Castner Glacier sits along the Richardson Highway near Delta Junction and is known for something different—ice caves.

You can park off the road and hike in across a wide, rocky riverbed to reach the glacier. It’s not a marked trail in the traditional sense, so you need to be comfortable navigating open terrain.

The main draw here is the ice cave at the base of the glacier. In the winter especially, the cave forms a deep blue tunnel of ice that people walk into for photos and exploration.  

It looks solid—but it’s not something to take lightly. Ice caves can collapse, shift, or change quickly depending on temperature and conditions.  which this glacier has undergone some natural changes recently that make it a little harder to find but the cave is worth it. 

The glacier itself is large and spread out, with a mix of exposed ice, rock, and debris. It has a more rugged, less polished look compared to some of the more visited glaciers.

Castner is popular, but it still feels a bit more raw. You’re not on a boardwalk or a very laid out trail but you find it eventually.