Columbia Glacier

Columbia Glacier flows from the Chugach Mountains into Prince William Sound, extending roughly 51 kilometers with ice thickness reaching about 550 meters at its deepest point. The glacier terminates at the water's edge, where it calves directly into the sound as a tidewater glacier.

British surveyors first documented this glacier in 1794 when it was positioned at the northern edge of Heather Island. The glacier's location and extent have shifted considerably since that initial survey.

The glacier was named after Columbia University by an expedition in 1899, which also named other nearby glaciers after American educational institutions.

You can only reach this glacier by boat from Valdez, since no roads or hiking trails provide direct access. Plan for long boat trips and be ready for changing weather conditions on the water.

This glacier moves at speeds up to 30 meters per day, ranking it among the fastest-moving glaciers in North America. This rapid movement makes the ice flow visible to observers during a visit.

Location: Alaska

GPS coordinates: 61.21970,-146.89500

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:54