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Where the glacier meets the sky, the land ceases to be earthly, and the earth becomes one with the heavens; no sorrows live there anymore, and therefore joy is not necessary; beauty alone reigns there, beyond all demands.
Halldór Laxness
Visiting Castner Glacier in Alaska During Winter
If you are planning a visit to or around Fairbanks during Winter and are looking for an incredible, breathtaking experience, then you simply must make the drive to see the Castner Glacier Ice Cave.
This ultimate guide to visiting Castner Glacier in Alaska will show you everything you need to know for making the trip from Fairbanks, what to expect on the hike to the glacier cave itself, and how to safely explore within.
Preparing for the Trip
It is a long drive, so it is best to prepare in advance rather than winging it. You will need certain clothing and gear depending on the time of year.
Clothing
For a Winter Visit, which is the best time to safely explore inside the cave, you will need quality cold weather clothing. This would hardly be an ultimate guide to visiting Castner Glacier during Winter if I didn’t go over clothing. You will want to dress to be as comfortable as possible, especially in Winter.
Everyone in your family will want to wear thermals under their regular clothes. Merino wool is the best, but is pricey. Even the synthetic blend thermals will keep you much warmer and dry in case you sweat on the hike. You’ll want that mid layer and an extra sweater possibly.
Snow bibs or pants are a must to stay warm and dry. For children, a quality snow suit will be worth its weight in gold. It is quite windy down in the mountains, so a balaclava and hat are pretty much necessary. If you are going to go closer to spring, when the sun returns, I recommend sunglasses also.
Warm Feet are Essential in the Cold
Make sure to wear quality boots and socks to keep your feet warm. There is nothing that can ruin a fun day outside like cold feet. Our temperature in the interior can drop down well below zero. Merino wool again is the warmest material for this type of excursion. Not only is it warm, but wicks moisture away from your foot. Even if the sock gets wet, it will still be warm in your boots.
The only boot that I have found to be able to withstand the extreme cold are the Baffin brand. When we first moved to Alaska that is what everyone swore by. You can get a temperature rating down to -80 F, which is more than enough. The Snogoose line are my personal favorites and they make a version for men, women, and children.
Clothing Recap
Winter
- Quality bibs or snowsuit
- Thermals
- Balaclava and/or hat
- Quality mittens/gloves
- Winter, Cold rated boots
- Warm socks
Gear to Bring
Castner Glacier, being as remote as it is, is actually a pretty busy hot spot. Even in winter, unless there has been fresh snow recently, the trail remains packed down. It still wouldn’t hurt to have snowshoes just in case you made the 2 1/2 hour journey to find there is 2 feet of snow to walk through.
Trekking poles that have a nice ice spike on the bottom will help you on the trail and also in the cave. Tracks to go on your shoes for gripping the ice are a very nice addition. It is an ice cave, after all.
You will definitely want a headlamp to get a better view inside. It might be obvious, but there is no natural or artificial lighting inside the cave. We accidentally left our headlamps in the car last time and it put a damper on being able to see as well inside the cave using phone flashlights.
It is a short hike, so you won’t need much in terms of gear to get there. It is a straightforward trail, with a few trouble areas, but nothing significant. People push strollers on this trail so it can’t be that bad.
Navigating Without Cell Service
Driving through remote Alaska will have areas without cell service. Though the drive from Fairbanks to Castner Glacier is literally a straight shot, it doesn’t hurt to have a road map handy. The Milepost is the top rated road companion for traveling Alaska. Not only does it contain road maps, but it shows you points of interest and places off the beaten path you might not know about. You can grab a copy through the link below before you take off on your road trip through Alaska.
Gear Recap
Winter
- Snowshoes
- Trekking Poles
- Ice Spikes for shoes
- Headlamps
- Hand warmers and Foot warmers
- The Milepost Atlas and Alaska Travel Planner
- Compass
Food and Snacks
The only real town on your drive will be Delta Junction. It has a few local restaurants, but it can be hit or miss on them being open. There is a 24 hour gas station that sells pizza and other snacks though, so you will have something. Many people pack picnics and eat at the parking area at the trail head. I’ve seen large groups set up folding tables with bags of chips and self-serve sandwiches. There are also the camping and backpacking meals you could bring. They are freeze dried and light weight for packing to the cave. You can be fancy like that, or you can be like us and sit in your car and polish off a few sandwiches before hitting the trail.
