Alaska Adventures
Since 1975

Discover Matanuska Glacier

Where Alaska meets unmatched expertise and passion;
your next adventure starts here!

Glacier Tours

River Trips

Heli Adventures

“One of the best experiences ever. Our guide Steven took us on an exhilarating and informative trek into the glacial back country. He showed us some incredible features in the glacier and ensured that we were safe the entire trek. We even roped up to traverse over some incredible crevasses. 10 stars for this adventure!“

~ John E. 2024 Matanuska Adventure Trek

“Great experience, super cool and very knowledgeable guides, safety was top priority, fun was a close second, WORTH EVERY PENNY…“

~ John L. 2024 Six Mile Creek

“Me and my husband did the backcountry ice climbing tour with Thomas and it was such and amazing experience. Thomas was both fun and incredibly knowledgeable about climbing, the glaciers and safety. Would 10/10 recommend Nova tours and Thomas to anyone.“

~ Brittany L. 2024 Matanuska Ice Climbing

“What an incredible experience! We wanted an adrenaline fix during our girls’ weekend in Hope, and boy we got it. We did the 3 canyon whitewater rafting trip, and we will be talking about and reliving it for years to come.“

~ Rachel B. 2024 Six Mile Creek

“NOVA is a CLASS ACT; they are professional, safety-oriented and extremely fun. I’ve lived in Alaska for nearly 10 years and hitting NOVA for the Lions Head half-day whitewater river trip is a sure winner for folks who want a great Alaskan outdoor experience.“

~ Rudy P. 2024 Lions Head

Unforgettable Alaska

Adventures

Our most Popular Tours

With three stunning locations in Alaska and a variety of tour options, the perfect adventure is just ahead! Whether you’re a beginner or expert, we have the ideal experience tailored just for you. From family-friendly fun to adrenaline-packed thrills, we offer adventures for all abilities and comfort levels. Let us guide you to unforgettable memories in the wilds of Alaska.

Six Mile Creek
3 Canyon

Hope, Alaska

Duration: 4 Hours

Adventure Level: Challenging+

Minimum Age: 16 Years Old

Price: $225/person
+Kenai Tax

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Six Mile Creek
2 Canyon

Hope, Alaska

Duration: 3 Hours

Adventure Level: Challenging

Minimum Age: 12 Years Old

Price: $149/person
+Kenai Tax

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Matanuska Glacier Tour

Glacier View, Alaska

Duration: 3 Hours

Adventure Level: Easy

Minimum Age: 10 Years Old

Price: $115/person
+Glacier Park Fee

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Matanuska River
Lions Head

Glacier View, Alaska

Duration: 3 Hours

Adventure Level: Moderate+

Minimum Age: 12 Years Old

Price: $139/person

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Matanuska Glacier
Adventure Trek

Glacier View, Alaska

Duration: 6 Hours

Adventure Level: Moderate+

Minimum Age: 12 Years Old

Price: $225/person
+Glacier Park Fee

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Heli Adventure
Glacier Paddleboarding

Knik Glacier, Alaska

Duration: 4 Hours

Adventure Level: Moderate

Minimum Age: 10 Years Old

Price: $989/person

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Matanuska Glacier
Ice Climbing

Glacier View, Alaska

Duration: 8 Hours

Adventure Level: Moderate+

Minimum Age: 12 Years Old

Price: $249/person
+Glacier Park Fee

Book Now

Reasons to Choose NOVA Alaska Guides

Family Owned & Operated since 1975.

50+ Years
Guiding Experience

Our professional guides ensure your time with us is the highlight of your Alaska vacation. Our guides are not interns they exercise the highest levels of experience, training and professionalism in the industry.

Safety First

Safety is paramount at NOVA and has always been our number one priority. We host Swift Water Rescue courses annually for guides, government agencies and the community. We provide top of the line gear and proper guide training to ensure each trip is a safe trip for our guests.

Caring for the Environment

NOVA is an advocate and steward for keeping wild places in Alaska wild. We follow responsible travel and ‘leave no trace’ ethics when visiting these amazing places. Showing people how to love, appreciate and help preserve Alaska’s special places has been NOVA’s core value since day one.

