Portage Pass Trail is a fantastic hike in Whittier, Alaska!…read more I didn't even know this trail existed until the Ship Captain on my 26 Glacier Tour Cruise mentioned it was his favorite activity. So...being only about 6pm in the summertime and still looking for more worthwhile areas of Whittier to explore...I thought...why not come over here to Portage Pass to hike for a few hours! From the parking lot where I had left my car for the cruise, the trailhead was only 1-mile away near the tunnel area getting in and out of Whittier. When turning onto the road leading towards the trailhead, be careful of all the potholes along the way. I parked on the side of the road. Portage Pass Trail is a 4-mile roundtrip hike. Well...let me just back up a little... It's a 1-mile hike to Portage Pass which overlooks Portage Lake and Glacier in the background. Then, it is 1 more mile to trek from Portage Pass down to the shores of Portage Lake. Then...obviously, it is a 2-mile hike back to the trailhead. The 1st mile hiking to Portage Pass was virtually all uphill. I gained 800 feet in elevation. This part was moderately strenuous. I believe, since you work hard to make it to Portage Pass, you might as well go all the way to Portage Lake/Glacier. The 2nd half of the hike from Portage Pass was mostly downhill where I winded my way through bushy areas but all on a defined, dirt trail. And it was sort of fun to maneuver on down to the shore. And just to back up one moment, at Portage Pass in late afternoon, the sun was shining brightly onto Portage Glacier and the surrounding landscape offering beautiful views worthy of pausing for photos. Finally, at "The Toe" of Portage Lake and Glacier...the setting was calm and quiet. There weren't many hikers around with me at 7pm. I took some time to admire Portage Glacier but found that my pictures weren't nearly as colorful being at eye-level with a fading sun in comparison to the perspectives looking down on the landscape while hiking lower from Portage Pass. For me being a picky photo person, the dwindling sun started facing me which created shadows rather where I would have preferred the sun positioned at my back. So...to give a suggestion...I believe visiting Portage Lake and Glacier; you'd be better served coming in the morning time. I also noticed that you could hike around the lake to possibly even step on Portage Glacier! That was intriguing to me, but I knew I still had the return hike to complete along with taking the tunnel to depart Whittier. Those factors were on my mind. And...I didn't have any micro spikes or crampons with me so the best I could do was maybe just stand in front of the glacier. But I feel that would maybe lose the photogenic aspect whereas being at the shoreline, I could capture the glacier in its entirety. This just me being particular...lol, that's all. I spent 25 minutes wandering along the shore, even to just breathe in the fresh air. Had I known about Portage Pass Trail ahead of time, I certainly would have afforded myself an extended stay to marvel at how cool untouched glaciers can appear in the distance. The hike back to Portage Pass was uphill, but not nearly as difficult as the initial trek from the trailhead. Then, of course, once back at Portage Pass, it's downhill back to the dirt road where I parked. I'd say the 4 total miles hiked plus time at the lake took me 3.5 hours...just enough time to complete my 26 Glacier Cruise Tour plus this afternoon hiking adventure making for an absolutely wonderful summer day experience here in Whittier, Alaska.

Wanting to see a glacier but with our previous honeymoon glacier adventure being canceled due to…read moreinclement weather, we had to get creative. My husband and I found the trail head for Portage Pass and decided to give it a shot! The trail head is located down a gravel road, on your right hand side immediately after you exit the Whittier tunnel. There is no parking lot. The trail was extremely easy to follow and as most reviews state, the 1st mile is all incline until you reach the peak. Once you reach the summit, the wind picks up but then it is all downhill until you reach the glacier. During our adventure, the trail was quite slippery and frozen over with ice but we managed to find a few foot holds. Seeing a glacier up close and personal is absolutely breathtaking and a once in a lifetime experience. We had the entire trail to ourselves since it was the off-season and not too many people wanted to brave the whipping windchill. Definitely worth the short drive from Anchorage if you want to see this glacier before it is gone!

Paddled Spencer Glacier with Chugach adventures in early June. We travelled by train to get there…read more Then by bus to the beach. They pretty much have thought of everything! All you need to do is paddle and bring a water bottle! They bring snacks, and homemade lunches that were amazing with homemade bread!! The view when you come around the corner is jaw dropping!! The staff were amazing and very personable!! We traveled by train for the second half of our journey to view multiple glaciers and animal sightings!! Moose, eagles, bear. There's an opportunity to get off the train and complete a short hike. This trip was the most expensive that we did, but we would do it again!!

Our group did the Glacier Blue Kayak and Grandview Tour which started with a trainride from…read moreGirdwood to Spencer Glacier. Then we had a quick kayak lesson, then paddled across the water to get up close to the glacier. Once we walked up close to admire the view, we did a meaningful meditation, took some pictures, then headed down for lunch. The box lunch was plentiful and fresh. Just enough to keep us satisfied as the train went up to Grandview to see a few more glaciers and some waterfalls that you can't get to by road. All in all, Ryan and Caroline provided us with a safe and fun day that was unforgettable. Definitely the highlight of our time in Alaska.

I love, love, love this picnic park. It's well hidden and unknown by most people unfamiliar with…read moreWhittier (well, I've gone and ruined that now haven't I?) The park is tucked away in Shotgun Cove at the confluence of a glacial stream and Prince William Sound. The protected cove offers a lovely vista of mountains, water and trees (ok and a parking lot.) It's got several grills, tables and a picnic pavilion that is perfect for small gatherings. Midweek, the park is an ideal place for contemplation. The only issue here is the mosquitoes, which are significant. But if I could plunk a house down anywhere in the world, it would be right here, a little piece of paradise.

