwater collecting in depressions in the ice. Your pilot provides micro spikes for traction and leads you on a guided walk across the glacier. You explore the immediate area around the landing site, walking past crevasses, ice ridges, and formations shaped by the glacier's constant movement. The Matanuska Glacier advances at approximately one foot per day and is continuously reshaping its surface, meaning the features you see on any given day are unique. Your pilot explains the geology of the glacier, the forces that created it, and how the landscape continues to change. You have time to touch the crystal-clear glacial water, photograph the blue pools and ice formations, and take in the panoramic views of the surrounding Chugach Mountains before the return flight.

Return Flight

After the glacier walk, you reboard the helicopter for the scenic flight back to Sheep Mountain Air.