On Top of the Knik: A Helicopter Passage Above Five Glaciers and a Frozen Landing

WASILLA AIR TOUR FIELD GUIDE

On Top of the Knik: A Helicopter Passage Above Five Glaciers and a Frozen Landing

A flightseeing tour out of Wasilla that visits all five glaciers of the Knik Glacier District and includes a short glacier landing—this guide explains what to expect from aircraft to ice.

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On Top of the Knik: A Helicopter Passage Above Five Glaciers and a Frozen Landing.

Duration
Contact operator
Location
Wasilla
Operator
Heli Alaska, Inc.
Category
Air Tour

Adventure brief

On Top of the Knik: A Helicopter Passage Above Five Glaciers and a Frozen Landing

The Knik Glacier Tour is a compact, high-impact flightseeing experience out of Wasilla that takes you over the Knik Glacier District’s five major ice flows and lets you set foot on the ice. From the air the glaciers read like living rivers—crevassed, striated and luminous—and a brief landing gives a rare, tactile counterpoint to the aerial views.

Embark on an unforgettable adventure with the Knik Glacier Tour offered by Heli Alaska, Inc., an elite guided helicopter tour that takes you above the stunning Alaskan landscape. This private experience offers an exclusive opportunity to witness the breathtaking beauty of the Knik Glacier, one of Alaska's most remarkable natural wonders. As you soar over rugged mountains and icy terrain, you'll get a unique perspective on this massive, rapidly-changing glacier while enjoying the comfort and safety of a professional guide. The tour provides a perfect blend of adventure and awe-inspiring scenery, making it ideal for nature lovers, photography enthusiasts, and explorers seeking a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Once on the glacier, you can step out onto the ice, where vibrant blue crevasses and towering ice formations create a surreal landscape that seems almost otherworldly. This private tour ensures personalized attention from your guide, with plenty of opportunities to learn about glacial geology, local wildlife, and the area's natural history. Prepare to be dazzled by the silence and scale of the glacier, and create lasting memories of your Alaskan expedition. Whether you're visiting Wasilla or seeking a unique adventure in Alaska, this helicopter tour offers unmatched access to one of the world’s most awe-inspiring icy frontiers.

Route Schematic

Route schematic

The flight path takes you over each of the major glaciers in the district with a designated glacier landing for on-ice exploration.

  1. Knik Glacier (overflight)

    Aerial vistas of the Knik Glacier, one of the district’s principal ice flows.

  2. Colony Glacier (overflight)

    Flightseeing views of the Colony Glacier and surrounding topography.

  3. Lake George Glacier (overflight)

    Aerial reconnaissance of the Lake George Glacier’s extent and features.

  4. Eklutna Glacier (overflight)

    Scenic pass over the Eklutna Glacier and its glacial valleys.

  5. Whiteout Glacier (overflight)

    Final glacier overflight offering additional perspectives on the district’s ice systems.

  6. Glacier landing and short hike

    A roughly 30-minute landing on the glacier for passengers to set foot on the ice, take photographs and undertake a small walk.

This tour is a private helicopter flight with limits on party size; operators may alter route or landing locations for safety or operational reasons—participants should be able to disembark and walk on uneven icy terrain during the landing.

Highlights

Outing Highlights

THE LANDSCAPE

All five glaciers of the Knik district in a single flight

The tour circuits the Knik, Colony, Lake George, Eklutna and Whiteout glaciers, offering sustained aerial views of each ice mass and the patterns of snow and moraine that define them.

THE LANDING

A hands-on glacier stop

Included in the itinerary is a roughly 30-minute glacier landing that permits stepping onto the ice, a short hike and time for photography, giving a contrasting close-up perspective to the flightseeing.

THE FLIGHT

Comfortable, communicative helicopter time

The operator equips the helicopter for in-flight clarity and comfort with Bose A20 aviation noise-canceling headsets and curated music playlists so passengers can both hear the pilot and enjoy the scenery in comfort.

What the day feels like

What the experience feels like

The trip is a concentrated sequence of high-altitude panoramas and an intimate glacier encounter: a little over eighty minutes of flight time spread across a sweep of ice, with a focused thirty-minute landing on the glacier where you can disembark, move across the surface and make photographs from ground level as well as from the helicopter.

Suitability

Who it's for

Who this trip suits — and who it doesn’t.

1
Small groups and pairsThe tour is designed as a private flight and is ideal for couples or small groups because it requires a minimum of two people and carries no more than three.
2
PhotographersVisitors seeking dramatic aerial and on-ice photo opportunities will find concentrated chances to shoot both from the helicopter and during the glacier landing.
3
First-time glacier visitorsThose wanting a brief, guided exposure to glacial terrain benefit from the short landing and small hike without committing to multi-day glacier travel, within the tour’s private, limited-capacity format.
4
Large parties or solo travelersNot a match: the tour’s private nature and strict minimum/maximum passenger rules mean it is not structured for solo bookings or larger groups.

Practical planner

Details to review before reserving

Timing & Duration

Expect a little over 80 minutes of total flight time plus a roughly 30-minute glacier landing that provides on-ice time.

What the operator provides

The helicopter is fitted with Bose A20 aviation noise-canceling headsets for clear in-flight communication; curated music playlists are also available during the flight.

Group size & booking

This is a private tour that requires at least two people and carries a maximum of three passengers.

Booking Notice

Review cancellation policies before reserving.

Frequently asked questions

Planning Your Outing

How long is the tour?

The flight includes a little over 80 minutes of total flight time plus a roughly 30-minute glacier landing.

How many glaciers will we see?

The tour flies over all five glaciers in the Knik Glacier District: Knik, Colony, Lake George, Eklutna and Whiteout.

Do we get to step onto the glacier?

Yes. The itinerary includes a glacier landing of approximately 30 minutes that allows passengers to set foot on the ice and take a short hike.

Is this a private flight or a group tour?

This is a private tour. The operator requires a minimum of two people and caps the flight at three passengers.

What in-flight equipment is provided?

The helicopter is equipped with Bose A20 aviation noise-canceling headsets for clear communication, and passengers can listen to selected music playlists during the flight.

Are the pilots experienced and is the flight comfortable?

Experienced Alaskan pilots operate the flights; the helicopter is outfitted for clarity of communication and passenger comfort.

How this guide was prepared

This field guide is synthesized using verified supplier specifications, route descriptions, and destination data. Some booking links may generate affiliate revenue for ADV Guides.

  • Verified: 2026-08-07T13:05:49.583Z

Some booking links may generate revenue for ADV Guides or The Adventure Collective.

Availability, pricing, schedules and operating details can change.

Trip details and contextual sources were reviewed by ADV Guides Editorial.

On Top of the Knik: A Helicopter Passage Above Five Glaciers and a Frozen Landing