Portage Glacier Reviews

Very informative - all about the moraines and formation of glaciers - they even brought chunks of glacier ice on board for us to taste! No ice worms, though ... we learned all about them!

This was a nice stop between Whittier and Anchorage. It was a beautiful day and the park rangers were most informative.

We stopped by here on both a cloudy and sunny day. Saw iceberg floating in the lake and were able to take great pictures

We took the Portage Glacier cruise which is just ~1 hr away from Anchorage. The boat was very stable and they talked a lot about the geology, how the glacier has carved the valley etc. They were also very patient when we got the glacier and allowed us to take pictures. They also made it fun for the kids by actually fishing some ice from the lake. Highly recommended.

Went with my family of six. You can either be on top exposed to the elements on on the bottom which is enclosed and heated. Bathrooms are also on the boat. Great views of the glacier and the ranger gave good information throughout the boat trip.

We hiked to Portage Glacier fairly early in the morning to beat the crowd and heat. Also parking can be difficult if you go later.

The first mile up to Portage Pass was a bit steep and slippery with gravel. Better to go with hiking shoes and trekking poles. The view of the Glacier and the surrounding area was breathtaking. There are a few benches for hikers to rest. From here it was all down hill to Portage Lake.
It's a pretty long and winding hike down and the view of the Glacier from the lake is not really worth the long trek.
So if you are short on time just turn back at the top of Portage Pass. That's the best view in my opinion.

But hiking down to the lake is its own reward if you are up for it.

I highly recommend walking/snowshoeing/cross country skiing/fat biking to the glacier once the lake is frozen. It is about a 5 mile round trip from the parking lot. The glacier is beautiful and completely worth the trek. Be careful getting close to the glacier, because the ice near the glacier is more unstable from falling ice from the glacier.

Beautiful glacier on a quick boat ride. I would recommend to anyone. We even got to hear and see some calving.

In summer the Glacier cna only be viewed by boat but in winter, when the lake is frozen, it is a very cool easy walk to the base of the glacier that is different every winter. Highly recommend!

We visited in February. So Portage Lake was frozen over. The hike across the lake was about 2.5 miles, but worth the unique experience. The glacier itself is turquoise blue and beautiful, but I thought the experience of such a massive frozen lake was the high point of the activity. In February, the sun shines directly over the glacier at around 3PM. The whole area gleams with such brightness and the sky is so blue on a clear day, you will want to take several photos. However, beware...by Feb, some of the the lake had begun to melt and the hike back became more of a trip through a landmine of fragile ice and snow. No one seemed too concerned, but it's still incredibly cold to have to face a 2 mile hike back with wet feet.

The highlight of the Turnagain tour is the Portage Glacier tour. The medium sized boat (with an enclosed lower deck and open upper) crosses the calm lake to get about 100 yards from the glacier. The surrounding mountains are breathtaking with cascading melt water. The glacier is less attractive upclose with its dirty ice (rock material), but impressive in its size and age. The narration provided by the ranger is interesting. The whole trip is a smooth operation. A very enjoyable way to see a glacier,

I enjoyed my cruise wherein I viewed the immense but receding Portage Glacier. I saw an Arctic hare and waterfalls, too. The boat has two stories, the bottom which was indoors, and the top which was outdoors. It is VERY cold and windy, so please wear layers. The free visitor's center is also nearby. There are bathrooms on the cruise, and most of the staff was polite. You must arrive early to pick up your tickets, and then you must drive to the lake, itself. It is somewhat difficult to find. I felt that $39.00 was somewhat expensive, but the scenery was unimaginable.

Amazing winter hike across a frozen lake to get to actual glacier. Very unique Alaskan experience. Bundle up and dress accordingly in layers. Don’t forget sunglasses or goggles to cut down on snow glare. The day we hiked any exposed skin would have been a mistake. Park at Begich visitors center and hike in across frozen lake. Obviously a seasonal endeavor. Otherwise take tour boat during summer months.

We took the one hour boat ride around Portage Lake to see the glacier and had a great time. The Ptarmigan’s crew was friendly and the ranger gave an excellent and informative presentation. The scenery was stunning. We ate lunch at the day lodge, and it was quite good. If you like hiking at all, I highly recommend doing the short hike to the Byron glacier as well. It’s under a mile of gently rolling, nicely graveled trail that follows the creek coming from the glacial melt. Suitable for most ages, including kids. Beautiful views along the way and at the end.

Great glacier viewing opportunity from the shore and the water without having to drive too far from downtown Anchorage.

The toughest part of the trail is the beginning with a pretty steep elevation. The trail is well maintained but due to the small gravel type rocks traction is iffy. The payoff of the glacier and portage lake is so worth it though. Pack a lunch and find a nice secluded spot around the side of the lake to enjoy.

We went on day trip from Anchorage to Portage Glacier .Could not wish for a better tour guide .Scott was fab .He provide us with lots of information , mixed with great sense of humor .Also for anyone likes photography Scott showed some of his amazing shots .
I strongly recommed this trip .Glacier takes your breath away .Also we had opportunity to stop in Wildlife conservation centre, watch salmon spawning .
Thank you Planet Earth Adventure especially Scott for making this trip just perfect.!

This was a great little half-day excursion. We took a bus from Anchorage to the lake, then an hour on a boat checking out the glacier. This was followed by about 30-40 minutes at the Wildlife Conservation Center. Not much walking required and the scenery is quite beautiful. I would highly recommend this.

Glacier can't be seen well without doing the boat tour, however if you do the tour its a pretty impressive glacier and great for taking photos.

We drove down to Portage Lake, not knowing what to expect. What an incredibly beautiful place! We watched the boat tour launch and took pictures before heading to the visitors center and hiking trails. I would definitely return for the boat tour and glacier experience.

Come February or March, the lake is usually frozen over and you can walk right up to the glacier. It's pretty awesome. People bike up to it, ski or just walk up to it. This is one of my favorite winter spots.

We took the boat to within a few hundred yards of the glacier. Took about 20 minutes to get there, staying for 20 minutes, and 20 minutes back. One hour in total. A forest service ranger narrated during the ride. Make sure to bring warm clothing even if weather is mild. It’s always colder near the glacier.

We stopped in here today to take a tour of portage glacier.
We were here 25 years ago and it is amazing how far back the glacier has receded it’s amazing to see it.
The people on the boat were very friendly and answered any questions we might have

when I first moved to Anchorage (1/73) the Glacier came WAY out into the lake and in the Summer there were always icebergs floating in the lake
the Glacier has now receeded and there haven't been any icebergs in the lake for many years
there are camping areas as well as a tourist cruise on the lake

We visited as part of a group tour. It rained all the time we were on board so wear waterproof jackets, beanies and gloves as it’s cold. Even though it’s overcast there is a perfect view of the glacier because the boat gets so close. Cloudy weather actually enhances the blue colour of the ice so don’t be put off by the weather.

