Tours With The Park Scientist

Private Tours 

$250 per person | Minimum charge: 4 people: Private tours are reserved exclusively for your party, with a four-person minimum charge. If you are traveling alone or with fewer than four people, you may reserve and pay for all four spots to ensure a private tour. Included: All park fees & equipment needed (crampons and helmet).

Small Group Tours 

$250 per person: Join Dr. Sarah for a small-group glacier experience. Groups are generally limited to approximately four people, although occasional exceptions may be made. This option may allow individuals or smaller parties to join a tour with other guests. Dr. Sarah coordinates small-group bookings by combining individuals or smaller parties into a group of approximately four people, depending on availability. Included: All park fees & equipment needed (crampons and helmet).

Scheduling

Tours may be scheduled any day of the week and typically begin around mid-day. Availability varies from week to week. Contact Dr. Sarah directly to inquire about available dates to schedule your tour: DrSarahAlaska@gmail.com.  When emailing, please include:

• Your preferred tour dates
• The total number & ages of people in your party (children are welcome)
• Whether you prefer a private tour or a small-group tour
• Any medical conditions, mobility limitations, or physical concerns that could affect your ability to participate safely in a glacier walk

Click on the photo for more detailed printable directions.

Tour Location and Directions 

Address:  66500 S. Glacier Park Road, Sutton, AK 99674, USA

Arrive 30-min Early:  Please arrive to the check-in location 30 minutes before your tour is scheduled to start to read and sign waivers, use the bathroom, and then receive any equipment you may need for your tour. 

Check-In: When you arrive to the lodge, tell them you are here for a "Dr. Sarah Tour." You will pay for your tour at check-in.

Directions:  Matanuska Glacier is approximately 2 hours north of Anchorage, Alaska, along the Glenn Highway. From the Glenn Highway, turn onto S. Glacier Park Road at Mile 102. Continue driving down the hill for approximately one mile. Cross a small bridge and stop at the lodge where you will check-in for your tour. Please do not park near the highway and walk down the hill to the check-in location. Please drive slowly. Although the access road is well maintained, conditions may be slippery during winter.

Winter Tour Clothing and Preparation

For winter tours, please come prepared with the following clothing to stay warm and comfortable in cold conditions.

• Warm winter boots suitable for walking in snow, worn with wool or merino wool socks (not cotton).
• Warm hat and face protection, such as a scarf or balaclava, to protect your head and face from the cold.
• Insulated mittens or gloves (not cotton). Mittens are generally warmer than gloves, but either is acceptable.
• Hand and toe warmers if you tend to get cold easily. Place the toe warmers on top of your sock covered toes because they tend to slide around into uncomfortable positions if worn on the bottom of your socks. Activate both hand and toe warmers 30 minutes from your tour start time by opening the package to put the hand warmers in a pocket and toe warmers in your boots.
• A thick, insulated winter coat suitable for temperatures ranging from 0°C to −30°C (32°F to −22°F) and able to resist blowing winds.
• Insulated winter pants to keep your legs warm in cold conditions.
• A regular daypack is fine for carrying any clothing or gear you may want to remove while hiking. Conditions may be relatively mild on some tours, so you may not need every item listed above. However, please come prepared for cold conditions, as temperatures can vary.

Please arrive fully dressed and ready to depart at your scheduled tour time. Allow enough time to put on your winter gear before arrival so your tour can begin on time

Tours Change Daily

Every tour offers a different experience because Matanuska Glacier is constantly changing. The glacier may move roughly a foot per day or, at times, considerably more. Crevasses open and close, and meltwater channels and pools can flood or drain, making areas that were accessible one day unsafe or inaccessible the next. At the same time, new features emerge, opening up new areas to explore.

In winter, tours may include walks across the frozen lake, along trails through frozen crevasses, and occasionally into ice tunnels. However, every winter is different, and the features accessible during a tour depend on seasonal conditions.

Dr. Sarah is passionate about sharing the beauty and science of Matanuska Glacier. She seeks out the most scientifically fascinating and photogenic features that can be accessed safely, creating a unique experience for each visit. However, safety is always the top priority.

Background 

Dr. Sarah is currently the Park Scientist for Matanuska Glacier Tours.

• Ph.D. in Glacial Sciences
• M.S. in Hydrology
• B.A. in Geology and Mathematics

She brings more than 30 years of scientific experience to her work at Matanuska Glacier Park where she shares the science of glaciers, snow, ice, and periglacial environments with visitors. A passionate educator, she makes complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging for everyone, from curious travelers and families to students and experienced researchers.

Career Rooted in Exploration

In 1995, she conducted her first fieldwork in Alaska, and it was there, among Alaska’s glaciers, rivers, and mountains, that she found her true calling. This experience sparked a lifelong passion for cold landscapes around the world. She completed her PhD on the Matanuska Glacier through a competitively funded NASA Graduate Research Fellowship and a Department of Army Graduate Research Fellowship. Over her career, Dr. Sarah has researched glacial hydrology, ice / snow dynamics, and remote sensing of snow- and ice-covered regions in Alaska and around the world, resulting in 59 scientific and government publications.

Selected Publications

The following are four of Dr. Sarah's favorite scientific contributions focused on Matanuska Glacier and its surrounding glacial system.

1. Kopczynski, Sarah E.  Matanuska Glacier Mysteries. (2026). Aufeis Publications, 128 pages.

2. Kopczynski, S. E., Kelley, S. E., Lowell, T. V., Evenson, E. B., and Applegate, P. J. (2017). Latest Pleistocene advance and collapse of the Matanuska and Knik glacier system, Anchorage Lowland, Southern Alaska. Quaternary Science Reviews, 156, 121–134.

3. Kopczynski, S. E., Ramage, J., Lawson, D., Goetz, S., Evenson, E., Denner, J., and Larson, G. (2008). Passive Microwave (SSM/I) Satellite Predictions of Valley Glacier Hydrology, Matanuska Glacier, Alaska. Geophysical Research Letters, 35.

4. Denner, J. C., Lawson, D. E., Larson, G., Evenson, E. B., Alley, R. B., Strasser, J. C., and Kopczynski, S. E. (1999). Seasonal variability in hydrologic system response to intense rain events, Matanuska Glacier, Alaska. Annals of Glaciology, 28, 267–271.

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