The gas station in Delta is quite expensive, so it is probably best to pack your own snacks before leaving Fairbanks. A quick and easy idea is sandwiches and chips, plus granola bars, cheese sticks, and fresh fruit. It makes for a good combination to maintain energy on the trail. Something portable to keep in a bag on the trail will come in handy, especially with little hungry bellies.
Having something warm to drink while out in the cold is a huge moral booster. It is soothing to enjoy some warmth while outdoors, and will help to keep you going whenever you start to get cold. This is especially important if you are hiking this trail with kids. I have found a thermos full of hot cocoa can boost even our roughest hikes in the cold.
Food and Snacks Recap
- Extra money for snacks and coffee in Delta Junction
- Portable, easy meals like sandwiches or Lunchables
- Easy and quick snacks like granola bars, string cheese, and trail mix
- Thermos with hot beverage (hot cocoa, coffee, etc.)
Vehicle Preparation
Before you head out on any road trip, it is best to make sure you have your vehicle checked out for any damages or repairs that might be needed. Depending on how long it has been, a fresh oil change might be needed. Make sure your tires are properly inflated and that you have a spare, just in case. Alaska roads are mediocre at best.
We have no trouble making it to Castner and back on a full tank of gas, but it never hurts to have extra. A spare gas can might save the day if you are stranded. I counted two gas stations on the way there, so I don’t know if an extra 5 gallons will get you very far, that is why I recommend filling up your tank before leaving Fairbanks and maybe topping off in Delta Junction on the way there or back.
Overall, just making sure your vehicle is in good condition to make the trip is a necessity. The road there is traveled, but you do have some more remote spots that would take longer to wait for another car to pass by and help you out.
Vehicle Preparation Recap
- Vehicle checkup
- Oil change
- Full tank of gas
- Tire inflation
- Spare tire
- Extra gas cans
Driving From Fairbanks
Depending on the time of year and recent weather patterns, the drive down to Castner Glacier is relatively easy. It is a straight shot from Fairbanks to the cave. Once you get on Richardson Highway in Fairbanks, you just follow it all the way down through Delta Junction and further until you reach the destination, 140 miles away.
On the Way to Delta Junction
Leaving the hills of Fairbanks brings you into new territory. There are few towns on this road so it is best to make sure you have a full tank of gas and all you will need before departing Fairbanks. 18 miles into the trip is the town of North Pole. The main attraction there is the Santa Clause House, which you can see from the highway and the giant statue of Santa Clause.
The next landmark on your trip is Eilson Air Force base. The runway and all of the planes in the air field are a sight to behold with the mountain back drop. There are signs posted while passing that it is a no drone fly zone and they also prohibit you from taking pictures and recording.
Beyond this, the views start to get better and better. You will have scenic pull off areas to take pictures. There are signs with pictures of a camera that let you know it is a scenic viewpoint. I have two personal favorites on this trip. The first is on top of a mountain overlooking the Tanana River. You can see the Delta Range in the background and you have an outstanding view of the river for miles. My second favorite is on the other side of Delta Junction.
You will know that you are arriving in Delta Junction when you drive through a bridge that has enchanting mountain views to your right and the flats, and the pipeline to your left. A few miles later and you will see the sign that you’ve arrived. There isn’t much to see here, but I would definitely stop for a coffee at Rustic Blends. The Northern Lights with White Mocha is divine.
From Delta Junction to Castner Glacier Trail head
This is where you start getting close to the enormous mountains that have been distant so far. Make sure you have a camera on hand because this is a very scenic drive. You’ll likely see wildlife on this stretch because you are starting to get more remote.