A Pioneering
Business

With a legacy of pioneering adventures, NOVA was the first to offer commercial whitewater raft trips in Alaska, the first to guide tours and ice climbs on the Matanuska Glacier, and the first to run the challenging Class 5 rapids of Six Mile Creek.

Variety of
Adventures

Over time, NOVA has expanded its offerings to seamlessly integrate river, glacier, and heli adventures of a lifetime, making us the only company in Alaska with all three lines of business, spread across three beautiful locations.

Learn More About NOVA

50+ Years
Guiding Experience

Safety First

Safety is paramount at NOVA. We facilitate annual Swift Water Rescue courses for river guides, agencies, and the community. Glacier guides undergo yearly crevasse rescue and all staff are certified in WFA, WFR, or FA/CPR, depending on their role. With expert training and premium gear, we prioritize safety on every trip.

Caring for the Environment

A Family Business

Alaska’s first and only multi-generational family owned and operated river company, still under original ownership for over 50 years. The family sons are now running the business and are proud to be born and raised Alaskans!

Learn More About NOVA

Reviews from Real Adventurers

What an amazing day! Guides Thomas and Drew are so much fun! Both were exceptional mountaineers and extremely knowledgeable about the glacier, and local history. Our group was able to explore many glacial features and experiment with ice climbing. We will be back!

Tracy Y.

2024

If you’re looking for an ice climbing adventure that combines thrilling challenges with breathtaking scenery and expert guidance, look no further than this backcountry glacier tour with NOVA. Their professionalism, passion, and dedication to providing an exceptional experience make it an outstanding trip. 20/10 would recommend!

Victoria H.

2024

We did the Matanuska ice walking tour, the Lion’s head rafting and the ice climbing. We had incredible experiences and can totally recommend these with Nova. Our guide, Nate, made these unforgettable.

Egle V.

2024

NOVA guides are the BEST! They focus on safety first and share their vast knowledge of the Matanuska Glacier throughout the tour. Ben, Nate and Thomas were such great tour guides. THANK YOU NOVA for another fabulous experience! Anyone traveling to Anchorage should add this glacier tour to their TO DO list. Highly recommended!

Lorie S.

2024

We had an amazing experience going through all 3 canyons! Our tour guide, Jake, took great care of us and gave us a good debriefing throughout out the entire tour. He took us at our novice level and made us feel like pros with his 7+ years of experience. We would 100% recommend this tour to anyone who wants adventure in the beautiful nature of Alaska.

Jadelyn L.

2024

Rafting the Matanuska River with Nova was definitely the highlight of our Alaska trip! The crew was fun, the rapids were awesome, and our guide was funny and informative while making sure we hit all the best, most exciting lines!!

Rockymtnhei

2024

Getting to Your Tour

Location Information

The meeting points vary greatly between trips. Please refer to which trip you are going on, and use these locations to find the meetup spot. If you have additional questions, please contact us.

Six Mile Creek Trips

Six Mile Creek Whitewater Trips meet 1.5 Hours south of Anchorage at a public rest area known as Silvertip Station. Located about 100 meters from the Seward & Hope Hwy intersection, on the Hope Road.

Matanuska Glacier Tours & Matanuska River Trips

All Matanuska Glacier Tours, Lions Head and Midnight Sun Run Rafting trips meet at NOVA’s basecamp in Glacier View location just 2 Hours north of Anchorage, Alaska.

Heli Adventures

For all Heli Adventures we partner with Outbound Heli located just 1 Hour north of Anchorage in Palmer, Alaska.

You’ll check in at Outbound Heli Adventures office at:
3901 S Lindsey Cir F, Palmer, AK 99645

Alaska Visitor Information

A collection of articles to help you plan your Alaska vacation, prepare for your adventure with us & more!

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family smiles while on a tour of the matanuska glacier

Glacier Tours

The Experience

Reasons to Choose NOVA Guides for your Alaska Adventure

Family Owned & Operated since 1975. Simply put, NOVA is Alaska’s original and most experienced guide company. From pioneering now famous whitewater runs to leading the first excursions on the Matanuska Glacier; NOVA’s expertise in these outdoor disciplines unsurpassed.