From Mountains to Icefields: What Makes Knik Glacier Helicopter Tours So Unique

From Mountains to Icefields: What Makes Knik Glacier Helicopter Tours So Unique

Visit the stunning Knik Glacier by helicopter to get up close and personal with one of Alaska’s most beautiful landscapes.

If you’re planning a first trip to Alaska, you’ve probably discovered that the state’s sheer scale is almost impossible to grasp, especially from the ground. That’s why we encourage all visitors to Alaska to experience the massive landscape from above. 

There are many options for flightseeing Alaska, and many first-time visitors utilize one of the fixed-wing companies for flyovers from Anchorage to longer flights that include other activities. But a helicopter, with its nimble ability to get into the nooks and crannies of Alaska’s wildest spaces, changes the flightseeing game. In minutes, travelers move from jagged mountain peaks to vast, flowing icefields, on an experience that defines why Alaska helicopter tours are in a category of their own. 

Greatland Adventures is pleased to offer the Knik Glacier Helicopter Tour, operating year-round and offering spectacular Southcentral Alaska scenery as guests hold witness to the splendor of ancient glaciers. 

What you’ll see on a Knik Helicopter Tours 

No matter the season, as soon as you settle in your seat, the adventure across Alaska’s vast landscape begins. From a home base in the stunning Knik River Valley or Anchorage (depending on the time of year), the helicopter rises to travel upriver toward mighty Knik Glacier. This scenic braided river features wide sand and gravel flats that can span up to two miles in width as it travels southwest from the glacier for 25 miles toward Cook Inlet. 

During the late spring and summer months, Knik Valley’s surrounding landscape is full of lush greenery, from birch trees and shrubby willows to waterside sedge grasses, and that means an abundance of wildlife can often be spotted as the helicopter flies overhead. Look for browsing moose in the lowlands, as well as the occasional black bear feeding on rich roots and, later in the summer, berries from a multitude of mountainside bushes. In the fall, look for spectacular yellows and reds along the slopes and valley areas as foliage bursts forth with color. If you travel in the winter, the glaciers’ stark edges often emit a beautiful blue that strikes bold against the white landscape around it. There’s no wrong season to fly. 

As the pilot navigates along higher ridges of the Chugach Range and toward Knik, Colony, and Whiteout Glaciers, the landscape changes. Bright purple lupine and other wildflower species blanket the mountainsides of this alpine area in midsummer. Along rocky slopes, you might see a Dall sheep carefully stepping along with amazing balance. Keep an eye out for bald eagles as well! 

The Chugach Mountains are a dramatic collection of craggy peaks and glaciers, and it’s a special moment indeed when the helicopter settles down along Knik Glacier’s icy surface. Guests have about 30 minutes to explore, with the pilot/guide, just how intricate a glacier’s makeup can be. With plenty of time for photos, it’s a great opportunity to learn more about these rivers of ice and the land shaped over time. 

On the way out of the glacier areas, the pilot will follow the land’s contours and ridgelines before easing back to the base. 

What’s included in the Knik Glacier Helicopter Tours? 

Many helicopter tours in Alaska do not offer the chance to land and step out onto a glacier. This trip does, and guests are encouraged to experience the opportunity to its fullest. 

• Fly over the majestic mountains of the Chugach Range and land on Knik Glacier
• View beautiful glacial crevasses, moulins, glacial rivers, and waterfalls
• Fly down the Great Gorge of the Knik, a National Scenic Landmark
• Look for wildlife like Dall sheep and black bears

Each trip includes: 

• Services of a professional Alaska pilot/guide with narration
• 30-minute scenic helicopter flight
• 30-minute glacier landing
• Glacier trekking equipment (microspikes, etc.) 

Important need-to-know information

A helicopter tour to glaciers and wilderness requires some careful preparation, so take note of our suggestions for clothing and accessories. 

• Dress in layers, as weather can and does change rapidly. Even on a warm day, the katabatic wind coming off the Knik Glacier is chilly. 
• Wear a hat that covers the ears, even in the summer
• Footwear should be closed-toe and suitable for walking on the glacial surfaces
• Bring sunglasses! Ice and snow reflection is bright 
• Don’t forget the camera for unforgettable memories