Portage Glacier, Glacier attraction in Chugach National Forest, Alaska
Portage Glacier extends into a 600-foot-deep lake surrounded by mountains, with its face located three miles from the lakeside parking area.
The glacier served as a passage for Alaska Natives and Gold Rush pioneers traveling between Prince William Sound and Turnagain Arm in the 1800s.
The Begich Boggs Visitor Center presents exhibitions about local wildlife, ecosystems, and the effects of the 1964 earthquake on the region.
Visitors can access the glacier through hour-long boat tours departing from May to September, or by hiking the Portage Pass Trail.
The glacier deposits ice chunks into Portage Lake, creating a natural spectacle of floating icebergs visible from various observation points.
Location: Alaska
Shares border with: Whittier
GPS coordinates: 60.75306,-148.78556
Latest update: May 11, 2025 12:59
Alaska presents natural sites in remote areas distant from urban centers. These locations display the geological diversity of the state: glaciers, volcanoes, dunes, hot springs and waterfalls. Visitors discover historical mining sites, indigenous cultural locations and museums. The region enables encounters with brown bears, whales and other wildlife in their natural habitat.
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Cataract Glacier
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