One of my absolute favorite places to spend time in Southcentral Alaska. I didn't actually…read morediscover Lu Young Park in Whittier until June of 2016. I happened to have a day off and decided to drive down to Portage area for some photography and enjoy a beautiful summer sunny day. Even though I have lived in Alaska for over 45 years, I didn't visit Whittier or go through the tunnel all that often. Maybe only a handful of times since I was young. A few times included taking the train while another was driving down there with a friend where I was riding shotgun. But something that day made me decide to pay the money to go through the tunnel and do a bit of exploring. And given I'm one with an insatiable quest for exploring, I found myself on the road to Shotgun Cove. And that is where I found Lu Young Park. To access Lu Young park drive up Blackstone Road and then turn right on Salmon Run Road just past the abandoned Bucker Building (hard to miss, one of the tallest buildings in Whittier). Continue on the dirt road for about a 1/2 mile and you will see a pull out with a covered picnic area. The area has a couple of picnic tables, bathrooms and an overlook. It is a great place to explore both at high and low tide. Additionally the area is teaming with thousands of pink salmon during their run in August. It is not uncommon to find kayakers and SUPs in the cove. There is always something different to see and experience here. During the evenings after work during the summer I like to grab a bit of food from somewhere and drive down and catch the tunnel opening and then have a picnic. It is always serenity to me.

As far as I know, 20 Mile River is the only place in Seward Highway that is officially equipped to…read morelaunch a boat from. That being said... the boat launch is pretty tore up. The asphalt ramp is essentially washed out and all that remains is our famously dangerous quicksand. So make sure you check the tide charts. I definitely wouldn't try to launch anything too large from here. This location is famous as a hooligan spawning ground, so if you like those greasy little fish, hooligan fishing here is hot when they're in season. Always check the regs, but silver and red salmon also have a bag window in 20 Mile as well. The parking lot here is adequately sized for boat trailers and RV's, however you don't get much warning on the approach. If you miss it, good luck finding a place to turn around.....

This charter was tied for our favorite activity during our trip to Alaska. It was a bit…read morenerve-provoking given how windy the weather was but the captain assured us that we'd be safe, and she was right. There were no issues and it was a smooth ride. The beautiful scenery and periodic wildlife were amazing. I think the best moment was stopping off at a beach at low tide where numerous large pieces of ice from a glacier were sitting on shore. Just something I never imagined experiencing. The crew were awesome and friendly and you can't beat free snacks, tea, and hot chocolate on the boat. Definitely an adventure you should incorporate in any trip to Alaska.

our experience with the lazy otter charter was incredible. The captain Steven and the tour guide…read moreAubrey were knowledgeable and friendly. we saw tons of wildlife and glaciers up close. The boat was warm and stocked with hot coffee, snacks, hot chocolate and water. The cabin was warm, dry and very comfortable. 10/10 would recommend! Our whole family had a great time!

Take the helicopter glacier hike tour! You will not regret it!! My husband and I were second…read moreguessing such a big ticket item for our Alaska trip but we agree it was worth it! Our trip would not have been the same had we skipped this standout experience! Our guides Andy and Matt were amazing! We had a lot of fun with them and learned a lot too. Thank you guys for the memories! Until you see and walk on a glacier, you cannot understand the scale and size of one! There are hidden worlds when you get on the ice! Waterfalls into the abyss, hidden ice caves, lakes of deep aqua blue... and it goes on and on in every direction. Completely insane! Do yourself a favor and book this trip. The views from the helicopter alone are worth it, but exploring a glacier is priceless!

Did the spencer glacier kayak and hike, starting from the Alyeska Resort. $379pp (occasional…read morecoupons on their Facebook). This took about 9 hours, with about 5 hours being kayak + hike. The rest was transportation/waiting for train/etc. Prices are high, but the experience is pretty amazing. It's hard to do activities or get up close to glaciers without assistance/guides. The group to guide ratio is low so you're definitely safe. I love the energy from the guides. They know what they're doing and they are so enthusiastic about it. They definitely take care of you if you're a newb to all this. Amazing views. Amazing pictures. Would recommend!

Your great escape from anchorage. About an hours drive from Anchorage if you don't make any stops…read more I just love small mountain villages and this one is a blast in the winter time. There is also a bus (Glacier Valley Transit) that can get you around town with ease. Fares are only 1$ and if your staying at The Hotel Alyeska you can ride for free. When your there check out The Bake Shop, Chair 5, Silvertip Grill, The Ice Cream Shop, and of course the mountain..

We went on a fishing charter this past week. It was a bit early in the season, so the king salmon…read moreweren't biting yet. But we caught a ton of halibut and rock fish over a 3 day charter. As a fishing boat, the boat is downright luxurious. It fit 4 full grown men and a crew of 2 just fine without feeling cramped. There was plenty of space to sleep for up to 6 people. Captain John has lots of stories and knows all the places where the fish hang out. His first mate, Harrison also had lots of stories and was very chill. I would definitely go back again next year!

What an EPIC day! Tundra Adventure Charters is easily the best choice for visiting Prince William…read moreSound by boat. Our group of 7 had such a great day with John that it's hard to put into words. The boat is bigger and nicer than we expected, the crew was fantastic, and every minute on board was a first class experience. We're already planning our next trip and brainstorming all of the occasions we would like to go out with John again. Whether it's for sight-seeing, fishing, hunting, kayaking or maybe just to carry us and our inflatable boat to somewhere we couldn't get to on our own - we will think of Tundra Adventure Charters first. Thanks for an awesome day!