Portage Glacier Road
MP 0
| Portage Road-
Intersection with Seward Highway MP 78.9
| Access: Turn east onto Portage Road; the Portage Glacier Begich-Boggs Visitor Center is 5 miles, and the community of Whittier is approximately 11.3 miles from the intersection. Be aware that if you plan to visit Whittier, you will need to drive through the old train tunnel on a schedule, and there is a fee. See the link to the right.
Turn off: Lat N 60⁰ 49.139’ Long W 148⁰ 58.529’ Elevation 9’ | Links:
Portage Intersection Road Conditions Webcam
Portage Tunnel Road Weather Conditions
Whittier Road Weather Conditions
See full list of links at the end of this road log. |
MP 1.2
| Trail of Blue Ice
(Visitor Center end @ MP 5) | Access: Turn left into Moose Flats Day Use Area. This trail intersects and crosses Portage Valley Highway in several places and ends at Begich-Boggs Visitor Center, so I have not listed all the access points. Visit the link or download the attached map for all the access points.
Distance: 5 miles each way Elevation Gain: Minimal except for 30’ at the Portage Lake end Difficulty: Easy Best Months: Year-round
I’m giving this a “4” because of the great accessibility. It is a paved trail with many interesting features. The only down side is the proximity to the road, so you hear traffic the entire time. Valerie’s Rating: ❹ | Links:
Downloads:
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MP 3.7
| Black Bear Campground
| Access: South side of the Portage Glacier Road. 13 sites, older campground. It’s nice, but there’s not a lot of site privacy. Accesses Trail of Blue Ice.
Lat N 60⁰ 47.340’ Long W 148⁰ 53.352’ Elevation 49’
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MP 4.4
| Williwaw Campground
| Access: South side of Portage Glacier Road. 60 sites, very nice campground. Accesses Trail of Blue Ice.
Lat N 60⁰ 47.224’ Long W 148⁰ 52.340’ Elevation 25’ | Links:
Downloads: |
MP 4.5
| Williwaw Nature Trail
| Access: Turn north onto a short road that ends in a parking lot. You may also start from at the Williwaw Fish Viewing Platform before the Williwaw Campground.
Distance: 1.25 miles one way, connects with Trail of Blue Ice either through the Williwaw Campground or past the Williwaw Nature Trail parking lot. (See map.) Elevation Gain: None Difficulty: Easy Best Months: Year-Round
The ponds are interesting, but you never get far from the road. Valerie’s Rating: ❸ | Links:
Downloads: |
MP 5
| Begich-Boggs Visitor Center
| Access: Take the road to the right to access the Visitor Center. Open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day Weekend. Part of the parking lot is usually plowed in winter for lake access.
You can no longer see the receding Portage Glacier from the Visitor Center. There is a private boat operation that views the glacier in summer, which has Forest Service Interpreters on board. In winter, when the lake is frozen, skiing, snowshoeing, fat-tire biking, and walking are popular ways to access the area beyond the Visitor Center. It’s not safe to approach the glacier due to calving breaking up the ice. Portage Glacier can also be viewed from the Portage Pass Trail (see MP 11 below).
Turn off: Visitor Center: Lat N 60⁰ 47.181’ Lat N 60⁰ 47.004’ Long W 148⁰ 51.214’ Long W 149⁰ 50.474’ Elevation 40’ Elevation 77’ | Links:
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MP 5
| Moraine Nature Trail/Gary Williams Memorial Trail
| Access: Begich-Boggs Visitor Center (see above).
Distance: ¼ mile loop trail Elevation Gain: Minimal Difficulty: Easy Best Months: Year-round
If you are at the visitor center, this short trail interprets the rapidly receding glaciers. The trailhead is located next to the outhouses off the west side of the Visitor Center parking lot. Valerie’s Rating: ❷ | Links:
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MP 5
| Byron Glacier Trail
| Access: Turn right at the turn off to Begich-Boggs Visitor Center and curve right onto Byron Glacier Road; drive 1.1 miles. (The road accessing the trailhead is only open Spring through Fall.) The trailhead is on the right. There is an overflow parking area another .3 miles past the main trailhead.
Distance: .9 mile each way Elevation Gain: 246’ Difficulty: Easy Best Months: Spring (after avalanche danger has passed) - Fall
This trail is well-worth the short and easy hike, though expect the trail to be crowded. Valerie’s Rating: ❺ | Links:
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MP 6.5
| | Whittier Tunnel – Toll required. In summer, the tunnel going toward Whittier opens on the half-hour, for 15 minutes. From Whittier back to Portage, it opens on the hour. Arrive at least 10 minutes early. See the website for the current schedule. Oversize vehicles are only allowed through twice per day (see schedule). Trains may disrupt the schedule, so a delay of 15-30 minutes can be expected. | Links: Portage Intersection Road Conditions Webcam
Portage Tunnel Road Weather Conditions
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MP 11
(Approx)
| Portage Pass Trail
| Access: Go through the Whittier Tunnel. Follow the signs and take the first right past the bathrooms, across the railroad tracks. Parking is very limited.
Distance: 2 miles each way Elevation Gain: 750’ Difficulty: Difficult Best Months: Year-round
I have not done this trail myself, but I hear it is spectacular. It ends at Portage Lake, with a view of the glacier.
Valerie’s Rating: ❺ | Links:
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MP 11.3
| Whittier
| Access to USFS cabins by boat or air.
There is a private campground (see link).
Most of the reason for going to Whittier is to get on a boat or ferry.
Showers are located at the Small Boat Harbor (see link). | Links:
Portage Tunnel Road Weather Conditions
Whittier Road Weather Conditions
Cabin Rentals Prince William Sound
Parking and Camping in Whittier
Downloads: |
