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Glaciers to Photograph in the USA

150 glaciers in 7 states, each with computed light, night-sky and weather data for planning. Pick a state, or start with the most documented locations below.

Top glaciers

Malaspina GlacierGlacier
Malaspina GlacierYakutat City and Borough, AK
Hubbard GlacierGlacier
Hubbard GlacierYakutat City and Borough, AK
Matanuska GlacierGlacier
Matanuska GlacierMatanuska-Susitna Borough, AK
Johns Hopkins GlacierGlacier
Johns Hopkins GlacierHoonah-Angoon Census Area, AK
Juneau IcefieldGlacier
Juneau IcefieldJuneau City and Borough, AK
Columbia GlacierGlacier
Columbia GlacierChugach Census Area, AK
Boulder GlacierGlacier
Boulder GlacierWhatcom County, WA
Margerie GlacierGlacier
Margerie GlacierHoonah-Angoon Census Area, AK
Grinnell GlacierGlacier
Grinnell GlacierGlacier County, MT
Taku GlacierGlacier
Taku GlacierJuneau City and Borough, AK
Lamplugh GlacierGlacier
Lamplugh GlacierHoonah-Angoon Census Area, AK
Portage GlacierGlacier
Portage GlacierKenai Peninsula Borough, AK
Brady GlacierGlacier
Brady GlacierHoonah-Angoon Census Area, AK
Davidson GlacierGlacier
Davidson GlacierHaines Borough, AK
Nabesna GlacierGlacier
Nabesna GlacierCopper River Census Area, AK
Mendenhall GlacierGlacier
Mendenhall GlacierJuneau City and Borough, AK
Bering GlacierGlacier
Bering GlacierYakutat City and Borough, AK
Columbia GlacierGlacier
Columbia GlacierSnohomish County, WA
Exit GlacierGlacier
Exit GlacierKenai Peninsula Borough, AK
Knik GlacierGlacier
Knik GlacierAnchorage Municipality, AK
Lituya GlacierGlacier
Lituya GlacierHoonah-Angoon Census Area, AK
Emmons GlacierGlacier
Emmons GlacierPierce County, WA
Reid GlacierGlacier
Reid GlacierHoonah-Angoon Census Area, AK
Sahale GlacierGlacier
Sahale GlacierChelan County, WA

By state

Map

How to photograph glaciers

Ice shows its blue best under overcast skies or in shade; bright sun turns glaciers white and flat.

  • Never walk on a glacier without training and gear; crevasses hide under snow bridges.
  • Expose carefully: ice and snow fool meters into underexposure, so add +1 to +2 stops.
  • A polarizer deepens the blue of glacial ice and the turquoise of meltwater lakes.
  • Include a person or boat for scale — glaciers are much larger than they look.
  • Boat tours to tidewater glaciers offer calving shots; use fast shutter speeds and a telephoto.

Season: Summer offers access; late summer exposes the most bare ice before new snow.