Hike Over Portage Pass: Hike this 2.2 mile trail to the top of Portage Pass with views of the glacier next to it. Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? However, Portage Glacier can no longer be viewed from there. Along the way, you’ll pass the appropriately named Divide Lake, which flows eastward to Passage Canal. This 2-mile-long (4 roundtrip), family-friendly trail, which begins 90 minutes south of Anchorage at the far end of the Whittier Tunnel, remains the only easy way to see Portage Glacier on foot. Portage pass trail was a very beautiful, easy to deal with, day hike that can take anywhere from an hour, to several hours, depending on how long or how far you want to explore. Portage Pass Trail: If instead of stopping at lake, you continue on the Portage Glacier Road, close to Whittier is the Portage Pass Trailhead. The Visitor Center offers an unique opportunity to learn about the Chugach National Forest, America's farthest north national forest. With so much to see and do, your to-do list may be packed! This hike must be done in the deep of winter! Please check your email to verify your subscription. Also in the area is the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a non-profit organization that provides … Make sure you check the Portage Glacier Weather and Conditions or ask in a Facebook Group to … At the beginning of our hike to Portage Glacier via frozen Portage Lake. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. The adventure begins with the drive from Anchorage to Whittier down Turnagain Arm, which is considered one of the world’s most scenic. The only motor boat allowed on the Portage Lake is the commercial tour boat near the Begich Boggs Visitor Center. Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. Look 30 feet down into a gorge as the run-off from nearby snowfields and glaciers rumbles through. Portage Glacier Cruises. Free personal GPS–driven travel guide to Alaska. Use our calculator to find out, Stay casual, dress in layers, and get proper footwear, Guides to the best locations around the state to view wildlife. The drive from Anchorage to Portage Glacier offers a number of scenic lookouts that you will want to experience as you peer across the Turnagain Arm. Also, visit the popular attractions in the … See Alaska's highlights by railroad or motorcoach in a group of up to 50, Travel in small groups, stay at exclusive wilderness lodges, and spend more time outdoors, All-inclusive multi-day vacation packages at a remote wilderness lodge, Travel with a professional photographer to the best photo locations around the state, Trips range from backpacking, rafting, to upscale remote lodge retreats, Cruises depart Juneau or Sitka. To access the trailhead you must drive through the Whittier tunnel. Depending on your method of transportation, this is a 1-4 hour round trip excursion. Those days have passed. You can still see the glacier by boat, but to see it by foot, you have to hike the length of Portage Pass Trail. Begich, Boggs Visitor Center is built upon the terminal moraine left behind by Portage Glacier in 1914. When conditions are right, this becomes a very popular hike. Overview Go PRO to support our mission and get benefits like gear deals, no ads, and more! Be the first to leave a review! Hikers, bikers, skiers, skijourers, and snowshoers will form a 3 mile trail out to Portage Glacier. Williwaw Campground, an idyllic area, sits beside Williwaw Creek near the town of Girdwood, Alaska. Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. Hikers will need to retrace their steps back to the trailhead. There will be a sign that says Portage Lake. Campgrounds, RV Parks & Public Use Cabins. Portage Glacier is at the far end of the lake, just around a slight bend. Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. Admission is $5. No matter how clear and sunny the day appears in Anchorage (or even in Girdwood), the weather may be cloudy and rainy on the other side of the Whittier tunnel. When conditions allow, this six mile (rt) hike, bike, skijour, ski, etc rewards you with a beautiful view of Portage Glacier! If you feel particularly adventurous, zigzag your way through the tortured landscape to the left of the pass. From here, a series of small cairns lead you down the slope’s alluvial plain to the wide gravel beach across the lake from Portage Glacier. After winding down through the brush, the trail pops out onto a gravel embankment. Around February, Portage Lake is often frozen solid-solid enough to make walking safe. 2-5 day small ship explorations. If you think you can make it to Portage Glacier without getting wet, you can't. Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. My dog found all the people and other dogs a little over-stimulating and I had to leash him. The road is gravel but barely 1 minute drive to the trail head. Over the years, the glacier has retreated to … The campground boasts prime ... Overview From here it was all down hill to Portage Lake. In fact, Alaska has more than 100,000 glaciers. Popular Alaska Itineraries Using In-State Airlines, Anchorage to Denali National Park Driving Map. Listen even more carefully and you can also hear water spilling from the snow-girted mountains that rise all around the lake. It can be short — just an hour round-trip to the pass and back — or much longer — a few hours to hike all the way to the glacier and back. Atop the lake was a layer of snow with a straight trail packed hard by … Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. Drive out on the highway to Girdwood, and turn left at the sign that says "Portage Glacier". 