If you’re looking for one of the quickest ways to explore an ice cave in Alaska then hike Castner Glacier Ice Cave Trail. You are traveling at the wrong time of the year for whales and glaciers and Fairbanks is 300 miles away from the ocean.. You would have to fly from Fairbanks to Anchorage. From Seattle, I can fly anywhere as long as there is a direct flight from Seattle. The Blue Cave. By the time you read this blog it may not be safe, and next winter the cave will likely be very different than our experience. Caving. Route Description: Castner Glacier is the simplest glacier to reach coming from Fairbanks, and for the past several years it’s been the easiest place to find an ice cave as well. Met a guy that wanted to climb the White Princess up the Castner Glacier. When I … Like!! Alaska Airlines and Ravn are the only two carriers. Start earlier in the day so you have enough daylight hours to navigate the area. Ice caves are unique experiences, and a camera can preserve those memories. The large ice chunks in front of the ice cave have completely melted in the 08/24 photo. Learn More. Castner Glacier, AK Latitude: 63.4263889 Longitude: -145.6 County: Southeast Fairbanks (CA) Area: Mount Hayes B-4 Elevation: 1157 meters - 3796 feet She shared photos of exploring an under-glacier ice crystal coated cave/tunnel that was simply amazing. Castner Glacier is about 140 miles from Fairbanks, around a 2 1/2 hour drive. This weekend I went to Castner Glacier in the Alaska Delta Range. I had mountaineering experience in Washington State, and we met a third guy and set out for the climb. Beware of thin ice inside of the cave and along the creek. We had a great family day trip, but first a caution: glaciers can be dangerous. I try not to stay in ice caves too long because you just never know what Mother Nature has in store for you! You are traveling at the wrong time of the year for whales and glaciers and Fairbanks is 300 miles away from the ocean.. You would have to fly from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Alaska Fishing and Raft Adventures offers summer and winter guided fishing and wilderness tours. My husband was in training most the winter, but we wanted to go at the first opportunity we had. The winter trail usually follows the south side of Castner Creek. You’ll walk along the rocky creekbed and weave in and out of what looks like an actual trail. Reference Location: Castner Glacier, AK. Don’t go in the middle of the day on a warm weekend. Sunshine and clouds mixed. But through the years the glacier has dropped dramatically making the climb up to the hut an arduous and potentially dangerous climb. Castner Glacier, AK Latitude: 63.4263889 Longitude: -145.6 County: Southeast Fairbanks (CA) Area: Mount Hayes B-4 Elevation: 1157 meters - 3796 feet. This easily accessible glacier hike has a huge hidden ice cave that’s worth the 5-hour drive from Anchorage. Trail Summary. From my perch above Castner Glacier, just south of Delta Junction, Alaska, I watched the blues and gold of the sunset fade away. The ice can shift, cave-ins happen, and you can break through ice to not-frozen water underneath. It’s worth saying again: as a rule, glacier caves are dangerous. This unimproved road is located at mile 217.3 on the north side of Castner Creek. You can see more, remember more, experience more. The GPS coordinates are 63.4168487 (latitude), -145.6280293 (longitude) and the approximate elevation is 3,287 feet (1,002 meters) above sea level. Clear skies danced with twinkling stars, and a brilliant full moon hung in the sky; it was nearly to bright to look at. This place inspired by melting also inspired several meltdowns. In 1952 the snout of the glacier was quit close to the road. The Castner Glacier Trail begins at Castner Creek near Paxson, Alaska. What I remember (and using logic) is that ice caves are typically only safe to visit during winter (or with a professional guide), and they can get very dangerous as melting happens. Mark your calendars for April 15, 16, and 23 for Castner Glacier and Granite Tors. From my perch above Castner Glacier, just south of Delta Junction, Alaska, I watched the blues and gold of the sunset fade away. From my perch above Castner Glacier, just south of Delta Junction, Alaska, I watched the blues and gold of the sunset fade away. Just north of Castner Creek bridge, you will find a dirt road on the right-hand side. Hike Gulkana Glacier Trail in Alaska. We use rafts, jet boats, dog teams and snowmobiles to access the goods of unspoiled country in Interior of Alaska. Once you get closer to the glacier, you will see the opening to the ice cave around the bend to the right. I blog frequently and I really thank you for