Portage Glacier

Discovering Portage Glacier and Portage Valley

Many years ago, Portage Glacier stretched all the way to where the Seward Highway sits today. Today, the glacier's remnant is beautiful Portage Valley, a 14-mile isthmus connecting the Kenai Peninsula to mainland Southcentral Alaska.

Management and Accessibility

The Chugach National Forest manages the land of Portage Valley and Glacier. Visitors traveling between Seward, Whittier, and Anchorage can enjoy outdoor recreation and gain information about this unique and wild landscape, situated just 55 miles southeast of Anchorage.

Visitor Center and Trail Activities

It isn't possible to see Portage Glacier from the road anymore. However, a stop at the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center will provide all the information and historical images from a time long gone. You can walk along the shoreline of Portage Lake next to the visitor center, or venture out a bit farther on the accessible 7.1-mile out-and-back Trail of Blue Ice, which traces the path of the glacier.

Experiencing the Glacier Up Close

If you'd like to see the glacier up close, hop aboard the mv Ptarmigan for an hour-long cruise. Aboard the boat, you'll get within 300 yards of the heaving glacier. This fully-narrated trip is an excellent stop for those on a tight schedule.

Cruise Details

Past visitors have marveled at the glacier's path over the years and commented that the short cruise is the best way to see its face up close. The boat tour is available between late May to mid-September, with tickets costing $45 per adult and $25 per child. You can book your tickets through Gray Line Alaska. Cruise tour packages are also available from Anchorage.