Explore the Majestic Glaciers Near Homer, Alaska
Explore the Majestic Glaciers Near Homer, Alaska
Alaska is filled with natural wonders. From expansive seas to rugged mountainsides, you can find nearly landform here. In fact, our state has the most concentrated number of glaciers than any other in the United States! A glacier is a large, slow-moving mass of ice created by snow accumulation. When you visit our area, be sure to explore one of the best glaciers near Homer, Alaska!
When you’re ready to plan your trip, request our free Homer Vacation Guide. This online guide is filled with local recommendations on what to do during your trip to the Last Frontier!
3 of the Best Glaciers Near Homer, Alaska
While the Grewingk Glacier is one of our most popular glaciers, but there are plenty more glaciers in the area, some offering hiking trails, and others simply existing to amaze all who visit. We have listed a few of the more well known ones in the paragraphs below.
1. Grewingk Glacier
Where is Grewingk Glacier?
Grewingk Glacier is a 30-square-mile glacier in Kenai Mountains. You can access this impressive glacier via the Kachemak Bay, just 15 miles off the southeast coast of Homer.
Visit the spectacular views of Grewingk Glacier on the Driftwood Inn’s hiking tours! Each of these guided hikes begins with a scenic water taxi ride across the Kachemak Bay. Along the way, enjoy sights of wildlife like sea otters, whales, and more! Each option is a full-day excursion that arrives back at the Homer Spit in the evening.
You can add either of these hiking tours onto your reservation when you book online or contact us to reserve your spot!
Glacier Lake Family Hike
The Glacier Lake Family Hike is the best sightseeing tour for those who want an up-close-and-personal experience at Grewingk Glacier. Visitors follow a 3.2-mile trail that leads to spectacular views of Grewingk Glacier Lake. It’s the perfect choice for family travelers or for groups with novice hikers.
Halibut Cove Triangle Hike
The Halibut Cove Triangle Hike is a full-day adventure that follows along the Grewingk Glacier Lake Trailhead. The trail near Homer, Alaska, boasts spectacular views of the area’s native flora and fauna as well as Grewingk Glacier Lake.
2. Portlock Glacier
Alaska is known for its glaciers, offering tens of thousands of the slow flowing ice “rivers” and even as many glaciers are disappearing from the landscape, ones like Portlock Glacier continue to invite exploration and, of course, hiking trails that allow more in depth examination of these natural occurrences. The Portlock Glacier is located just 20 miles away from Homer, offering two trails of note, the trail to Portlock Glacier Valley (providing access to the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge) and the one that may interest you most, the Blue Ice Trail that leads across the Portlock Glacier Plateau and allows hikers to actually touch the glacier.
3. Yalik Glacier
Located just 28.5 miles away from Homer, the Yalik Glacier was named after an abandoned Indian settlement back in 1911 and sadly has thinned about 328 feet and has retreated almost a mile. An ice-marginal lake, created by meltwater, has formed at its front.
Other Glaciers Near Homer
Not all glaciers offer hiking trails, but they are still quite beautiful to see, including the Petrof Glacier, which is 9 miles long and is located about 28 miles away from Homer. The Doroshin Glacier, lies a little closer to Homer, just 19 miles away and is a smaller one at about 6 total miles in length. And finally, the Chernoff Glacier, is the furthest distance from Homer, located approximately 42 miles away and is 9 miles in length.
The Fjords of Alaska
A Fjord is a long, narrow, and deep body of water and the McCarty and Northwestern Fjords are another natural attraction that visitors might want to explore during their Homer, Alaska visit and stay in our Driftwood Inn.
1. The McCarty Fjord
The McCarty Fjord is known for its tidewater glacier, the McCarty Glacier, and is also known for its long history of advances and retreats. Global warming has caused it to retreat just over 9 miles since the early 1900s, but its stunning beauty will never fail to amaze all who view it, especially the area where the glacier meets the waters of the fjord.
2. The Northwestern Fjords
The Northwestern Fjords, located in a remote area of Kenai Fjords National Park is actually known for being home to 7 different Glaciers, with many of them being tidewater glaciers that never stop moving and are constantly crashing into the sea. Day tours of the Northwestern Fjords are offered by Kenai Fjords Tours, offering visitors the opportunity to explore the wildlife that live in this remote area and experience firsthand the sight of the tidewater glaciers crashing into the waters that surround them. Offering breakfast and lunch, the tours are fully narrated, giving a fascinating introduction into the history of the area.
More Boat Tours in Homer, Alaska
Explore more of our area’s great outdoors with these boat tours in Homer, Alaska! The Driftwood Inn offers a wildlife tour and halibut, salmon, or combination fishing charters. With so many tours to choose from, everyone is sure to find an adventure that suits their interests!
Stay at the Driftwood Inn
Head back to your accommodation at the Driftwood Inn after a day of exploring one of the best glaciers near Homer, Alaska! We offer a wide variety of lodging options in Old Town Homer including Modern Lodges, Old Town Cottages, Woodside Lodge Suites, Historic Inn Rooms, Tiny Houses, and an RV Park.
Check our availability to start planning your trip to Homer, Alaska!