Knik Glacier ATV Tour : Is This Full Day Alaska Adventure Worth It?

The other weekend I joined Alaska Backcountry Adventures on their full day summer ATV Tour to Knik Glacier, and honestly, it was incredible. We had the best weather, we got to drive around all day looking for wildlife in the river valley, made it to some incredible overlooks, and even got to enjoy lunch by the glacier. If you're looking for something fun to do this summer in Alaska, I would definitely put this glacier adventure at the top of your list.

​My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to Alaska. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use Expedia's to compare the best rates & stays in the state.
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If you're traveling internationally, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours in the area.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my packing list for your travels to the great state of Alaska.

Preparing for the Knik Glacier ATV Tour

Tour Information :
After booking your tour, you'll get confirmation of everything you need to know through the email you purchased with. In this email you'll be told exactly when and where to check in, plus directions on how to get there just in case it doesn't show up on your maps. I put in "Alaska Backcountry Adventure Tours" on my map and it brought me to the right place.

Our tour check-in time was at 8:00 AM, with a departure time of 9:00 AM at their main building outside of Butte, about a 1 hour drive from Anchorage. Even though it's unlikely that this would change, I recommend checking your confirmation email to confirm.

Luckily the tour starts and ends in the same place, and with our full day tour beginning at 9:00 AM we were back and cleaning up right at 4:00 PM. If you don't want to do the drive in the morning, they also have their own cottages available to rent right onsite, and there's plenty of parking for vehicles.

What to Wear & What to Bring
As someone who's only been ATVing once before this tour, I was a little nervous that I wouldn't know what to wear or bring. Conveniently, they provide everything you need for the tour right as you check in (other than personal items like a camera to take photos with). And, if you end up wanting to do the polar plunge at the glacier lake (yes, this is an option) make sure to wear undergarments you're ok with showing off, or a swimsuit underneath your layers!

After signing our waivers my husband and I were provided with rain pants, a raincoat, a buff neck gaiter (which doubled as a fun souvenir to take home), a helmet, goggles, and gloves. They also offered rain boots, but said the XtraTufs we already had on would work great. Underneath, we wore clothes that we didn't mind getting dirty, and had 2 layers on since we knew it would be chilly by the glacier. They also had bottles of water inside each ATV/UTV for us.

Depending on recent weather, you can either expect to get very muddy or very dusty. If you're worried about weather, you can upgrade to one of the enclosed UTVs, but honestly I think the dust and mud is all part of the experience.

Do You Need Prior ATV Experience?
​Like I mentioned above, my husband and I have only been ATVing here in Alaska once before, and even though I think it's great if you do have prior ATV driving experience - I don't necessarily think its required. Even their website mentions this tour is great for beginners.

Before you begin the tour, you'll have a short safety briefing on how to use and drive the ATV, plus some general rules to follow for safety. You start out slow as you leave the neighborhood area before heading into the river valley, which is a nice warm up for the rest of the day. From there you might speed up a bit, but on average we went about 20 miles an hour throughout the day. Throughout the day we ended up covering about 50-60 miles after all the stops, viewpoints, and roundtrip ride to the glacier.

My Favorite Tours Near Knik River Valley : 
- Helicopter and Glacier Dogsledding
- Helicopter and Glacier Landing Excursion
- Full Day Matanuska Glacier Hike

​What to Expect on the Knik Glacier ATV Tour : Worth It?

Knik Glacier ATV Tour Overview
The ATV tour my husband and I did was the Full Day Knik Glacier ATV Tour that operates in the summer (they have winter tours too) through Alaska Backcountry Adventures. Because it's a full day tour, it usually lasts about 6-8 hours, and ours was from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM.

The tour began at their check-in office/main building near Butte, and led us through the Knik River Valley up to the face of Knik Glacier. There were multiple river crossings, with a few different stops for us to stretch our legs, enjoy a viewpoint, or take some photos. We even made it to an incredible overlook where we could see the river braids beneath us and the glacier in the distance.

What makes this different from other ATV tours we've been on here in Alaska is that this one brings you to the face of the glacier lake. Not only do you get to enjoy a hot lunch (reindeer dog, green beans, potatoes, and white sauce) while enjoying the views, but you can even go up to the glacier's icebergs and touch any that are close to shore. If you're really brave you can even do a quick polar plunge into the lake! It easily became one of my favorite moments, and this spot was worth the trip just by itself.

Is the ATV Tour Worth It?
At just over $700 for one driver and one passenger, you might be wondering if this tour is worth it - it's a valid question. I've been on a lot of tours here in Alaska, and honestly, I had a blast. Not only were we able to see wildlife up close (moose and dall sheep), but sitting by the glacier and enjoying our lunch instantly became a core memory. 

It was a great way to experience a side of Alaska that felt a bit more rugged and unique, while including a special glacier experience on top of it. Personally, I thought this ATV Tour was 100% worth it, and the views we saw on the way were some of the most beautiful I've ever seen.

Watch My ATV Adventures Here!

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​Other Alaska Blog Posts you might be interested in : 
-> 15 Easiest Glaciers to Visit in Alaska
-> Mantanuska Glacier Tour Review
-> Glacier Glamping in Alaska

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