This cruise to Portage Glacier was excellent! We learned so much and really enjoyed the narrative. We were early in the season so only a few passengers. The lake and the glacier are beautiful and the ice was fantastic. The cruise takes one hour with lots of time for photos.. Be sure to bring the whole family!

If you want to see the glacier with a limited time and a short budget, this is your best option. They have several cruise trips during the day. You get to see the glacier up close.

Our crew of 5 took the first cruise of the day - it was wonderful - up close views of the glacier and even glacier ice to taste. Dress warm, in layers, as it is cold near the glacier

We drove an hour from Anchorage to portage pass trailhead. There is a one way tunnel there with passing every 30 mins. They can provide you the schedule where you get the pass ($13). We hiked in the rain with our ponchos. Total 5 miles roundtrip took roughly 3.5 hours. It was totally worth. The view of the portage glacier was stunning even with the dark clouds! Must do!

The glacier does not come down to the ocean as this picture depicts. It's barely visible from the highway.

Better hurry and get to Alaska if you want to see glaciers. They are melting like crazy. We were there 10 years ago and basically nothing compared to what we saw then.

Beautiful lake and glacier! We really enjoyed the boat tour. Crew was friendly and helpful. Appreciated the ranger and his narration.

We have stopped here several times over the years and have always enjoyed this stop. there is lots to learn about the glacier and the sights are beautiful.

Do not miss this outing! It is quite educational as well fascinating. Be sure to get to the ticket shop early if you plan to get same day tickets. You can make reservations 2 days in advance otherwise at the door. You will enjoy!

This is a must do. We took the boat ride to the glacier and pulled right up to it. It is an amazing sight with the different hues of white and blue. There are also many water falls along the way.. Don't miss this!

I got the opportunity to view the glacier from the Portage Galcier cruise. I loved it. If you take the cruise you'll see some nice waterfalls, too. Definitely worth seeing while you're in Anchorage.

We were there in March, the path is not marked/covered with snow so we couldn't find the trail, but the small hike we could do was beautiful, with great views. It is not used offten during winter so snow is very soft so you will need snowshoes.

This is one of your easiest drive-able glaciers to view. Good information about glaciers when the visitor center is open. When we were here over 20 years ago you could almost right to the ice in the lake. Now the glaciers are thousands of yards receded up the mountain. Still great views to be had.

This was part of the Turnagain tour we took that included a boat tour of the glacier. It was so awesome to get up close to the glacier. Our tour guide was very informative and helpful.

Rainy day, we went to the visitor center. Five bucks for the entrance, but well worth it. The Blue color of the Glaicer was amazing.

We stayed 3 nights at the Hotel Alyeskanin Girdwood, and took the Portage Glacier cruise on afternoon. The day lodge for the cruise is only about a half hour drive from the town of Girdwood. There are many options during the day for times for the tour. It last about one hour, and Portage Lake is not huge, so you spend a lot of time at the glacier once you get there.

The boat, the MV Ptarmigan, is very comfortable, with both inside lower deck seating, with large windows, and seating on top outside. We started out on top, and spent a lot of time walking around the upper deck with our binoculars, and wat hung the glacier, which calved once. When we got cold, we went down to the inside seating for the trip back to the dock.

The National Park Service ranger onboard was very knowledgeable and his commentary was very interesting, as well as humorous. He was very friendly and talked to everyone who approached him during the tour, and answered questions. We learned that he and his wife had originally come to Alaska for him to teach for one year, and have now been there several decades.

We had an Alaska Tour Saver coupon for the cruise, so saved 50%.

The gift shop at the day lodge is well stocked with a variety of items, including some handcrafted things. There is also a cafeteria there, although we did not buy anything.

On the way back after the cruise, we stopped by the side of the road to park and watch the salmon spawning in a small stream. It is marked with a sign so easy to find. There were dozens of salmon in the stream, and informative placards showing the life cycles of various types of salmon.

The boat trip on Portage Lake takes you within a 100 yards or so of the Portage Glacier. The trip takes about an hour and circles the lake. The boat stops at the glacier for pictures and to gaze at the beauty of the glacier as it enters at the lake.

This hour tour on the Portage Lake out to see the glacier was amazing! LOTS of detailed information in regards to glaciers, and the surrounding scenery. I would recommend to everyone!

Even though not completely in the water, Portage Glacier is still a gem to behold by either going to Whittier and hiking over Portage Pass and down to Portage Lake for amazing views and photo opportunities, or by taking the boat tour to the glacier. Often visitors arrive at the Begich Boggs Visitor Center, look out across the lake and assume that is Portage Glacier—not!! Portage Glacier is around the bend to the right and can’t be viewed from the Visitor Center. Take time to ride the boat, learn the history of the glacier and the area and view Portage Glacier up close. Who knows, the glacier may even surprise you and calve while you’re there!!

We enjoyed our tour. It was relaxed. Not hurried. All the guides and boat crew were nice, informative and helpful. Just what we needed to fill a 1/2 day time slot. Thank you!

It's hard to describe, or even have pictures that do it justice. The sheer magnitude of the glacier is hard to comprehend, even as you are looking at it.

We took the ferry which takes you right to the face of the glacier. It's amazing how many different shades of blue there are in the ice.

Awesome tour. We took the Goldstar train from Anchorage to Seward to get here. A very awesome experience for my whole trip in Alaska. I get to see whales, seals, puffins, sea otters etc. Spectacular view of glacier. Be warned it gets very cold out there. Bring a jacket to warm you up. Worth the money. Two thumbs up 👍🏼👍🏼

An hou long ride to the Glacier around Portage Lake. The Park Ranger narrating the tour had lots of great information, and you get pretty close to the glacier in this shallow draft boat.

Magnificent glacier in a beautiful environment.
To see it well we went to the departure of the boats and also just before the tunnel.

This day trip is excellent especially if you only have a short amount of time in the Anchorage area. Narrative very informative given by Park Rangers all of whom were friendly and happy to have you aboard. Portage Glacier is a site to see. Would recommend.

This visitor center is only a few miles off the main road on the way to the Kenai Peninsula, but well worth the short trip. And, remember, if you are a senior and have a National Parks card, you don’t have to pay for the movie. And the movie is really worth seeing. Plus there is a great view of the glacier.

