Drive the Seward Highway into Turnagain Arm for close winter wildlife viewing and glacial scenery. This half-day tour combines a visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center with scenic pullouts at Beluga Point and Portage Valley.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
The gray van idles in front of a low-slung downtown lobby, a small bear decal on its door like a promise: today you’ll trade Anchorage’s city grid for the raw edges of the Kenai foothills. The road unfurls south along the Seward Highway, and within minutes the city frays into a coastline of tidal flats and wind-swept spruce. Turnagain Arm, a narrow inlet with a temper often as changeable as the weather, pins the route between water and mountain — the tide pushes and pulls with a force you can feel from the roadside, and the arm dares you to look closer.
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
4–4.5 hours
Fitness Level
Moderate fitness for short walks and standing during wildlife viewing; be prepared for cold and wind.
Wildlife
History
Turnagain Arm and Portage Valley were sculpted by successive ice ages; Portage Valley once hosted a single sprawling glacier and remnants still feed the region’s waterways.
Conservation
The AWCC rehabilitates injured and orphaned animals and uses interpretation to reduce human-wildlife conflict; visitors are asked to respect distances and follow center rules.
Reserve your spot on the Winter - Wildlife & Turnagain Arm Tour today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Layer for wind and cold
Temperatures and wind off Turnagain Arm can be much colder than in Anchorage—bring a waterproof outer layer and insulated mid-layer.
Bring binoculars and a mid-telephoto lens
Wildlife at the AWCC and along the arm is best observed from distances; optics improve sightings without disturbing animals.
Watch for icy conditions
Winter trails and parking areas can be icy—wear traction devices if you plan to walk around viewing platforms.
Plan for short daylight
Winter daylight is limited in Southcentral Alaska; an earlier tour departure gives you better light for photography and wildlife activity.
Insulated waterproof jacket
Keeps you warm and dry against wind off Turnagain Arm.
winter
Warm gloves and hat
Protects extremities during prolonged stops at viewpoints and AWCC platforms.
winter
Binoculars
Helps spot wildlife in enclosures and along the coastline from highway pullouts.
Camera with extra battery
Cold drains batteries quickly; bring spares for landscape and wildlife shots.
winter