Matanuska Glacier in March

Winter on the ice, spring in the sky

March gives you both halves of what people want from a winter glacier trip. The ice is still in its cold-season state: the park at Mile 102 runs its winter season until 14 April, give or take a couple of weeks for the weather, so the surface is frozen and snow-covered. Sleds pulled by snow machines still run where the operators use them, and the caves that form over the winter are still in play. The light is what has changed. On 15 March the sun rises over Anchorage at 8:16am and sets at 8:01pm, nearly twelve hours of daylight, against five and a half at the December solstice.

That combination is why we rate March so highly for a first winter visit. You get the blue ice and the snow, and you do not spend half the day driving in the dark.

The weather, with numbers

The glacier has no official weather station, so the reliable figures come from NOAA’s normals for Anchorage and Palmer. In March, Anchorage averages a high of 33°F (0.6°C) and a low of 18.6°F (−7.4°C). Palmer is a touch milder by day at 34.9°F and colder at night at 17.2°F. The glacier sits higher up the valley and catches the wind coming off the ice, so dress for colder than either town.

Snow keeps falling, too. Anchorage averages 11 inches (28 cm) in March, which keeps the glacier’s surface white and the approach smooth underfoot. Compared with January, the cold is less severe, and the sunshine on the snow makes the whole day feel brighter.

Daylight comes back quickly

This is the month’s biggest change. Days lengthen by about five minutes and 44 seconds every day through March, roughly 40 minutes a week. The clocks go forward on 14 March 2027, which pushes sunrise back past 8am and sunset out to 8pm and later. By the equinox on 20 March the day in Anchorage runs just over twelve hours.

For a full-day tour, that means the drive up the Glenn Highway happens in daylight both ways. The Chugach and Talkeetna ranges on either side of the Matanuska Valley are part of the day, not a dark window.

Which tours run in March

All the Anchorage full-day tours run through March. The choice comes down to where you are staying and how long a day you want.

Anchorage: Full-Day Matanuska Glacier Hike and Tour is our March pick. Alaska’s Finest runs it in about eight hours, which makes it the shortest of the full days, from a check-in desk at 509 W. 3rd Avenue in downtown Anchorage. Ice cleats are issued at the glacier and winter gear is listed as included, which helps if your suitcase was packed for somewhere milder. Food is not included, but the van stops on the way where you can buy lunch. It holds 4.8 out of 5 from 57 reviews, and March guests describe a warm van, gear handed out at base camp and a knowledgeable guide on the ice.

From Anchorage: Matanuska Glacier Full-Day Tour is the one to book if you want the sled. 907 Tours takes guests out to the ice on sleds towed behind a snow machine from late November through April, so a March date is still inside the sled season. The day is longer, about ten hours, with hotel pickup and all entry fees included. It holds 4.8 out of 5 from 118 reviews, and several of them were written after March trips. Our sled tours guide explains how the ride works.

Hike Matanuska Glacier with Alaska Honey & Wine Tasting is the small-group option, with the park entry ticket, cleats and snow pants included and a tasting of local honey and wine to finish. One guest who went in early April wrote that it is one of the best times to visit.

If you would rather have lunch included, Greatland Adventures runs a winter tour that finishes at a local eatery. It is bookable through mid-April on Viator:

Driving yourself? The park’s own operator at Mile 102 runs guided tours every day, with departures at 10am, 11am, 1pm and 2pm on its visitor page. The price is about $150 per adult, gate fee included. It is not bookable through this site, and the operator’s pages quote slightly different figures, so check before you go. March is a comfortable month for the drive compared with December or January, but it is still winter driving. Our winter driving comparison weighs it against a pickup tour.

Ice caves in March

Caves at the Matanuska form from meltwater channels that freeze over the winter. The operator at the park says they are really only accessible in winter, and March is still winter on the ice. No tour can promise one, though. Caves can collapse or become unsafe within days, and guides only take groups into ones they have checked. More brightness outside does help: light filtering through thick, dense ice is what gives the walls their blue, and on a clear March day there is plenty of it. Our ice caves guide covers when and how to see them.

What else is on in March

Anchorage is busy in early March. Fur Rendezvous, the city’s winter festival, runs from 25 February to 7 March 2027, and the Iditarod’s ceremonial start through downtown Anchorage is on Saturday 6 March 2027. Both are worth building a trip around, but they also fill hotels, so book rooms and glacier dates early if your trip overlaps them.

The northern lights are still in season. Visit Anchorage gives the aurora season as September to April. The nights are getting shorter, though, and a day tour gets you back to the city before dark. To see the lights you need a clear night away from Anchorage’s glow, either on a separate evening tour or by staying out of town.

The Alaska Railroad’s Aurora Winter Train runs weekends between Anchorage and Fairbanks through the winter. It does not go near the glacier, so treat it as a separate trip.

What to pack

March on the ice is still winter. Bring a warm insulated jacket, a waterproof outer layer, a hat, gloves and stiff-soled winter boots. Sunglasses matter more than in any other winter month, because the higher sun on fresh snow is very bright. Our what to wear guide has the full list.

If you want to compare March with the months either side, February is colder with a little less light, and the winter vs summer comparison shows what changes once the snow goes. When you have a date, check March availability.