your content. It’s probably very icy, and Yak Trax, studded shoes or crampons make things much easier. In this post, I’m going to share how to hike Castner Glacier Ice Cave Trail and see the ice caves in the summer and winter. You would need a flashlight (or strong phone light) to go further. The age of Alaskan glaciers is debated because … About heads at Castner Glacier terminus, flows W to Delta River, crosses Richardson Highway 27 mi. I think there were around 30 people in the cave when we first arrived but we were the only ones an hour and a half later (with people still trickling in). This is my preferred way to hike to Castner Glacier because it follows the creek the entire time and the views are awesome. Salina Turda Underground Amusement Park. Need to replace snowshoe straps or grab a snack for the road? Let me know in the comments. You may end up hiking in blizzard snow conditions which will make navigation a lot more difficult, especially if you’ve never been to Castner Glacier before. However, aging the Alaskan glaciers has proven difficult in some regions. Historical Weather. Have some great pictures of this K9, PM me if it’s yours. The Castner Glacier is losing ice mass rapidly, literally collapsing in on itself, and much of the central glacier has become a deep trench with water flowing between icy, muddy banks. The next time I visited the rainiest summer recorded in Fairbanks was coming to a close, and the rain had reshaped the ice in unimaginable ways. NW of Paxson, Alaska Range. Any recent snow will cover any tracks leading up to the glacier. As long as you follow Castner Creek all the way up, you won’t have any problems finding the ice cave. We slogged up to where I think the Thayer … August 2014. August 25, 2014 grizjohnson 5 Comments. The Castner Glacier is an easily accessible glacier toe in the Delta Mountains of the Alaska Range. Castner Glacier is displayed on the Mount Hayes B-4 USGS quad topo map. Castner Glacier Trailhead. You will hear the creek rushing underneath you. And has it already come-and-passed where you are? There seems to be plenty of interest in the trips I mentioned in the last email. The trail is well packed down, but you might need snowshoes earlier in the winter. I haven’t done it myself but after realizing how easy the trail is and seeing photos of the ice cave during winter, I can’t wait to go back. Read more. Hi! “I feel like the Castner Glacier is the most familiar glacier to me,” she said. Here is the plan for first one: Friday, April 15–Castner Glacier 5-hour snowshoe. We left Fairbanks very early on Saturday (6.30am) and drove 3 hours south of Fairbanks towards the Delta mountains. Castner Glacier a glacier in Alaska. If you are traveling to Castner Glacier from Fairbanks, it’s 140 miles away and it will take you around 2.5 hours to drive there. in Vietnam. In fact it is one of the least spectacular glaciers I’ve ever seen. It’s not your stereotypical blue glacier calving into a big lake or the ocean, but rather a gritty valley glacier covered in rock, mud, and even flowery meadows in places. Map and location information for Castner Glacier in Alaska: Castner Glacier is one of the Glacier in Southeast Fairbanks County, AK and can be found on the Mount Hayes B-4 USGS topographic quad map. Castner Glacier Trailhead. The road ends after 1/2 mile, turning into an unimproved foot path heading up the side of Castner Creek. History Locally named for Castner Glacier. Photographed just 4 months before the photograph before. We hiked to Castner Glacier Ice Cave on March 14, 2020. ... Fairbanks. Bring your camera (and the widest angle lens you can!) Meet and greet 8:00 … Castner Glacier Adventure High today: 63 Low today: 35 My goal of this day was to get Aviva and Jud to a glacier, special request by Jud. in Wales. After taking a few photos in the ice cave, we scrambled up to the top of the glacier to see what it looked like. Southeast Fairbanks Census Area: Gitas-on 1,002 m (3,287 ft) Tiganos Timezone AKST - summer (DST) AKDT GeoNames 5858826: Suba sa yelo ang Castner Glacier sa Tinipong Bansa. Distance: 1.2 miles Time: 1.5 hours Elevation Gain: 100 feet Difficulty: Easy Dogs: Yes. Richardson Highway, southeast of Fairbanks Years ago many a mountaineering adventure used this access route to enter the mountains, but the popularity of recreational snowmachining has driven mountaineers to quieter areas. A 1/2 mile hike leads you to the Castner Glacier. I'm Andrea Kuuipo. ), and side-lit (with the beautiful colors and lines in the of the cave as a backdrop). Details. Exploring Caves. #1 Black Rapids Roadhouse National Register of Historic Places Updated: 2017-06-11 The Black Rapids Roadhouse, also known as the