Girdwood is primarily a winter resort but there is still plenty to do in the summer. You can ride the gondola to the top of the ski area. You have options too, you can hike back down or ride back down. If you are really ambitious you can hike up and then ride down. They also opened a chair lift this year to ride on. I also rode bicycle on the Bird to Gird trail. There are several bicycle rentals around. I went to Portage Lake and rode the MV Ptarmigan to the Portage Glacier and back. It is a very scenic boat trip and the glacier is awesome. It costs $45 per person for a one hour trip.

The Portage Glacier tour was very good. The boat was large and roomy. You could go up top where there's no cover or stay below where it's enclosed and heated. The crew was very nice and helpful. The view was fantastic. Worth the cost.

Situated about an hour away South from the main city of Anchorage, if you are looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, this is definitely a route to take. On the way here we stopped off at Potters Marsh which offers a mini trail to walk. Then stopped over at birds point. The great part of this trip is that they have multiple areas where you can pull over and take in the scenery. Not too mention there were a couple of waterfalls near the shoulder lanes which you could pull over and interact with.

Upon arriving to our destination, there is an observatory centrally located near the boardwalk where you can see the blue ice. The waters are pristine and gorgeous, also very cold. Ample parking for visitors and a lovely place to take great photos. May want to anticipate brining a coat with you. Other than that, very lovely trip filled with new memories.

One of the most amazing experiences of my life! Amazing tour on a cruise. Perfect duration, only one hour, and you are able to get really close to the glacier which unfortunately is melting really fast. The remaining glacier is gorgeous and I hope our climate situation changes and we are able to have the glacier remaining for long times.

We did a women’s weekend camping out near portage glacier. It’s a nice place to visit with limited cell service. At just 1.5 hours outside of Anchorage - it’s an easy commute with lots of good trails. We enjoyed our time immensely!

Portage glacier itself is almost out of site of the visitor’s bureau - so if you’re looking for glaciers - it’s still pretty but it’s less and less visible.

This was the first glacier that I've ever seen. It was quite pretty, and I'm glad I got a chance to view it.

Seeing the glacier was awe inspiring. Our bus driver explained how it is receding though, like a lot of other glaciers in Alaska

Visited the Portage Glacier during my trip. It is the closest to land in Anchorage. While a little smaller than I expected, still very beautiful and worth going to see. The trip there is gorgeous as well down Seward Highway (Alaska’s A1A).

If this is your only chance to see a glacier up close, take the boat trip. It's worth it. We consider this one of our favorite sights during a week's stay in Alaska. There's a naturalist on board to provide explanation regarding the lake and glacier, and the sight itself is magnificent.

Take a really good pair of binoculars to see the wildlife details and catch the experience of glacier calving.

If you want to take incredible pictures, drive down to portage lake loop. You will not regret this drive.
All the way the your destiny you will be amaze of the nature, if you are lucky you may see some wales or belugas.
At portage glacier, like the name call it you will see the glacier and the giant pieces of ice floating at the lake. After all that magnificence you can finish your day with a tasty dinner at Alyeska Resort.

This boat trip was part of a 1/2 day tour that included transport from Anchorage and stopped first at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. It was a cold day with sporadic rain but the main level is enclosed and heated (and has bathrooms) so very pleasant. Its on a lake so we didn't notice any boat rocking. The Capitan, Jan, even backed the boat up when a black bear was spotted so everyone could have a better view.

Take the boat out. On our 11 day Alaska tour this is the closest you can get to a calving glacier. Also, go to the visitor center, very informative. The Lake is 600 feet deep! Nothing lives in it.

This visit included a bus trip from Anchorage to the glacier along the Seward Highway. Stunning views! Then we boarded a tour boat in Portage Lake that took us to the glacier. The captain gave us plenty of time to absorb what we were seeing; the glacier is awe-inspiring. Highly recommend!

Great trail and a relatively short walk to see a beautiful area! The train ride to Girdwood just added to the experience!

I drove to the glacier from the city. it was an easy drive with plenty of sightseeing along the way. many photo opportunities. if you're in anchorage with a car, this is a must see. seeing the glacier and it's river/lake is a free trip, but a guided cruise will cost you.

We stopped here and took a hike out on the Glacier. The cost was $30 per person. if you have them bring crampons.

Visiting for 20 years - used to see glacier from shore - now have to take a cruise boat since it's retreated so far. Still amazing

Enjoyed our boat ride out to Portage Glacier...it’s great to have the chance to get up close to these disappearing pieces of history.

We couldn't see the glacier from the frozen shoreline, but ice skaters said they skated to it! The lake was frozen and many locals were on the ice, skating and playing ice hockey. The scenery was awesome!

Gorgeous views but wouldn’t pay for the entrance into the museum or whatever it was. Very small free visitor center though.

Did a 907 Tours Anchorage with Kris which included Portage Glacier. Kris took us to the boat for the tour. It is well done, the captain took us up to the glacier, commentary from crew and the Ranger onboard. It wasn't rushed at all, the captain slowly went past the glacier then turned a couple of times back across the glacier so everyone could get good photos and a good look. It was very enjoyable and you could go up top if you wanted to or stay below in the heated cabin.

we visited as part of a tour around the Portage area as part of a Holland America tour. We left by chartered bus (the driver was fantastic but don't know which company Holland uses) from Anchorage, drove along the Turnagain Arm, and to Portage Lake. Hopped on a 2 deck boat - (upper deck is open) that took us within a few hundred yards of the glacier. It was the first glacier we saw and it was grand, but not as grand as others we saw later in Glacier Bay. Despite not being "as grand," any glacier is worth seeing. The boat ride lasted maybe an hour and a half or so which was enough time to enjoy it. the boat's crew was very helpful, there was narration about the area, and the crew scooped up small pieces of ice that separated from the glacier so we could have a piece to suck on. This was a well worth while activity.

It's alaska... expect rain and cool weather!
BUT.... the boat tour was still amazing!
we stayed on the top deck (despite rain and WIND) and were blessed with spectacular views of the Portage AND Shakespeare glaciers!
Very informative tour, awesome views of lake and glaciers, plenty of time to take a load of pics--even the chance to EAT some glacier ice! :)
If you are short on time (and/or don't feel like hiking to the glacier itself) the boat tour is perfect!

Tried this on a whim when traveling to anchorage on business. It was great. Very informative and fun staff. Captain Tom had been piloting the boat for 22 years!

The Portage boat trip was lovely. We wanted a short trip for our scheduled activities that day, and this was just perfect. Everyone on the crew was very friendly and helpful.

I tend to get seasick but took a Dramamine prior to boarding and was absolutely fine. You definitely will see much more of the natural beauty of Alaska from the boat. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and they had a fun live band playing. You don't want to bring a lot of items with you because the tables and seating are small. You absolutely must go outside to see and hear the glaziers.

