Turnagain Arm & Portage Valley: Full-Day Wildlife and Glacier Tour from Anchorage

Anchorage•easy

Difficulty

easy

Duration

6 hours

Fitness Level

Suitable for most fitness levels; involves short, easy walks at viewpoints and on boardwalks

Overview

Drive the dramatic spine of Turnagain Arm, walk among rescued Alaskan megafauna at AWCC, and watch hanging glaciers spill down Portage Valley. This full-day tour pairs roadside viewpoints with close-up wildlife and an easy lunch in Girdwood.

Turnagain Arm & Portage Valley: Full-Day Wildlife and Glacier Tour from Anchorage

Bus Tour

Other

Wildlife

Select participants and date

Date

Thu, Oct 30

Travelers

You step off the shuttle at Beluga Point and the arm of the sea looks like a living thing: glass-gray water hunched against a spine of mountains, tides pulling at the shoreline with a visible urgency.

Adventure Photos

Turnagain Arm & Portage Valley: Full-Day Wildlife and Glacier Tour from Anchorage photo 1

Adventure Tips

Layer up for coastal weather

Temperatures can swing quickly between sun, wind, and rain—pack a breathable rain shell and insulating mid-layer.

Bring binoculars or a zoom lens

Wildlife and glaciers are often best viewed from roadside pullouts; optics will turn distant dots into subjects.

Motion-sickness prep

Sections of the Seward Highway are winding; if you are prone to motion sickness, take medication beforehand.

Respect wildlife viewing rules

At AWCC stay on designated paths and follow guide directions—animals can be unpredictable and need space.

Local Insights

Wildlife

Beluga whales
Dall sheep

History

The Turnagain Arm corridor was used for centuries by the Dena'ina people; later the Seward Highway and Alaska Railroad opened it to modern travel and industry.

Conservation

The AWCC focuses on rescue and rehabilitation while Portage Valley faces visible glacier retreat—visitors are encouraged to follow Leave No Trace and support local conservation efforts.