Image: City of Valdez
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
By City of Valdez
Valdez Glacier Hazards Have Significantly Increased
Rapid glacial collapse since 2020 has created hidden dangers. Know before you go.
What has changed
Since the major separation of the glacier's floating section in 2020, the Valdez Glacier has been changing at an accelerating pace. Along the east side of the terminus — stretching roughly 2.5 miles toward Ice Dam Lake — the glacier is actively collapsing into a subglacial river. The result: new crevasses, hidden caverns, and thinning ice roofs that are invisible from the surface until you are already standing on top of them.
⚠️ What was once a challenging but manageable adventure for experienced locals and visitors is now significantly more dangerous. Many hazards are concealed from view, and the consequences of a misstep are severe.
If you go, go prepared
>> Bring appropriate self-rescue gear — and know how to use it before you need it.
>> Never travel on the glacier alone. Cell service is not reliable in this area.
>> File a trip plan with someone responsible. Tell them your route and expected return time.
>> Check in when you're back. A missed check-in should trigger a welfare call.
The Valdez Glacier remains a remarkable natural wonder worth visiting. But glaciers do not reward overconfidence — not YouTube experience, not years in Alaska, not past luck. Approach it with real respect, and you'll be far more likely to come home with great photos than a rescue story.
Recent Google Maps image of Valdez Glacier Lake. Red marking indicates the area where the glacier is most compromised. Increased number of crevasses and thinning ice roofs as the glacier collapses into the subglacial river below and pulls away from the wall.
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Tuesday, June 23, 2026
| Content language: English |
| Filed under category: Alaska |
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