So beautiful! So glad our tour guide, John, from Salmon Berry tours made the time to stop for a photo op.

Though this trip takes you near only one glacier it is worth the time spent. Close to Girdwood so easy to reach.

A fun 1 hour boat ride close up to the Portage glacier and views of other glaciers in the surrounding mountains. Lots of small icebergs floating in the lake and great info from guides and forest service.

Absolutely breathtaking! Easy access for viewing. Beautiful lake in front of it and it was frozen over so you could walk out on it. Folks were there ice staking too!

There was a one hour duration cruise with the boat "Ptarmigan". They navigated the boat about 300 ft far from the glacier, and we spent there about 15 minutes.

tanner was great. very friendly, gave you alot of information about the different spots we were able to stop at.

Actually, it's a reflection that makes it look blue - beautiful none the less - we took the railroad to see the glacier.

We went on the 1 hour cruise around Portage lake. Great views of icebergs and mountains. The glacier kindly calved just as we got up to it. I highly recommend.

When we were here in the summer we could only see a couple of really small icebergs floationg in the lake but that of course depends on the season. A glacier is always beautiful to see so we still recommend this!

Took a tour boat on the Portage lake to see the glacier. Very informative cruise and very friendly employees. What a view!!! We got really close to the glacier and they were happy to take pictures of us. Overall I would definitely recommend this if you want to see a glacier up close.

This is a nice glacier that you can either see from one of the parking areas or take a boat ride that gets you up close and personal. It's a receding glacier that made the lake that you have to look across or go across in the boat to view. It's not quite as impressive and some of the ones on Prince William Sound or Glacier Bay but is worth a ride down from Anchorage.

It was a beautiful, amazing glacier to see. It was a great experience. Don't miss seeing these glaciers while you still can before they melt from climate change.

This is an easy glacier experience. We took the cruise which was a nice short informative boat trip. The area is very nice and easy to find

Family of 4 on our way to Seward, AK. It is about 1 hour from Anchorage. This is one hour well spent. The cruise was smooth, did not feel sea sick. The cruise was narrated by a park ranger. Very informative and you get so close to the glacier (300 yards). It gets cold so bring a warm coat. We bought the tickets at Portage Glacier Day Lodge. Make sure you download the $5 coupon. While waiting for the ticket office to open at 10 a.m. we went to the Visitor Center, did the walking loop and took pictures by the lake. The dock was 5 minutes away. We had fun with this cruise. Highly recommended.

We were fortunate enough to visit it on a cloudy day. I believe that was the perfect condition for capturing the glacier's bluish color. We booked this tour in Anchorage, which included the Alaska wildlife conservation center, Girdwood, and Alyeska resort. All of these places are worth visiting, but the glacier is truly a gem. The entire day's experience was unforgettable. As our boat approached the glacier, a massive chunk of ice calved into the water with a resounding splash. It served as a somber reminder of the glacier's ongoing recession. Unfortunately, due to climate change, the glacier is rapidly diminishing. Around a hundred years ago, the glacier occupied the entire valley. Just 30 years ago, it could be seen from the visitor center. Today, we must take a boat ride across the lake to reach it

As awesome as the views are, the first 0.75 miles is a steep incline, and I mean steep. Expect yourself to be winded and take several breaks before reaching the Elevation 800 sign. Anyone is who is not used to hiking will need breaks and good hiking shoes to make the trail manageable. Once at the first peak you can see the glacier on one side and the lake on the other. Great views on a clear day. You can hike around this first pit stop to different, smaller peaks to get a better view and look for goats & sheep on the mountain side.

This place is a must, be prepared to go on a nice hike to see glacier. My mom is elderly and wasn't able to make the walk.

Going out on a frozen lake and walking to a glacier would be so amazing. I saw a receding glacier at the other end of the lake and thought Portage Glacier looked pretty sad but I'm glad I kept walking because you have to walk/ski/bike a few miles and turn around the mountain to the right to see Portage glacier. I am not one who feels comfortable on ice but felt with bikes on the ice I should be okay. I did pause to take a picture and heard a sound and saw a crack form in the snow on top of the ice. I was nervous most of the time but it was great. Someone did send me a video of the glacier calving two weeks later and busting up the ice and making the ice ripple. Do not get too close and know that it calves all year long. This was my favorite day trip from this visit.

We stopped for a couple of hours on our way to Whittier. The lake is beautiful with floating ice and the glaciers were gorgeous but you need to take cruise for closer view. There is a visiting center that worth a visit.

We hiked out on the lake and the glacier was beautiful. We will be back in the summer to see how it is different.

Take the train tunnel (via car) to Whittier and park at the trail-head. The hike is only two miles...however, you will get a great workout. The payoff at the shoreline of the lake is absolutely worth the work. One mile up, you will find yourself at a higher point where you can see the lake and glacier off in the distance. Take photos, a quick rest and then continue the second mile to the lake. Put on mosquito spray before you leave the lookout point!! Traversing the mile to the shoreline will take approximately 45 minutes due to the terrain. But, keep going as the views (we had a sunny day) are worth it. The glacier sparkles in the sunshine, the lake was still like glass. Thankfully there were no cruise boats blocking our view (photos) of the glacier. There are bears on the mountains, so just be aware. We saw four but never felt threatened.

It is a bit over an hour 15 minutes to get to Portage glacier. I stopped just past the visitor center which may or not been open. You can get boat tickets to see glacier up close. I was short on time.
There is wildlife preserve on the way so stop and check out the wildlife. I happened to spot a wild moose in the field driving.

To see the Portage Glacier one must take a boat. Otherwise the only aspect of the glacier's ice that one sees is an iceberg.

During the summer, when the lake is not frozen, this tour boat takes you across the lake to where the Portage Glacier descends into the lake from off the mountain where you can view it relatively closely. Wildlife viewings are not uncommon, although there are no fish in the lake.

A little over an hour to get here from anchorage, but worth the trip. I like that it was a short tour... 1 hour. We got to see glaciers and icebergs! They stop by in front of them so you can get pictures. Be sure to look at the schedule ahead of time, but not entirely necessary to reserve ahead of time. I believe you can buy tickets on the boat. We stop buy at the first postage glacier sign to buy tickets, and we could have gone straight to the boat a few minutes further down the road. Would have made the tour we wanted had we gone directly haha.

We joined a tour which included a cruise to Portage Glacier .
On board , the boat,
Mary was very clear in her explanation of Glaciers.
We had pictures and many posters to help us understand the area . Extremely happy !

