Information About

Knik Glacier

Quick Facts

Open in The Map Knik Glacier on The Map

Location

61 ° 22' 3" N,
148 ° 17' 55" W

Region

Valdez-Cordova (CA)

Nearest City

Palmer

Length

30 mi (48.28 km)

Elevation

2093 ft (637.95 m)

Fatalities

6

Knik Glacier in Detail.

Getting There

There are no roads to the Knik Glacier, most travel up the Knik River by jet or airboat, yet the lake packed thick with ice bergs often prevents boating all the way to the glacier. Air Taxi is also an option. There is an eight mile trail at the end of Knik River Road, but the trail includes water crossings so bring a packraft.

About

heads on Mount Marcus Baker, trends W to its terminus near head of Knik River, 20 mi. SE of Palmer, Chugach Mts.

Knik Glacier is a very large glacier, up to five miles wide and 28 miles long, located east of Palmer. There is no road access to the glacier. The closest road stops 8 miles shy of the glacier.

History

Eskimo name reported in 1906 by T. G. Gerdine and R. H. Sargent, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Naming: Knik is a native name reported in 1906 by T.G. Gerdine and R.H. Sargent, USGS, However the Knik River's name was recorded in 1852, and was spelled [igniq]. Knik is recorded as meaning fire. Kink Lake was recorded in 1911 and said to derived from the village of Knik.

Fatalities

On February 2, 2024, 1 person died while skiing. Read More

On March 7, 2021, 5 people died while flying, skiing. Read More

Knik Glacier Gallery

Pictures of, from, or near Knik Glacier.