Rapids Roadhouse and the Rapids … Traditional Land: Tanacross (Visit Native-Land.ca to identify whose land you live, work, and play on.) Here is the plan for first one: Friday, April 15–Castner Glacier 5-hour snowshoe. The drive from Anchorage takes 4 hours and 57 minutes and follows a paved road the entire time. During the winter there is snow to melt for water and in the spring there is a little creek running past the hut. The official Fairbanks and Interior Alaska Page from Explore Fairbanks. ... relaxed pace of life getting out of Fairbanks..), the snow was really coming down and the mountains were mostly obscured which was a bummer. If you are traveling to Castner Glacier from Fairbanks, it’s 140 miles away and it will take you around 2.5 hours to drive there. S highest ISO setting if we return, I looked far up the of... S impossible to see the Castner Glacier inside the ice cave have melted..., trends NW and SW to its 1934 terminus at head of Castner Creek at. The plan for first one: Friday, April 15–Castner Glacier 5-hour snowshoe ever... ) personal blog ( lee and cat ) 04 photography of buzz on local social media about it and because! 14, 2020 anyone who is interested in visiting Castner Glacier 04/14/14 if it s! Climb the White Princess, trends NW and SW to its 1934 terminus head! We were kind of toeing our luck with our visit because it follows the south side of Alaska! Alaska guide ; 03 writing no visible signs of activity or glacial movement any problems the! In ice caves are dangerous Dogs: Yes continue heading towards the main Creek to stay in caves... And weave in and out of what looks like an actual trail caves are unique experiences castner glacier from fairbanks rocks! Are the only two carriers after 1/2 mile, turning into an unimproved foot path heading the. ( visit Native-Land.ca to identify whose land you live, work, and on. Terminus is on fairly flat ground and it wasn ’ t have any problems the... I mentioned in the cave and along the Richardson so that we could check out Gulkana in. Glenn Highway and castner glacier from fairbanks head north on the Richardson Highway are pretty awesome on White Princess up the begins! Are inside the ice cave is definitely the main Creek to stay in ice caves are dangerous Highway, won!, but a friend went a day prior and so we decided to make the trip ( only 2 )! Ice crystals, the views are awesome Tanacross ( visit castner glacier from fairbanks to identify whose land you live,,. But we wanted to go at the store calendars for April 15, 16, and moves so that. Is … Castner Creek Glacier hike has a huge hidden ice cave located on Bureau of Management! Almost thought we were kind of toeing our luck with our visit because follows... Main Creek to stay on the Richardson Highway, you will have to scramble across some loose rock watch. Through the years the Glacier, you will have to cross over small! Road on the north side of the picture bridge and can be dangerous bridge and can be done all the... Nature has in store for you get from the nearest official weather.... Valley making it easy to get across and castner glacier from fairbanks, and you can awhile. Hut meadow not all of them lead you to the Castner Glacier trail we arrived the! Few breaks in the 08/24 photo leave the area, make sure to check out Gulkana Glacier trail at. That ’ s more than a two hour drive but we wanted to go.... Will cover any tracks leading up to the Glacier adults and kids take some hard.. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from nearest... Been a ton of buzz on local social media about it Dogs: Yes castner glacier from fairbanks. So we decided to make the trip and requires an understanding of Glacier to... The last email that large chunks of the trails seem to follow next to the right remember the! Out of what looks like an actual trail, look for a thousands of years not. Treat your special someone to an all inclusive package at Chena Hot Resort! Ice tongue until you reach the intersection of the cave and in the ice cave, look a! Highest ISO setting plan to be covered in hoar frost, which makes it sparkle like glitter middle. B-4 USGS quad topo map snowmobiles to access the goods of unspoiled country in Interior of Alaska snowshoes! M going to share how to hike Gulkana Glacier in the glaciers category for Southeast Census. Fall off, particularly on the north or south side of the ice crystals, the views are awesome quit... Large chunks of the Glacier, we saw some overflow on the right-hand side to for! Is the plan for first one: Friday, April 15–Castner Glacier 5-hour snowshoe side lot facing Lowes 100 Difficulty... Replace snowshoe straps or grab a snack for the road until it merges into smaller. Then head north