This is a beautiful glacier to visit! Even though it has receded a lot over the years, it is still spectacular to see. I highly recommend the Byron glacier Trail as well. It is just a few minutes away from the visitor center.

our plan was to hike the Portage Pass Trail to view Portage Glacier. We hiked upward approx. 1.25 miles to a viewpoint of the glacier. We were still a mile away, and had a glacier cruise scheduled a few hours later, so we didn't hike the x-tra mile to Portage Lake, or the glacier's edge. If you enjoy hiking and don't mind climbing 800+ feet in 3/4-miles, you should do this hike. The views become more breathtaking as you get closer to the upper viewpoint. The trail is identified, on the right, shortly after exiting tunnel on Whittier side.. however, there is a somewhat rough gravel road which must be driven to reach the under-developed parking area.

It’s a beautiful place , worth seeing while it’s there . Take several layers of clothing as it that gets cold as you get close to the Glacier

Well, I just have to thank God for my vision (everyday) what breathtaking beauty and oddly warm outside. Enjoyed the visitors center too. Friendly staff.

Kayak on the lake among the icebergs around to the beaches and the glacier itself. Sit and have lunch and climb around the rock leading up right to the glacier itself. Get extremely close to this amazing natural sight. A ferry is also available that will get you very close for a quicker trip.

Excellent view on a Sunny Day. One of the great glaciers of Alaska Nice surroundings.Must visit place for many photographers and nature lovers.

A short and quick way to see a glacier. Crew was very friendly and the cruise/tour was well organized.

Stopping at Portage Glacier was included with a tour with Planet Earth Adventures. We boarded the sightseeing boat that took us out to the glacier. First time seeing a glacier up close and icebergs in the water. Stunning! The crew was very friendly and informative. Very smooth ride so really no need to worry about seasickness. You could even go up on the top deck. What amazing sights! Beautiful scenery!

A wonderful quick trip out to a stunning tide water glacier. Perfect for those who are pinched for time in AK but want this experience. It was so beautiful and so blue . Wee even were able to see a iceberg !

We started at the visitor center and decided to do the Portage Glacier hike which we did from Whittier. This hike made quick work of elevation and we were huffing and puffing up to 800 feet. The views were simply amazing and all the work was well rewarded. This is a great hike and an excellent way to view the glacier.

We recently took the 1 hour tour of Portage Glacier. While this was a nice trip, if you are interested in glacier viewing I'd suggest taking the time to visit Whittier and a tour on Prince William Sound.

We were able to book this tour using our Alaska TourSaver which was Buy One Get One Free.

The scenery was nice and you see 1 glacier. We booked the 12 tour and it was not full which also was nice. I got the impression the tour groups on are the early tour at 10:30am. We also found the boat did not depart at 12, but rather waited for a group of 6 people so we didn't depart until 12:10pm. This caused us to be late for our 1:45pm appointment in Girdwood. I thought that was poor customer service to cause everyone on the boat to wait 10 minutes for 6 people.

We visited the glacier as a part of our day trip with Salmon Berry tours. The boat journey was lovely and we got incredible photos of the glacier.

Loved the Glacier as well as the tram in Girdwood located at Alyeska hotel. Make sure that you understand the dinner voucher included in your tram pass is for the deli only. The gal where we bought our tram tickets said it could be used at the main restaurant.

This is a good way to see a glacier if you aren't going further south to do a longer boat tour out of Seward. It is a short pretty ride with commentary by a park ranger. Make sure you know where to drive to -- we had trouble finding the launch.

must do when you visit Alaska... to see the glacier... to listen to its story and to marvel in the beauty.

great visitor center with interesting displays and a film about the area. park staff were on hand if you have any questions.

The glaciers are so beautiful, and it is sad to see them going away. Stop in and see them while you can!

The Begich Boggs information center is a great place to learn about the glacier and Portage Valley. Make sure you listen to all the recordings and take the time see the movie. You may get lucky and see an iceberg floating in the lake. Just not like it was whenI was a kid in the ‘60/70’s.

Still beautiful but harder to get to. We’ve sadly watched for the last decade as this magnificent glacier recedes away from the visitor center built to showcase it. Change is in the air.

We drove to the boat. It was a fun trip and we got close to the edge of the glacier. Scenery was great. Instruction was interesting which was provided by a park ranger. The drive from anchorage was very nice

Everyone of us must respect the nature and all of us have to make the best we can so the things on our Planet will start becaming as the were .

Portage is shrinking, so it isn't visible from the road any more. The cruise is worth every cent. It was brilliantly sunlit the day we were there, though we were told that's unusual. The ride is smooth and filled with great views on each side before you even get to the glacier. The captain lingered at the glacier face, hoping for it to calve. It didn't, but we heard a couple of interesting cracks. Will do this again.

Absolutely stunning. You can see with your naked eye 7 glaciers. You can drive down to where the welcome center is and there is a lake and a piece of one of the glaciers is in the lake. Great photo ops down there. The welcome center has some cool info on the glaciers, salmon types and other wild life in that area. You can get some good photos from here

Beautiful sunny day. Roads were in great shape, A lot of things to see. Information center was open.

Great little cruise to see Portage Glacier! A little off the beaten path, but worth it! We had only about 20 people on our tour, so lots of room and 360 views!

This boat ride to the glacier is the best - 20 min to the glacier, 20 min at the glacier and 20 min back. Done! We thought it was so much better than the 6 hour Major Marien Tour out of Seward.

Hubby and I have been in the spring and were able to ride the boat and see the glacier. Unfortunately, with the lake frozen this time of year it’s not an option. Still a pretty view for pictures, but not open for a boat ride. There were “brave” people walking on the lake, but I wouldn’t recommend and neither did a local nearby. At least not this time of year when the thaw is beginning. If you go in May as we did before, it’s great!

Visited by way of the Alaska Railroad. Phenomenal experience, recommended to many family and friends.

The one hour drive from Anchorage to Portage Glacier is stunningly beautiful and in itself is worth the trip. The glacier itself may be a disappointment because it has receded substantially over the past 50 years but the surrounding mountains are beautiful, especially in the springtime if there is still plenty of snow on the slopes. The interpretative center is excellent and is reasonably accessible to the disabled.

This was an absolutely stunning place to visit, and quite accessible. I am a person who does not enjoy what is commonly called “hiking,” and I found this to be an extremely pleasant walk to a beautiful, not- to-be-missed, sight. We also brought twin infants in a stroller, and that too was doable.

The scenery was the best of the trip! Glaciers, bergs, moose, mountains -- it had it all! Along with a short hike with the train personnel and park ranger.