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. If you’re looking for a reason to travel through the tunnel to Whittier, this is it. Rent a car and travel independently on a set itinerary, with lodging and tours booked in advance. This trail is appropriate for children. Portage Glacier: Hike to View Portage Pass - See 1,025 traveler reviews, 543 candid photos, and great deals for Girdwood, AK, at Tripadvisor. adventures and follow local regulations. It’s also a short drive from Anchorage, the base camp for many visitors to Alaska. Granite Creek Campground is set in the captivating Kenai Mountains, surrounded by wildflowers and spruce forests. Here, tundra-carpeted mounds beside the trail offer plenty of places to take a break. The view of the Glacier and the surrounding area was breathtaking. Stops include Seward (Kenai Fjords), Girdwood, Whittier & Spencer Glacier, Stops include Wasilla, Talkeetna, Denali National Park & Fairbanks. All the while you continue hiking steadily toward two stone towers rising against the sky in the pass above. It's a conservation center so they have a great mission. Please try again. Also in the area is the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a non-profit organization that provides refuge for orphaned, injured and sick animals. Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. Hike Out To This Glacier In Alaska That’s Almost Too Beautiful For Words. We chose to try the Portage Glacier Trail on 10 Jul 2013. All around the top of the pass are side trails to explore, if you're so inclined. When you look up, the low brush allows views of the steep, cliff-streaked slope of 4,000-foot-plus Maynard Mountain, as well as the massive rock of 3,718-foot Shakespeare Shoulder across the narrow valley. Portage Glacier is in the corner of Portage Lake about an hours drive from Anchorage. There is … The rugged mou... Overview Starting at the Begich Boggs Visitor Center (Near Byron Glacier Trailhead), there will probably be a trail on the lake already. Please explore responsibly! This hike must be done in the deep of winter! You can still see the glacier, but you have to work for it. The Portage Glacier can only be seen now via boat across the Portage Lake or a two-mile out-and-back hike (listed as strenuous) out of Whittier. 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. For younger children, they can be easily pulled in a sled if you so desire. Travel on a set itinerary with lodging and tours booked in advance. Have you done this adventure? The hike offers even more marvels, and few difficulties. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. - Out-and-Back Trail. You’ll skirt one of the sources of that water—a small lake that fills the length of the narrow pass—then begin the descent to Portage Lake. 6 miles Portage Glacier Road. Portage Glacier once extended the entire length of Portage Valley. The Begich,Boggs Visitor Center was built by the U.S. Forest Service in 1986. The Portage Pass from where you can clearly see the Portage Glacier is straight up 750 feet in about a mile or so. Now the lake extends from the beach in one large gray expanse. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. This hike must be done in the deep of winter! The gravel beach on Portage Lake would be a great place for a picnic lunch. Portage Glacier Lake Cruise: Book your Portage Lake & Glacier cruise here. To get up close to the glacier, take an hour-long sightseeing boat cruise on Portage Lake, or hike on one of a number of foot trails that lead to the glacier. This is the end of the trail, but it was fun to wander around the lake edge. Then you’ll experience the two-plus-mile-long drive through the Whittier Tunnel, a World War II relic designed for one-way train use. Highlights plus less visited destinations. Portage Glacier Links. Most of the United State’s glaciers are located in Alaska. Just this one view was well worth the effort of climbing the mile and a half. We found the hike on the National Park Service map (NPS Portage Glacier Trail). If you bring your dog, make sure he or she has a good recall or is leashed. Self-drive vacations. As you climb steadily up the old road that now forms the trail, you pass glacier-scraped stones and slabs both on and alongside the trail. Crow Pass Cabin is located about 500 yards off the Crow Pass Trail, which follows part of the former supply route for the Iditar... Overview Summer in Alaska is unlike anything else on Earth. Portage Glacier Photos (click on each to enlarge it and read the caption) . The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. The hike to Portage Pass and Portage Lake is probably one of the most beautiful hikes in Alaska. Of course, it really is an awe inspiring sight. Probably one of the best bang-for-your buck hikes I've ever been on. Portage Glacier is accessible to everyone! 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. Car, train, or group tour. There was a problem with your submission. Fortunately, this excursion makes for a fine family outing. Which one is right for you? We hiked to Portage Glacier fairly early in the morning to beat the crowd and heat. Hikers, bikers, skiers, skijourers, and snowshoers will form a 3 mile trail out to Portage Glacier. Between the mounds, you’ll see deep trenches, evidence of the power of ice to shape the landscape. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. It will make your heart rate go up for certain. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. The most intimate multi-day cruise option. You can still see the glacier by boat, but to see it by foot, you have to hike the length of Portage Pass Trail. Like most big adventures in AK, it’s a daunting proposition to launch into what locals refer to as both beautiful and terrifying. Hike across frozen Portage Lake to its namesake glacier in the spectacular Chugach Mountains. The view of the Glacier and the surrounding © 2020 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. From Portage Pass, it is another mile downhill to Portage Lake. And it’s has a spectacular conclusion: After cresting Portage Pass, the trail drops through glacial scrub before popping out on the wide gravel shores of Portage Lake, directly across from the snout of gorgeous Portage Glacier.
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