MICA Guides — Local services in Alaska

Highly recommend MICA’s Advanced Trek to someone who wants to hike on the glacier for a closer look and experience some ice climbing. Our guide Quinn is passionate, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable. We really like him and it was fun and exciting going on the tour following his lead!

My friend and I (both female in our late 30s) went on the Advanced Trek in late-June. It was a sunny day, around low to mid-60 degree Fahrenheit on the glacier. The entire tour including the gear-up time was about 6.5 hours. We arrived 30 minutes prior to the start time to check in (sign the waivers and pay the glacier access fee). The participants to guide ratio was 3:1 in our group, allowing us to move efficiently and have all our questions and needs taken care of throughout the tour.

Before heading to the field, Quinn brought us to the gear room and thoroughly walked us through the gears: microspikes, crampons, harness, and helmet… etc. Next we took a 10-minute car ride to the glacier trailhead. We first hiked for about 2 miles on the moraine which didn’t feel like a long walk probably due to our quick pace. During the time on the ice we saw a beautiful blue glacier lake, walked on a shallow glacier stream, climbed an ice slope about 3 or 4-story high, and hung on a slope to see a moulin (vertical well-like shaft) from above. It was incredibly fun to get the close look and feel of the glacier! There were also snack breaks when Quinn was building the rope system and stairs. Kudos to him for working so hard while we were on breaks.

During our time in Alaska, we had seen glaciers from an overlook on a trail and from a cruise in Seward, and they were both really great experience. However, going out and actually stepping on the glacier is another level and a very unique, memorable experience. I recommend doing it if you feel adventurous and have the energy to explore...

Our experience with MICA Guides at Matanuska Glacier was truly one of the highlights of our Alaska trip! From the moment we arrived, everything ran smoothly — check-in was quick and easy, setting the tone for what turned out to be an extraordinary adventure.

We weren’t entirely sure what to expect going in, but the glacier hike exceeded all of our expectations. It was thrilling, adventurous, and absolutely breathtaking. The terrain was diverse and exciting, and we were fortunate to have perfect weather during our hike — it started raining right after we finished, so we really lucked out!

We were placed in a small, private group which made the experience feel even more special. Everyone was active and fun, and our guide, Sam, was phenomenal. His energy was contagious, and he was clearly knowledgeable, incredibly well-trained, and absolutely passionate about what he does. Sam was not only entertaining and encouraging, but also made sure we stayed safe while pushing our limits in the best way possible. He guided us to incredible viewpoints, helped us climb unique ice formations, and made sure we didn’t miss a thing. He’s a true professional and clearly born for this kind of wilderness guiding.

Reaching the top and taking in the vast, glacial views was nothing short of magical — it felt like we were on another planet. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience that’s hard to put into words.

If you're visiting Alaska, this glacier hike is an absolute must-do, even if it requires a long drive (which it did for us — and it was so worth it). Thank you, MICA Guides, and especially Sam, for an...

Outstanding trip! Dillon and Swiss make a great team. They were so kind and funny. You can tell they really take pride in the experience they offer. We never felt like we were shepherded or talked at. Every moment felt like a conversation and invitation to join them on this journey. Their enthusiasm was really contagious and so much fun. We explored with a child-like sense of wonder to discover the hidden features along with our guides. There wasn’t a defined trail and I can imagine the experience would be something different every time as the glacier is constantly changing. For example, another group guide met ours with excitement to say.. ‘We went around.. to see and there is this new feature that is pretty cool’ and our guides communicated with each other, one scouted ahead ( but still in view) and helped us navigate to it. They were just as excited if not more to share it the experience of discovery with us. What a feeling! Dillon and Swiss ensured our safety throughout the hike and we felt very comfortable with them. We went on my son’s 18th birthday and they really helped him feel special and made his day. I highly recommend this tour for families with older children. We did the beginner level hike and I would say it did require a level of mobility and balance. However, I do feel like the guides monitored the group and ensured everyone was comfortable and adjusted the level of activity accordingly. Great team! Loved...