We really enjoyed the visitor center here. It’s very well done and informative too. Lots to see!
It was foggy the day we visited but it didn’t matter. We still could see well and enjoyed the walk along side the lake. Great stop!

We cruised on the MV Ptarmigan to visit this glacier. The vessel was able to get us close to the glacier and the scenery was beautiful.

Beautiful sceneries all the way to Portage from Anchorage. Saw a large chunk of iceberg when we visited. Destination was so worth the visit...

You can stop by the visitor center, take or short hike, or a sightseeing boat ride. Easy to get to from Anchorage. Pics and more details at etbtravelphotography.com

It glacier like many in this world is disappearing. We are a amazed of how fast it has melted in the 30n years.

Even if the visitor center is closed in April, viewing the lake with a closeup ice berg bit is so worth it.

The mv Ptarmigan is the only boat on the lake but they do a great job of getting you up close to the Glacier. Great commentary on what you are seeing.

Even though it wasn’t open, we really enjoyed the sights. I do recommend anyone that goes to Alaska to visit and I’m sure you won’t regret it.

Had this not been the third glacier trip in the last 3 days I might have been exclaiming about it - but after Glacier Bay and Kenai Fjords it was good but the others were great. Nice people, comfortable boat.

Our group got onto a tour boat upon the lake to see a Glacier. We even had lunch served to us while we sat back on the double-decker vessel to cruise along the shore and across the lake to see a Glacier. It was relaxing, cool, and worth the fee to experience this excursion. The captain steered along the shoreline of the lake as the guide talked about the various names of the Glaciers along the slopes, and educated its passengers a lot about Alaska and its scenic beauty.

Let's be honest, there are glaciers everywhere you look in Alaska. If you have time to drive, you can see them from pullouts all along the road, or find find hiking trails to get up close and personal, or take an afternoon cruise. But if you only have a short time, or just want to get a close-up view from a boat, this is the way to go. There's only one boat on the lake and they're very good with explanations, taking time for you to get a good look, even taking pictures if you want. Great mini cruise.

Named by Thomas Mendenhall in 1898, Portage Glacier sits on the edge of Portage Lake and is technically part of the Chugach National Forest. Often considered a “crown jewel” by tourists because of its relatively close proximity to Anchorage, Portage Glacier is perhaps the most visited glacier in Alaska. Accessible by boat or a brisk hike, the glacier provides us with a number of things: 1) Beautiful views and a peek into geologic history; and, 2) Clear and irrefutable evidence of global warming.

I was able to view Portage Glacier via a cruise on the stylish MV Ptarmigan (hey, I like the name!). Knowing that we would get up to 300 yards away from this natural beauty was both exhilarating and exciting. After all, up until this point, I’d never had the pleasure of viewing a glacier . . . let alone up close. In this respect, the MV Ptarmigan did not disappoint. After cruising Portage Lake, we got up close and personal with the glacier. Seeing this alpine wonder at such a close distance was nothing short of breathtaking – the sunlight shone just enough for us to see the various shades of brilliant blue that make up the glacier. It was almost as if the Earth was alive and talking to us . . . just a completely surreal and unforgettable experience.

On the other hand, seeing Portage Glacier was also a sobering experience. During our tour aboard the MV Ptarmigan, the knowledgeable guides noted that the glacier has been in steady retreat for well over a 50-year period. Complementing their information is a helpful resource book readily available on the tour vessel that shows – through pictures – how Portage Glacier has changed over the years. Indeed, at just under 10 kilometers in length, the glacier sounds most impressive; however, when you realize that it was once recorded at 23 kilometers in length (filling the entire Portage Valley), you are hit with an undeniable truth. What can we do to save this, and other of Earth’s natural wonders?

If you’re visiting the Anchorage area, a stop at Portage Glacier is a definite “must do.” It’s beautiful, it’s educational and it highlights a contemporary conundrum. Be sure to visit this “crown jewel” before it disappears.

If you are in the area it’s worth the effort to see and learn if the history. Not a “must see” but a good spot.

Portage Glacier is awesome but you can’t see it from the visitors center or really even the road. You need to boat out or hike over the pass from Whittier. You can’t do those things in the winter, though, so you’re only option is to walk out on the lake ice which is really dangerous and shouldn’t be done by anyone but the most knowledgeable local experts. So anyway, the place is awesome in the summertime but really quite limited in the winter time (the visitors center is also closed in the winter).

We visited the portage glacier via the portage glacier cruise. It was an easy 1 hour drive from anchorage with beautiful views of the Cook Inlet along our drive. The cruise leaves several times per day and it takes about 20 minutes to arrive at the glacier. The naturalist shares lots of great information about the glacier, waterfalls and portage lake during the cruise. We stayed in the lower level until we arrived at the glacier then climbed the stairs to the top deck for amazing views of the glacier. We stayed for 20 minutes or so allowing many views including up closer to take in the beauty.

The glacier is just spectacular. America is really a great place to live we really do have it all, from beaches to glaciers WOW. This is a must see we added it on at the last moment to our Wildlife Conservation tour and we were happy we did.

Please don't get me wrong, is not it was not beautiful but probably is the time of the year or I had seen been ones in Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Iceland.

Nevertheless, I found the cruise on Ptarmigan, the only boat operating on Portage Lake, pretty relaxing and pleasing, and still managed to take a few good shots of the glacier itself besides the drive and spectacular views from Anchorage along the Seward Highway and Portage Glacier Drive before arriving for the cruise itself, made it an eventful trip too.

Drove out in the morning from ANC and took the boat to tour the glacier. One of our friends forgot his coat (!) and bought a blanket at the gift shop to "wear" on the glacier tour. He kept the tags on (seen in all the photos) because he said he was going to give it as a gift next Christmas! ;-) The boat captain showed the kids the ice worms in some glacier water and we witnessed the glacier calving as well! All in all it was a fun afternoon. We stopped at the Double Musky Inn in Girdwood on the way back not realizing that we would have been smart to make reservations. Instead of waiting an hour, we decided to just order appetizers. Delicious! I have been on the highway past the Turnagain Arm many times and if possible, I try and coincide with the timing of the Bore Tide. There are not many bore tides in the world that are as spectacular as this one.

Took the glacier day cruise, beautiful scenery and excellent opportunities for photos. Seeing thousands of year old ice and landscape is breathtaking.

We took a boat ride on the lake. The boat was built for breaking through ice, and there was some ice, so that's what we did. Many on board found it fun and exciting. Personally, I enjoyed it for about 10 minutes, and then got a bit bored. I would have been just as happy to stand on the lake shore and take some photos. It is very pretty, but for me, the boat ride added very little.

