Portage Pass has been historically used by Alaska Natives, Russian fur traders, and early settlers. There is no cell service at Portage Glacier for most people (last verified May 2023). Part of the job of the AkDOT&PF is to measure traffic along the highway. [40] The AkDOT&PF authorized HDR Alaska to conduct the study. Be the first to leave a review! Traffic heads into Whittier on the half-hour, and out of Whittier on the hour (subject to . Wonderland & Berkeley Park Trails, Mount Rainier. At the edge of the lake, a hiking sign also helps mark the end of the trail. The fish platform near Williwaw Campground is a good place to see spawning red and chum salmon in late summer. By the end of 1941, workers had tunneled more than 170 feet (52m) into Maynard Mountain. [28] Spawning salmon species of sockeye, chum, and coho can be seen in Portage Creek. A group of three of them chained themselves together in the middle of the road in an attempt to block traffic, while another group of about twenty hung banners and waved signs. 7-10 days is the most common. This hike must be done in the deep of winter! Pre-cast panels were laid where the tracks had been, before the old rail was put back and secured to the panels. If there's one thing that Alaska has a ton of, it's glaciers! This hike must be done in the deep of winter! [31] The tunnel is operated on a strict time schedule, with vehicles being allowed in for 15 minutes from each direction before alternating to the other. The highway continues to the six-lane Bear Valley Staging area, and the toll booth for the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. I did, however, have enough time to relax for a few minutes, and dip my feet into Portage Lakes icy-cold glacier water. Enjoy the ice crashing into Portage Lake as you experience the wonderful natural phenomenon of glacial ice carving. Its fun to have an impromptu snowball fight in snowfields left over from winter avalanches, or take one of the multiple side trails that will lead you to the edge of the valley where bouldering opportunities abound. Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. How long does it take to hike Portage Pass Trail? In what seems like no time at all, you'll be at Portage Pass, with views of the Passage Canal in one direction, and the incredible vista of Portage Glacier, Byron Peak, and Carp You'll see tons of animals including bald eagles, bears, moose, muskox, lynx, reindeer, and wolves! At the back of the parking lot starts the Byron Glacier Trail, an easy 0.75-mile walk along the runoff stream to below this hanging glacier. Day Cruise During summer, most people approach Portage aboard the 80-foot MV Ptarmigan with Portage Glacier Cruises. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. The U.S. Armed Forces began planning for new roads and railroads, and on October 15, 1940, General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. announced those plans. The Forest Services Begich, Boggs Visitor Center (907/783-2326 or 907/783-3242, daily 9am-6pm late May-mid-Sept., $5 adults, free for kids under 16) is named after Nicholas Begich (U.S. representative from Alaska and father of former U.S. The first few minutes of the hike up to Portage Pass will be the least fun you have all day, but dont worry, it quickly gets better. They then drilled sideways, clearing space for the nine vehicle turnaround areas. Portage Glacier is located adjacent to Turnagain Arm, 50 miles southeast of downtown Anchorage. [61], Despite the conditions, the crews were forced to do much of the work during the winter, since the project had to adjust to the train schedule. The entire trail is 4.2 miles long, out and back. [20], After exiting the tunnel, the highway enters the nine-lane Whittier staging area, where it passes several of the tunnel's automated control systems. The tunnel passes through that mountain. Shortly you will pass the Divide Lake along the trail where you willcontinue straight. The trail beginswith 750 feet in elevation gain over fairly strenuous terrain and levels out at the top of the pass. At the far end of the lake you then pass over a low rise and begin the 0.75-mile descent to Portage Lake. The hundred mile paddle across PWS is a right of passage for Alaska kayakers. There you will be blown away by the stunning Portage Glacier view and beautiful ice formations that exist on the lake. Since 1999 the Glacier has slowed down and become more stable, with no real visible signs of it continuing to retreat. This sparked the need for the completion of the tunnel earlier than expected. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, The 9 Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse! [2] The highway continues in a southeasterly direction along the Portage Valley, with Portage Creek to the north and pine forests to the south. The bridge, which is just 83 feet (25m) long,[11] spans over Placer Creek, the smaller of the two creeks feeding Portage Lake. But thats good, because before long, you can see over the brush and you start to enjoy the view. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights. Keep in mind that traffic passes through the Anton Anderson Tunnel at :30 past the hour (inbound into Whittier) and on the hour (outbound to Anchorage), so plan your arrival and departure times accordingly. Distance: 1.6 miles roundtrip to glacier. [21] Running parallel to the Alaska Railroad line, the route - now named West Camp Road - continues between the Passage Canal and several mountains for approximately 0.5 miles (0.80km). Turn east on the Portage Glacier Road and drive about five miles to the shore of Portage Lake. If youre cruising into or out of Anchorage, this is your stop. The black, tiny, thread-like ice worms can be found on the lower slopes of exposed ice, concentrated on the glaciers algae-strewn dirty surface. [42] However, work on the tunnel was hindered by several different events. [49], In 1993, the AkDOT&PF finally initiated the study for the alternative transportation system to Whittier. [43] Also around that time, a road in Whittier in the location of the present highway existed as a graded, dirt road. This trail can be broken down into 3 segments and the first section is .75 miles along many sections of boardwalk. Passing by the Cliffside Marina and the Alaska Railroad Whittier Depot, the route crosses over Whittier Creek before immediately making a left onto Whittier Street, crossing the railroad and bending southeastward and traveling past a large parking lot, the headquarters. [27] Whittier annually holds the Walk to Whittier, which is an event where pedestrians walk through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel to Whittier, the only time pedestrians may use the tunnel. 