Williwaw Fish Viewing Platform (mi 4 Portage Glacier Road) is an excellent spot to view spawning salmon from mid-July through the end of August. VOUCHER (7 days ago) This self-guided Portage Glacier Cruise is truly idea for the independent traveler. There are many hikes and sights (including Portage and Byron Glaciers) to see in the area! The trail is wide but lined by alder and some pine making the scenery not much to look at. After you've visited Portage Glacier, you can explore the sights within just a few miles of the area. Portage Glacier extended across what is now the lake in the early 1900's. This means swimming without dry suits is not an option, even in emergencies. Portage Glacier Cruise a Self-Guided Tour is a Self-Guided Tour is for those who enjoy getting away from the crowd and explore on their own and at their pace. It’s also a short drive from Anchorage, the base camp for many visitors to Alaska. Also parking can be difficult if you go later. Most tours include round-trip transportation from Anchorage. The Visitor Center offers an unique opportunity to learn about the Chugach … Portage Glacier is one of the most approachable glaciers in Alaska with multiple ways to see it including hiking Portage Pass and a boat tour across Portage Lake. Driving Directions to Portage Glacier: Take the Seward Highway south from Anchorage. Be sure to dress in layers; it can get chilly out on the water. Portage Glacier Map Dennis 2020-03-07T05:10:51-09:00 At the head of Portage Valley, about fifty miles south of Anchorage, at the end of scenic Turnagain Arm, lies the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. Portage Glacier Trail I’ve heard that during the season you can enjoy Portage Glacier Cruises or follow Portage Glacier Trail through the mountains on the north side of the lake. Board Gray Line Alaska’s exclusive day boat and cruise iceberg-dotted Portage Lake to within 300 yards of the glacier. Floatation devices are a necessity: it's glacial water, super cold, and full of silt. One of the most visited glaciers in Alaska, Portage completely covered its lake and reached into the valley in the 1800s. The Portage Pass hike near Whittier is a stunning moderate hiking trail that goes over Portage Pass and leads to the Portage Lake. Upon reaching the top of the pass, climbing around 800 feet in a mile and a half, Portage Glacier and Portage Lake come into view. Turn left at the Portage Glacier Cafe (401 Portage Lake Loop) to purchase tickets. Atop the lake was a layer of snow with a straight trail packed hard by … Book your tickets online for Portage Glacier, Girdwood: See 1,025 reviews, articles, and 548 photos of Portage Glacier, ranked No.3 on Tripadvisor among 18 attractions in Girdwood. It's a pretty long and winding hike down and the view of the Glacier from the lake is not really worth the long trek. Another view of Portage Glacier is waiting on the Whittier side. Portage Glacier Cruise. Leave A Comment Cancel reply ... On the way here we stopped off at Potters Marsh which offers a mini trail to walk. Take a left on Portage Glacier Road (milepost 78.9) approximately 48 miles out of Anchorage. Choose a seat in the enclosed lounge or take a stroll on the open-air observation deck. This trail is appropriate for children. There you will be blown away by stunning Portage Glacier view and beautiful ice formations on the lake. Camping the Portage Glacier … - See 1,025 traveler reviews, 548 candid photos, and great deals for Girdwood, AK, at Tripadvisor. The Williwaw Nature Trail follows the creek then joins the Trail of Blue Ice to create an approximately 2-mile loop around Williwaw Campground. Getting There. Byron Glacier Trail With a close-up view of and access to a glacier, the 1.4 mile Byron Glacier Trail provides a walk that is suitable for all ages. For $45 experience the best value and closest glacier cruise to Anchorage. We hiked to Portage Glacier fairly early in the morning to beat the crowd and heat. Portage Creek: Trail of Blue Ice is a 7.1 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Whittier, Alaska that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. If you think you can make it to Portage Glacier without getting wet, you can't. Portage Glacier: Best part of the whole train trip! So if you are short on time just turn back at the top of Portage Pass. Around February, Portage Lake is often frozen solid-solid enough to make walking safe. There are a few benches for hikers to rest. Portage Pass Trail, a mile-long trek to the pass, provides a good view of Portage Glacier. This is the end of the trail, but it was fun to wander around the lake edge. The new Trail of Blue Ice parallels Portage Glacier Access Road and meanders through forest on a … Once you get above the alders, you get some fantastic views looking back towards Whittier. The trail begins near the tunnel leading to the city of Whittier, on the city’s side. The Portage Glacier used to fill the entire Portage Valley, a vast 14-mile-long valley in the Chugach National Forest south of Anchorage, Alaska.That was hundreds of years ago, and unfortunately now only a fraction of the glacier remains. Both men were killed in a 1972 plane crash en route from Anchorage to Juneau. Portage Glacier Cruise a Self-Guided Tour 2020 - Anchorage. Portage Pass Trail to Portage Glacier & Portage Lake The Portage Pass trail starts just outside of Whittier and travels upward 700 feet in elevation gain to the top. The first mile up to Portage Pass was a bit steep and slippery with gravel. Travel 5 miles to fork in road; take the right-hand fork and travel a 1/2 mile. The trail is primarily used for hiking, road biking, and whitewater kayaking and is best used from May until September. Tours to the Portage Glacier typically include a one-hour cruise. There is a good-sized creek between the trail's end and the glacier. Williwaw Campground (mi 4.2 Portage Glacier Road) is paved. But I was doing this hike at the end of winter which meant there were no boats, kayaks or even tours going. Portage Glacier is a must-see for any first-time visitor to Anchorage. The Visitor Center was named in memory of Congressmen Nick Begich of Alaska and Congressmen Hale Boggs of Louisiana. A Portage termina anche la Baia di Turnagain (Turnagain Arm) che inizia 65 km a nord-ovest (presso la città di Anchorage; la baia è collegata alla Baia di Cook (Cook Inlet) e quindi al Golfo dell'Alaska (Gulf of Alaska). From here it was all down hill to Portage Lake. At the back of the parking lot starts the Byron Glacier Trail, an easy 0.75-mile walk along the runoff stream to below this hanging glacier. Portage è un ex insediamento a circa 76 km a sud-est di Anchorage. We started at the visitor center and decided to do the Portage Glacier hike which we did from Whittier. The views were simply amazing and all the work was well rewarded. There will be a sign that says Portage Lake. Many day tour companies include Portage in trips beginning in Anchorage, and visiting Girdwood and the glacier. It's also close to Anchorage! This hike made quick work of elevation and we were huffing and puffing up to 800 feet. The view of the Glacier and the surrounding area was breathtaking. The glacier is tucked around the bend of a mountain, and isn’t visible during the walk across the lake. Begich, Boggs Visitor Center is built upon the terminal moraine left behind by Portage Glacier in 1914. It's around one and half miles to the top and then continues down another mile and a half to the shores of Portage Lake. Storia. Portage Glacier and its lake were opened to kayaking in 2009 by the National Park Service. If you want to see more of the surrounding area, you can plan a visit to Byron Glacier Trail and Prince William Sound Museum. The trail features stones that children and adults can use for creative activities. At Williwaw Campground, the 1.25-mile Williwaw Nature Trail provides an easy introduction to the area, and Trail of the Blue Ice continues to the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. Hikers, bikers, skiers, skijourers, and snowshoers will form a 3 mile trail out to Portage Glacier. From Portage Pass, it is another mile downhill to Portage Lake. This hike must be done in the deep of winter! The trip up the 3-mile Portage Pass Trail gives hikers a great view of the glacier from the summit and lakeside. Portage Glacier is in the corner of Portage Lake about an hours drive from Anchorage.