Gulkana Glacier

Gulkana Glacier, on the south flank of the eastern Alaska Range near the Richardson Highway, is both a scenic destination and a major scientific research site. Reached near Richardson Monument, with a suspension bridge over Phelan Creek and surroundings known for moose and bears, it is one of three long-term glacier monitoring locations used by the U.S. Geological Survey. Researchers measure movement, runoff, streamflow, and mass balance there, creating one of Alaska’s longest detailed glacier records. Those observations show steady decline: since 1966 the glacier has lost mass by an average of 0.4 meters per year, its flow has slowed, and the ice thins noticeably from spring to late summer.

Paxson, Alaska · United States