Portage Glacier is called "Alaska's most popular attraction," and it is definitely worth seeing. There are more spectacular sights in Alaska, but none more convenient for the visitor to Anchorage. Gray Line of Alaska offers tours leaving from downtown Anchorage, or you can visit the glacier on your own by driving 50 miles south on the Seward Highway.
Your first stop at Portage Glacier should be the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center where you will see several informative exhibits. An excellent film, "Voices from the Ice," is shown at the Visitor Center on the hour and is highly recommended. After viewing the film you may want to take a walk around the lake which has been formed by the glacier and look for icebrergs.
The glacier itself is retreating and can no longer be seen from the Visitor Center. However, the face of the glacier still reaches down more than 100 feet into the lake. Hiking trails take you to Portage Glacier and also to other nearby glaciers including Byron, where you can actually climb on the ice. Boat tours are also available and are very popular.
Directions:The turnoff for Portage Valley Road and Beich, Boggs Visitor is 50 miles south of Anchorage and 77 miles north of Seward on the New Seward Highway, #1.
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