The tour is only one hour which is perfect. The first tour is 10:30 am. We arrived much early and spent some time in visit center area. It is beautiful area. We bought our cruise ticket from Portage Glacier Day Lodge (ticket office open 10:00am) with $5.00 off coupon. We enjoyed our time on cruise.

As part of my day trip in Anchorage, I booked the Glacier Discovery tour through Planet Earth Adventures which included this activity on the Ptarmigan boat. The Captain, Tom was great and friendly. The boat tour is narrated by a park ranger from the Chugach National Forest. I was lucky that there were very few people on the boat this day which made it feel like a private tour. Very nice cruise, lots of blue ice. Recommended.

This is a couple of hours of viewing the Glacier on a boat. The Scenery is beautiful and serine. Be sure to bring your camera
If your lucky, you'll get to see and hear the glacier "calf"

Portage Glacier is a amazing!
At over a mile wide, it is a sight to see. Take the Ptarmigan to the glacier and get up close. See the ice tunnels and surface of the Portage Glacier as the Ptarmigan boat turns through the icy waters for maximum viewing.

27 years ago was my first visit to Portage, at the end of the show in the visitors center the blinds would open and you could see the Glacier. Still love to take visitors there and hike.

This was a beautiful area, and it was nice to see the glacier by boat. It did not compare to the larger glaciers we saw on a Kenai Fjords full day not tour, but this was still worth doing and was short and uncrowded, I like our full day Fjords tour. Cold, dress warm as the wind blows hard on the icy lake.

A little over an hour drive to portage glacier cruise. It's an easy hour cruise that takes you to the face of the glacier. Ranger is informative and you get the best views from the top deck of the boat. If weather is bad you can sit inside where they have huge windows to see the glacier. The crew goes back and forth a few times across the face of the Glacier to get those perfect selfie photos.
I recently also commented the hike to the beach front of portage glacier pass in Whittier. Take the tunnel and then the first right after the tunnel and follow the signs to portage glacier pass. Parking fills up quickly but you can park alongside the road. I was hesitant to only carry bear spray but this trail was heavily used by both hima s and pets which was reassuring for me. The hardest part is the first .8 miles that is a pretty good grade up in the beginning of the climb. However, kids and seniors can make it just take breaks. As you reach the top you get the first sight of the glacier. I continued down the other 1.25 miles down to the beach and held glacier ice on the beach. The climb back up was tiring but doable just take breaks. Photos are worth the hike. Enjoy...

Board a medium size boat and motor out to the face of the Portage Glacier. You get to see the front face of a calving glacier with its interesting striations and sounds of cracking ice. Dress warm as it is quite chilly. It's really very pretty and interesting for those who appreciate nature.

We went on this boat tour it is one hour long. We had cash and they only accept exact change, so several times we ended up going to the other vendor's for change. The staff was friendly. The boat tour is wheelchair accessible and they have restrooms on the boat. The boat is family friendly. They have raincoat's for your use. The boat is enclosed with a top viewing deck.The guide's were very knowledgeable and friendly. The boat had pieces of the Glacier for viewing and touching. The glacier was awsome to see. The only down side it only goes around the lake, we did not see any wildlife.

When in Anchorage and you have the time. Drive down the Seward Highway, South of downtown.
You will need to take the boat to see the face of the Glacier. With an hour or so drive from downtown Anchorage it's like the picture. Though the weather can be overcast and rainy most of the times. The drive out is also beautiful and possible wildlife along the highway.
- Check out Girdwood and the Alyeska resort.

Quite a steep hike at the begging but worth every step when you get to the top!
Families all around hiking.

Portage Glacies formerly extended from the mountains to a few miles from the highway to the Kenai Peninsula. Unfortunately you can no longer see the glacier from the highway and the only ways to get close to the actual glacier are by boat across Portage Lake or by taking the train (or your vehicle) through the tunnel to Whittier.

The views of the mountains, glacier and lake are stunning. This makes a great option to sail to a glacier for those prone to motion sickness.

Driving from Anchorage to Seward, Portage Glacier was visible from the Seward highway. First views were exciting. Then when we actually got close, we were in awe. We did not take the portage cruise to get closer. We were able to hike a short trail from the visitor center. The leaves were changing colors, the water was calm, and you could hear the sounds of the local birds. Very relaxing. There is a shop and small cafe to get snacks and coffee. We spent about 30 minutes exploring and then continued toward Seward. Definitely worth the stop.

The Portgage glacier sight gives you a chance to see multiple glaciers for one viewing area. They have a wonderful gift shop and cafe and a chance to get tickets to ride a ferry boat which gives you a chance to view the Portage Glacier which is only viewable from the boat. Four other glaciers are viewable from the visitor center. There are also great hiking trails along the Portage glacier road from the Seward Highway to Whitney.

This tour was informative and interesting. The park ranger on board was very friendly. We got up pretty close to the glacier too!

This US Forest Service area is a great spot for many different hikes and adventures. The Portage Glacier route is one of the best. You go up to the top for a 360 degree view to the glacier on one side and an arm of Prince William Sound on the other. Then it is down to the lake just in front of the glacier. Once you get there, it is possible to go to the left around the lake for an even closer look. This hike has about everything you could hope for in a half day trip. Take food and water and sit by the lake for awhile and soak it all in.

The time of year we went, the weather conditions that day and the place where we stopped (with our tour guide) probably didn't make this the best experience. It looks like others had a great experience if you attempt to get close to it and take the time.

I've never really seen a glacier before so I wasn't exactly sure what to look for but based upon pictures, I don't think we were really able to see it. The tour guide did mention that it has shrunk a lot and a little while later, we saw chunks of it floating in the water (very cool and pretty blue!).

We went on the MV Ptarmigan on an hour tour around the Portage glacier. It takes about 1.5 hours riding a bus from downtown Anchorage. On the way, you should see the wonderful glacier silk and mountain ranges. Our bus driver kept the drive interesting with his short anecdotes and some tidbits of information of towns, cities, and landmarks.

The staff was efficient and on time when boarding passengers on the tour. There are seats at the lower level of the ship, but the best place to be is on the viewing top of the deck. The parking lot is usually packed with private vehicles, RVs, and a handful of tour buses. Be also aware that some wildlife does come across this area - better keep your cars locked.

There was a park ranger who took over the hosting duty as the Mighty Vessel Ptarmigan started to make its way towards the Portage Glacier. We heard the information on glacier formation and rock types found in the area. IT was some great information to be had!

There are also magnificent waterfalls you can see string along the mountainside as the ship headed towards the glacier (which we called Glacius). You can literally get to be close and personal on one of the waterfalls there as the ship tries to get closer to the edge as possible.