The Delta Range will continuously get closer and eventually, you’ll be driving through them. This part of the trip takes about 45 minutes. This is where my favorite pull off spot is for photography. About halfway to the trail head, up in the mountains, there is a wonderful spot to pull over and take scenic pictures of the mountain range. I love taking a panoramic shot of the mountains with my iPhone here to capture it all.
Right before the pull off for parking you will cross Castner Creek and that will let you know that you have arrived. Make sure you park in the designated area. Pulling off on the roadside is prohibited. There is a small trail going towards the pipeline for the viewing area. You will want to head to the other side of the road towards the bridge, where you will see the beginning of the trail.
Hiking to the Cave
You’ll follow the creek directly to the cave itself. There is a steep slope to climb down at the beginning of the trail, but it should be pretty easy beyond that point. You’ll have a grand view of the mountains along the way. It is a relatively short trail, only 2.6 miles round trip.
During the Winter, you’ll be crossing the creek over the ice. If the weather has been warmer, you’ll have to be careful for slush and overflow. It stays pretty frozen throughout Winter, but it never hurts to err on the side of caution.
The trail can be hard to keep track of on a bright day because of the sun glaring off of the snow. All of the snow just looks the same, but you’ll know you are on the path because it is usually packed down well and will get softer as you wander from the path.
As I have mentioned before, it is usually a busy spot, especially on the weekends, so you can use the other people to help keep track of the trail also. We had no trouble on our trip.
Exploring Castner Glacier Ice Cave
You can’t miss the entrance to this magical place. You’ll see it cut in the mountainside, it’s dark walls contrasting against the white snow. The wavy designs carved into the ice walls are a sight to behold. You’ll have to keep going to see the actual entrance to the cave itself. Since we’re talking about going in the Winter, you’ll see the small frozen waterfall that marks the entrance to this wonderful cave.
You can simply step inside where there is still light and admire it from there, or explore further if you take well with enclosed, dark spaces. Remember, there are no lights, other than from what you have brought with you.
Don’t forget that this is an ice cave, and so is very slippery inside. This is where those trekking poles and ice spikes on your boots will come in handy as you explore within. The frozen creek runs through the cave and you can follow it as far back as it leads.
Part of the cave collapsed a while back and is a little more limited now in how far back you can go, but there is still about a quarter mile walk through its darkness.
It is a wonderful experience if you can make it through. In the far back, there is usually a slight amount of running water that you can filter and drink. Fresh water straight from an ancient glacier!
Aside from being careful not to slip on ice and making sure you have light, there isn’t much else to say about exploring the cave itself. Have fun and take your time. It is truly an incredible experience.
Castner Glacier: A Chance to Adventure with My Kids
Castner Glacier is one of the most incredible experiences that we’ve had as a family since moving to Alaska a few years ago. I love it so much, that I think everyone should see it at least once in their life. That is what inspired me to make this ultimate guide to visiting Castner Glacier during Winter.
The more I see of this beautiful state, the more I am beyond happy that we made the decision to move here. If you want to know even more wonderful reasons moving to Alaska was the best choice for us you can see it in my article here.
I am thankful that my kids are able to see this while they are so young. Getting out and seeing what the world has to offer is an important cornerstone in the life we are building with our kids. Adventuring with them is something that we will remember forever. The lessons learned from these adventures will last a lifetime. If you want more inspiration on adventuring with your kids you can find that in my other article here.
In Conclusion
I hope this guide is helpful to you on your journey to explore Castner Glacier cave in Alaska. Whether you are looking for sights to see while visiting Alaska, or are a resident who has never made the trip, Castner Glacier is a must see for everyone.
If you found this article helpful, make sure to save it to Pinterest so you can use it to help you build your itinerary for the trip! If you want to see more content on Alaskan life, make sure to subscribe to my twice monthly newsletter, where I update my lovely subscribers with what adventures we are currently on, travel tips for Alaska, and much, much more. You can also explore more pictures of our trip and others in my gallery on the home page. Let me know if you are going to be visiting Castner Glacier anytime soon.
Breathtaking scenery! I will definitely add it to my bucket list.
When you come up this way, we’ll make sure to make the trip some day 🙂
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