HIKE DETAILS
Trips include deli lunch, all equipment, friendly skilled naturalist hiking guides, RT train ticket, 9:1 ratio, bear protection and interpretive natural history, ecology and glaciology discussions. Snacks and water are provided. Please wear comfortable warm clothes and dress in layers (fleece jacket, rain jacket/pants, gloves, wool/fleece hat, sunglasses, ball cap). Be sure to bring hiking boots or running shoes, daypack and a camera.This Iceberg Rail Tour is a 6 hour excursion: Meeting at our Yurt in Girdwood at Noon and returning to the Hotel Alyeska at 5:45pm. (If boarding in Anchorage, your guide will meet you on the train at 2nd Portage stop.)
For a more detailed rail schedule: Rail Logistics (PDF)
- Be sure to bring Drivers License or Passport.
- One Departure Daily- June 1st to September 10th
- Guests will be required to fill out a Hiking Application and sign our Waiver.
- Deli Lunch Included: meat, vegetarian and special dietary options avail.
- Ages: 7-70 (Child Rates: 7-11)
- Total hiking mileage: up to 4 miles on flat graveled trails
- Total hiking time: 2 hours (including photo and rest breaks)
- This is a moderate activity no experience is necessary.
- Trip minimums and maximums: 2 and 25 (10:1 client to guide ratio)
Hike to Icebergs & Rail Tour
Hike with a guide to Spencer Glacier on USFS trails past blue Icebergs and along a beautiful terminal lake.In partnership with Alaska Railroad, Ascending Path offers Guided hikes along Spencer Lake. This is an amazing Glacier location to experience and learn about blue ice up close and personal on this 1/2 day excursion! Operating under permit, Chugach National Forest.
The Spencer Glacier is located just South of Portage Valley and the Turnagain Arm in the Kenai Mountains and the Chugach National Forest. It is entirely off the road system, so we ride a train from Anchorage, Girdwood or Portage with breathtaking views of glaciers and towering alpine peaks.
From the Spencer Whistle Stop, our group of 9 or less boards a bus for a short dirt road jaunt to our Basecamp at the lake edge. This saves 2 miles of walking and gets us past the crowds and directly to the most scenic spot. From our basecamp, the hike takes us along the lake edge stopping at overlooks to enjoy outstanding views of the glacier and Icebergs floating in the Spencer terminal lake. The total distance from the edge of the lake to the glacier is just over 2 miles of flat Forest Service maintained trails. We do not walk on the glacier for this hike, but right up to it!
Your hike includes many photo & rest stops to learn about interesting local wildlife, history and glaciology. Guests visiting Spencer Glacier with us will surely come away with great photographs and memories, better respect and knowledge about glaciers, mountain weather and the history of Alaska.
Including Train, Lunch & Guide:
Girdwood Adult (Yurt check-in) $240. Child: $205
We accept Visa and Mastercard.
Anchorage Adult $279. Child: $225
What our clients say about this tour
"We had an awesome time inventing a "new tour" for AP. Out of all the crazy things we've done around the world, this definitely tops it. Our guides were great and very knowledgeable & experienced. Highly Recomended!!!"Simon Daniel & Rafi Collcer
