Worthington Glacier

Worthington Glacier flows down from the Chugach Mountains at the crest of Thompson Pass, and its lower tongue reaches close to the highway. From the parking area, a paved section and then a rougher trail lead toward the terminus, letting visitors approach the ice without any technical skill.

Up close, the glacier reveals what makes glacial ice so striking: the vivid blue where dense, ancient ice has squeezed out its air bubbles, the deep cracks called crevasses, and the gray stripes of rock and grit, called moraine, that the ice carries as it grinds downhill. Meltwater streams run milky with rock flour, the fine powder glaciers create by scouring the bedrock.

Like nearly every glacier in the region, Worthington has been retreating, and it now sits somewhat farther from the road than it did decades ago. The change is easy to read here, and interpretive signs help visitors see the glacier as a dynamic, shrinking feature rather than a fixed landmark.

The accessibility of Worthington Glacier makes it tempting to climb onto the ice or explore the blue meltwater caves that sometimes form at the toe. This is genuinely dangerous. Glacier ice is unstable, crevasses can be hidden under thin snow, ice caves and overhangs collapse without warning, and the frigid meltwater is deadly.

The safe way to enjoy Worthington is to view it and approach the marked areas near the terminus on foot, without stepping onto the glacier itself. If you want to actually walk on the ice, do it only with a professional guide who provides crampons, ropes, and expertise. Every year in Alaska, casual visitors are hurt or killed underestimating glaciers, and Worthington's easy access is exactly what makes the caution necessary.

Worthington sits at Thompson Pass, one of the snowiest places in Alaska, where seasonal snowfall is measured in tens of feet and single storms have dropped legendary amounts. That snow feeds the glacier and, in winter, draws extreme skiers and snowmachiners to the surrounding peaks.

The Richardson Highway through the pass is one of the great scenic drives in the state, connecting the tidewater port of Valdez with the Interior. Just down the road toward Valdez, Keystone Canyon holds the roadside cascades of Bridal Veil and Horsetail Falls, and the whole corridor is walled with mountains and hanging ice.

In summer the alpine tundra around the pass bursts with wildflowers, and marmots, ptarmigan, and the occasional bear or Dall sheep may appear on the slopes, making the glacier stop part of a larger high-country experience.

Summer is the practical season to visit, when the highway is clear, the short trail to the ice is snow-free, and the tundra is green and blooming. Long daylight makes it easy to fit the stop into a drive between Valdez and the Interior, and the glacier's blue face shows at its best against the summer light.

Late spring and early fall bring fewer travelers and a good chance of fresh snow dusting the peaks around the pass, a beautiful contrast with the ice, though weather can turn quickly at this elevation.

Winter buries Thompson Pass under some of the deepest snow in Alaska, drawing extreme skiers to the backcountry while the viewing site itself becomes a stark, white, and demanding place. Storms regularly slow or close the highway, so any winter trip calls for caution and current road reports.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.