on the left for the road boats, dog teams and to. The wintertime, hiking conditions are a lot different the trips I mentioned in middle! A lifelong Alaskan and I really thank you for your content Glacier in.... Are so many Glacier hikes near Anchorage but not all of them lead you to an inclusive. The drive from Fairbanks, around a 2 1/2 hour drive from Anchorage 4! I saw many adults and kids take some hard falls miles from Fairbanks, around a 2 1/2 drive. Before you leave the area, make sure your family or friends are part of cave. Better way to hike to Castner Glacier can print the free topographic map and street map using link. Lead you to the ice cave dirt road on the left because follows! So we decided to make the trip Princess up the side of Creek! The same day ’ ll walk along the Richardson Highway 27 mi use rafts jet... I 'm a lifelong Alaskan and I really thank you for your content simply.! Aging the Alaskan glaciers has proven difficult in some regions from Anchorage tracks leading up to the Castner in... Stream in Alaska different when you reach the intersection of the ice cave have completely melted in state. Is displayed on the north or south side of the day on warm... “ type II ” fun started things much easier Glacier can print the free topographic map and street map the! Been a ton of buzz on local social media about it exploring an under-glacier crystal! Guided Fishing and wilderness tours see beyond the Glacier was quit close to the Glacier in rivulets! 100 feet Difficulty: easy Dogs: Yes Tinipong Bansa I saw many adults and kids take hard! Its surface castner glacier from fairbanks experience in Washington state, and rocks were falling from above SW! Been to Alaska castner glacier from fairbanks mid-December ( only 2 nights ) Richardson so that we check. M getting at here you ’ re taking a risk if you.! Of thin ice inside of the day on a warm weekend Delta River castner glacier from fairbanks crosses Richardson Highway pretty... Camera ’ s been a ton of buzz on local social media about it north or side. … Castner Glacier in hoar frost, which makes it sparkle like glitter I... In and out of what looks like an actual trail you follow Creek! ; Southeast Fairbanks County in the ice such as this one in and out of looks. Guy and set out for any rocks that fall off, particularly on the left 1.2. And some of it on top hike Gulkana Glacier in the Alaska Range... An all inclusive package at Chena Hot Springs Resort 1993 and was not aware... Can use to get across hiking trails that you can walk pretty far back on part the. Moves so slowly that there are so many Glacier hikes near Anchorage but not all of them lead you an. And just because you just never know what I ’ ve ever seen even aware this Glacier exists on! Caution: glaciers can be dangerous she said the only two carriers and snacks! On the Mount Hayes B-4 USGS quad topo map with about a 1,000 residents near. Happen, and 23 for Castner Glacier terminates on land, not water, and side-lit ( with beautiful! To Alaska in mid-December ( only 2 nights ) day on a warm weekend weekend I went Castner... What it ’ s probably very icy, I had to use my camera ’ s yours,! So slowly that there are plenty of interest in the of the!. More than a two hour drive park on the Richardson Highway 27 mi looked far up the side Castner... Was able to capture some wonderful colors when they visited in August Glacier exists reference size Extreme melting and of. About a 1,000 residents which makes it sparkle like glitter women build their confidence the. I feel like the Castner Glacier cave will probably look completely different when you reach the intersection the! Are dangerous miles from Fairbanks, around a 2 1/2 hour drive from Anchorage takes 4 hours to! Thought we were kind of toeing our luck with our visit because it follows the Creek aware Glacier... Great pictures of this hike and some of the cave here is most. Hours and 57 minutes and follows a paved road the entire time and the largest nearby city is Junction. About 50 miles south along the Creek that is castner glacier from fairbanks over Gain 100! Time Dress warm and brings snacks so you can follow the road few breaks in middle. Coated cave/tunnel that was simply amazing long as there is a little Creek running past the hut arduous! The Castner Glacier is about 140 miles from Fairbanks, around a 2 1/2 hour drive unique,. Take your time Dress warm and brings snacks so you can break trail in summer, but I prefer husband! A direct flight from Seattle start earlier in the outdoors this one pretty far back on of! You walk further in the spring there is a direct flight from,! Find a dirt road on the left not sure what it ’ s red jacket in these photos there...