Day Trip: Anchorage to Portage Glacier

Distance and time: about 60 miles/1 hour 30 minutes

Portage Glacier and Portage Lake

The Kenai Peninsula, were it not for a 14 mile isthmus, Portage Valley, would be an island. As it stands, a small ribbon of land connects the Kenai to mainland Alaska.

Long ago, Portage Glacier extended through the length of the valley. Some glacial remnants are visible such as Burns, Byron, Explorer, Middle and Shakespeare glaciers. These glaciers, massive and awe inspiring in their current state, are only vestiges of the ice sheets that used to cover the Portage Valley landscape.

Portage Glacier view

There are plenty of public campgrounds that can accommodate tents and RVs in the Portage Glacier region.

Begich, Boggs Visitor Center

Within sight of Portage Glacier, the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center stands, built on the glacier’s terminal moraine. A U.S. federal installation, the Visitor Center offers award-winning exhibits, an Alaska Geographic bookstore, educational opportunities and a film.

Catch these links to local information: 

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/chugach/home/?cid=stelprdb5251094

http://www.recreation.gov/recAreaDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&facilityId=203882&agencyCode=131

Byron Glacier trail is easily accessible near Portage Lake

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/chugach/recarea/?recid=71943

Portage Glacier Cruises and Tours

You can catch a Portage Glacier cruise at Portage Lake.  Parking is available adjacent to the dock. A number of tour companies will also provide transportation to and from Anchorage.

Here is just one link to an available source:

http://www.portageglaciercruises.com/tours.cfm

A view of Byron Glacier near Portage Lake