On the Southern Glaciers Tour in Alaska, you can see several glaciers in Portage Valley, including Portage Glacier, Explorer Glacier, Middle Glacier, and Burns Glacier. These glaciers are located within an hour’s drive of Anchorage and are some of the most accessible in the region. Portage Glacier is the most well-known, sitting at the end of Portage Lake, and is a highlight for many visitors. Along the route, your guide will point out viewpoints where multiple glaciers can be seen from the road or short walking paths. Because this is a year-round tour, the views change with the seasons, offering snowy backdrops in winter and green valley landscapes in summer. This makes the trip one of the easiest ways to see glaciers near Anchorage.

There are more than 100,000 glaciers in Alaska, but only a small percentage have official names. These glaciers cover roughly five percent of the state, making Alaska one of the most heavily glaciated regions in the world outside of Antarctica and Greenland. The largest, Bering Glacier, stretches over 100 miles, while others like Portage Glacier near Anchorage are much smaller but more accessible to visitors. Scientists classify Alaska’s glaciers into types such as valley, piedmont, and tidewater, each with unique shapes and behaviors. While many glaciers are shrinking due to climate change, they remain a defining feature of the landscape and a major draw for travelers. 

The best time of year to view glaciers near Anchorage is from late May through early September, when daylight is long, weather is mild, and access roads are clear. During these summer months, tours to Portage Glacier and other nearby glaciers run daily, and the chances of clear views are higher. In winter, from November through April, you can still see glaciers, but conditions are colder, and access may be limited to guided trips. Each season offers a different experience: summer brings green valleys and easy travel, while winter provides dramatic snowy backdrops. Because glaciers are visible year-round, the best time depends on whether you want warmer weather and longer days or the chance to see Alaska’s glaciers framed by a winter landscape.