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. . This road passes along the coast of Portage Lake,[12] and borders a large, man-made cliff to the north (hence the name "Rock Cut"). The study presented five solutions increasing the existing flatcar service, installing a high-speed electric rail service, constructing a series of highways over the mountain range, building a highway and tunnels through the mountain range, and constructing a highway to the existing railroad tunnel and expanding the tunnel to withstand motor vehicles. [38], In early 1941, large groups of people from the Kenai Peninsula traveled to Washington, D.C. to protest the moving of the railroad. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 47 min to complete. When the trees were shorter, you could see the glacier well from the road, but now you have to hike a ways before the ice face comes into view. Use our calculator to find out, Stay casual, dress in layers, and get proper footwear, View All Southcentral & Interior Towns on a Map, Cruises depart Juneau or Sitka. [40], In March 1996, the state of Alaska announced its final plans for the construction of the Whittier Access Project. At a length of 13,300ft (4,100m), or 2.51 miles, it is the longest highway tunnel and longest combined rail and highway tunnel in North America. Is Portage Glacier worth visiting? [50] However, the project was met with much controversy, and by December 1996, the project still had not begun. Which one is right for you? FFH 35 turns off the Portage Glacier Highway onto Portage Lake Loop Road, passing west of the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center Complex. One of Alaskas most popular visitor attractions, the 140-acre Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC, 907/783-2025, daily 8am-8pm early May-mid-Sept., daily 10am-5pm mid-Sept.-Dec., Sat.-Sun. [22] In addition to taking AADT, the AkDOT&PF also takes monthly and yearly counts for the highway. The Alaska Railroads Portage train station is directly across the road, and they offer a special Rail and Wildlife Day Trip ($175 pp) that includes a visit to AWCC and a train ride to the scenic Grandview region. The visitors center boasts an array of displays, including an ice cave, a small iceberg hauled in from the lake, an engrossing relief map of local icefields, and everything you ever wanted to know about glaciers, including displays on glacial motion and crevasses. on official, secure websites. Once you are through, follow the signs and takethe first rightpast the bathrooms, cross over the railroad tracks on the gravel road, and the trailhead is on the right. One of the best reasons to pay for a trip through the tunnel to Whittier is to hike the Portage Pass Trail. [64] The official opening ceremony was held on June 7 and was marked by protests from environmentalists. Find other amazing hikes around Anchorage: To get to the start of the Portage Pass Trail, from Anchorage, take Seward Highway heading east and turn to Portage Highway on your left (around 17.7 km after Girdwood). The switching of the railroad from Seward to Portage Bay will also come within the near future, and for the same reason. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. The port boomed in the mid-1940s, with the population reaching over 1,000. If you want to experience ice worms, return to the valley at solar dusk, which can be as late 9 pm to 11 pm in near the solstice in June. The route follows the Portage Glacier Highway for approximately 5 miles (8.0km), passing several park campgrounds and scenic turnouts. Hikers, bikers, skiers, skijourers, and snowshoers will form a 3 mile trail out to Portage Glacier. General Simon Buckner, the U.S. Armed Forces plan for Alaska, October 15, 1940. Car, train, or group tour. A short, 0.25 miles (0.40km) long boardwalk trail and the 4.6 miles (7.4km) long Trail of Blue Ice are accessible through the Moose Flats Day-Use area. The entrance portals are designed to withstand the force of an avalanche. The fee for a regular vehicle is $13, as is the price for motorcycles. [53] Carl S. Armbrister, the Director of the Office of Planning and Program Development for the Federal Highway Administration's 10th Region and head of the project was sued by several environmental agencies and tourism groups, headed by the Alaska Center for the Environment (ACE). The fees are collected from vehicles traveling eastbound. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. Here, tundra-carpeted mounds beside the trail offer plenty of places to take a break. Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? Drive out on the highway to Girdwood, and turn left at the sign that says "Portage Glacier". Carry on until you pass the Whittier Tunnel and take the first turn on your right. [17] Larger or heavier vehicles have to be carried as rail transport. Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. and Terms of Use, Use code TRAVEL23 for 20% site wide + free shipping $45+. The main portion of the highway traveling from the western terminus to the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center at Portage Lake is designated as National Forest Highway 35 by the United States Forest Service (USFS). The material removed from the tunnel was used as grading material for other parts of the railway. [42][61] An avalanche also at one point halted construction for four days. Open 7 days a week, 10 am to 6 pm with last entry at 5 pm. Near milepost 4 is the Williwaw fish viewing observation deck, which allows travelers to view spawning salmon in July through September. The hike to Portage Pass and Portage Lake is probably one of the most beautiful hikes in Alaska. This portion of the route terminates at the Placer Creek Bridge. Design Designed by Kramer, Chin and Mayo and constructed by Alaska General of Anchorage.
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how long is the hike to portage glacier
