Anchorage is backed to the east by the majestic Chugach Mountain Range, home of 495,000-acre Chugach State Park and some 50 glaciers. Several “hanging” glaciers are visible from the Seward Highway south of Anchorage, including ones in Girdwood, Twenty Mile River and Portage Valleys. Alaska’s No. 1 tourist attraction–Portage Glacier–is 50 miles south of Anchorage and offers several hiking and camping opportunities as well as the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. The drive alone along scenic Turnagain Arm is well worth the visit!

Other roadside accessible glaciers surround Anchorage, including Exit Glacier just north of Seward, the Matanuska Glacier two hours north on the Glenn Highway and Byron Glacier in Portage Valley – home to some legendary iceworms. Many roadside glaciers in Alaska feature parking areas and short hiking trails that lead right up to these massive, breathtaking fields of ice.

Mountain ranges viewable from Anchorage include the Alaska Range to the north, home of North America’s tallest peak Mt. McKinley (Denali) at 20,320 ft. Also north is the Talkeetna Range, which borders Matanuska Valley and offers excellent hiking, climbing and winter activities at Hatcher’s Pass. To the south is the Kenai Range, home to the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and some of the world’s finest salmon fishing.

This is just the tip of the iceberg! Anchorage.net has much more info about Anchorage’s mountains, glaciers and other natural attractions at http://www.anchorage.net/458.cfm.