Portage Glacier

Due to dramatic recession over the past years, this still-impressive ice flow is no longer visible from the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. To get up close to the ice, travelers need to head out on the ice-filled waters with a boat tour on Portage Lake or hike one of several trails that lead to the glacier.

Full-day tours to the glacier from Anchorage might also include a visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a tram ride to the top of Mt. Alyeska, wildlife spotting along the scenic Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet, or a photo stop at Beluga Point.

• Portage Glacier is a must-see for any first-time visitor to Anchorage.

• Be sure to dress in layers; it can get chilly out on the water.

• Tours to the Portage Glacier typically include a one-hour cruise.

• Most tours include round-trip transportation from Anchorage.

To reach the glacier, take Seward Highway south of Anchorage to the Portage Glacier Road, which winds its way to the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center in Whittier, the departure point for Portage Glacier cruises. If you don’t want to rent a car, you can visit as part of a guided tour from Anchorage.

The best season to visit Alaska’s outdoor attractions, including this Ice Age relic, is between mid-May and mid-September. August brings the highest chance of rainfall, and mid-June to mid-August is considered peak tourist season.

This national forest is the second largest in the National Forest Service and an outdoor playground for more than a million visitors each year. In an area roughly the size of New Hampshire, visitors will find some of the world’s largest tidewater glaciers, diverse wildlife (including 214 species of birds), and some 200 miles (322 kilometers) of trails for hikers and mountain bikers.

That depends on the tour option that you choose. The most cost-effective tours typically begin at around $70 per person and are around half a day long, including round-trip transit from Anchorage. More extensive tours—which can last the whole day and include hiking and Portage Lake cruises—go up to several hundred dollars per person.

The exact length of the Portage Glacier is difficult to measure (as the glacier fluctuates in size), but it is estimated to be around 6 miles (10 kilometers) long and is 10 stories high. Its impressive scale and proximity to Anchorage make it one of Alaska’s top tourist attractions.

That depends. While it’s impossible to walk on the glacier itself, this active glacier regularly “calves” chunks of ice into Portage Lake. If you head to the nearby Begich, Boggs Visitor Center, rangers regularly share samples of that ice for visitors to touch (and even taste).

Generally, no. The only official trail close to Portage Glacier is the 2-mile (3-kilometer) Portage Pass Trail, which offers excellent views but doesn’t lead up to the glacier itself. While some intrepid hikers cross Lake Portage when it freezes in the winter to reach the glacier, that’s risky and not recommended.

Yes and no. Portage Glacier has fluctuated throughout the years, advancing and retreating in different phases. Over the last century, the glacier has retreated significantly, revealing Portage Lake and disappearing from view from the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center, although its current position hasn’t changed significantly since 1999.

Yes, you can drive up to the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. The journey takes roughly 1 hour via AK-1 S and is considered one of the most scenic drives in the U.S. However, if you wish to see the glacier itself, you’ll need to embark on a boat trip or hike.