The view of the glacier is magnificent! The blue color they seem to take on is actually caused by the only living organism in the glaciers - the ice worms. They contribute to the periwinkle blue on the glaciers. There are two stops on the Portage glacier, and both spots were cool! We saw some kayakers and it helped us better scale how big these ice giant formations are. We also tried to calve the glaciers but we were not lucky to witness it happen. Opposite to the Portage Glacier is also the Burns Glacier which is quite visible but on the top part of the opposite mountain.

Note that there is a noticeable receding going on the Portage glaciers in the last hundred years. You can ask the staff for the photos taken on different years of the glacier to see the massive melting it has been going through.

This is a good way of seeing for yourself the effects of climate change brought on about by our disregard for conservation. Indeed, this would be a good idea to visit here before the Portage glacier melts away.

We are pleased we did this detour off the Seward Highway. The Visitors Center on the lake is excellent and the relief map helps you understand the enormity of the area. Instead of the boat trip, we drove through the Whittier Tunnel and did the Portage Pass hike which brings you to Portage Lake, a pretty glacial blue, and a lovely view of the glacier. While we were eating lunch at the lake, a big iceberg in front of us rolled over and drifted to the left. We could also hear, but not see, the glacier calving. A recommended trip for sure.

The lake , the Icebergs and views are extremely beautiful, well worth the drive to come visit. this is before the tunnel so no cost to come to the edge.

Have been twice. Once as a tourist years ago and then as a film narrator and both times, though different, were just as fun. Super Easy to get to from anchorage. Best to rent a car and go on your own. Then you can go to Girdwood, etc on your own schedule, all in one day. if you're not part of the cruise herd, then you can get the feel of a glacier in the waters edge. might just do a baby calve for you too!

We took the cruise out to the glacier. The glacier and surrounding area is beautiful. The cruise out is fun and they spend a long time at the glacier. The gift shop before the cruise where you can purchase tickets is cute and they have a cafe as well. The tickets for the cruise were $40.

We visited Portage Glacier on our trip to Alaska. The boat trip was a very enjoyable and a lot of fun, the boat takes you fairly close to the actual glacier and we were able get some excellent photographs. We had the fortune of seeing the glacier calving an iceberg and catch it in action. Highly recommend this trip and would gladly go on it again myself.

This was absolutely wonderful. Great trip. Beautiful. overwhelming. SOmething from another planet. Unlike anyplace else in the world

Everyone should go see the glaciers before they melt. Girdwood really has only the ski resort, but they have several good hiding trails.

We had a fun time trying to navigate snowshoes and ventured out onto the frozen lake in March. From Girdwood, it’s only 15-20 minute drive. You can rent snowshoes for 24 hours from the Alyeska Hotel for $15, guest or not. If you want to check conditions &!local trail maps beforehand, you can go to the Glacier Ranger Station off Hwy 1 in Girdwood. The visitor’s center in Portage was closed for winter, but folks just walk on out on the lake trail made by Nordic skiers and hikers. It takes about 3 hrs round trip to walk to see the glacier beyond the mountain ridge and back to “shore.” We only walked out 45 min but people said the glacier was worth seeing. It would be good to take snacks or maybe a picnic lunch for photo opts? ;) Worth the adventure!

We did the short boat ride to see Portage Glacier. It was beautiful. I don't get to see a glacier everyday. I live in Colorado and it has beautiful mountains but there is just something extra special about the mountains with glaciers in Alaska. We had a good time at Portage Glacier. The boat was ontime, not crowded, and the staff were a lot of fun. I definitely recommend.

Crew was fantastic and I can’t say enough about the NOS ranger on board. Dress in layers because the air is super cold.

Took the boat ride on the lake. Sorry to see that the glacier has retreated so far. Narration was excellent and it was still fascinating to someone from Georgia.

To see the Glacier, you need to take the boat ride. It was raining real hard the day we were there so we did not.
Was on a tour and they did not offer us to go inside the reception building. If you take a tour, beware that thy will wisk you thru.

The Boat trip to Portage Glacier was fascinating and beautiful. Park Rangers provided good commentary, though a little hard to hear at times. VERY COLD. Take hat, gloves.

While in Anchorage on business, I had the opportunity to visit Portage glacier. What a breathtaking and beautiful sight! Words just can't describe the beauty!

We booked the Portage Glacier cruise online, but you could also buy tickets onboard as well as at the coffee shop up the road. The Portage Glacier is really only viewable from the cruise and it was beautiful to see up close. Staff onboard were helpful and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!

Saw it twice. It’s so pretty. Eat at turnigan arm bbq or double musky. Easy to see and snow covered in May 2018. Went by car and enjoyed a long time watching.

Took the loop around Portage Glacier area. Very good views and scenery. It was a nice drive and very peaceful.

We took the Portage Pass trail from Whittier (VERY difficult trail, rocky/steep first .8 of a mile as indicated on trail reviews); recommend taking this trail when it's cooler; very hot when we went. Well-worth the hike over the pass to see the glacier. BEAUTIFUL scenery!

Touring outside of Anchorage we were directed to visit Portage. What a beautiful piece of nature. Very dramatic and cool.

Short trip to Portage Glacier from downtown Anchorage. The glacier was easily view able from the road and was spectacular. The rivers around have that aqua marine color that is amazing to see. We arrived at the end of spawning season which was a bonus. Worth the time.

It was cold but fun to walk out on the lake. We only walk out for bout 1/2 hour. Not far enough to see the glacier. It was beautiful.

After days of crowded train and boat tours, this boat trip was perfection. Not crowded, which was SO lovely. And even after seeing Denali and Kenai Fjords, it was still impressive. The smaller scale and more relaxed vibe of this tour was sheer perfection.

Came upon this little gem by accident. Our daughter was in Anchorage for a short amount of time and we were going to try and take her to see a glacier. We didn't have enough time or $ to see the ones out of Whittier and the hotel recommended somewhere else which we decided not to do. Found a brochere in the hotel lobby on this and gave them a call. We drove down there from Anchorage and picked up our tickets.

It was a short drive to the parking lot which had plenty of parking. We boarded and sat inside because it was a little breezy. Did have someone on board narrating which I personally could have done with out, but think it was required. Boat ride was real smooth despite the wind. Once the glacier came into view most people went upstairs to get a better glimpse of it. Although it was cold and windy we were able to actually see the glacier calving. There was a hands on of ice pulled out of the lake.

Not much else to do here other than the cruise to the lake and walk/drive to the visitor center.

The Portage Glacier is a short drive from Anchorage, straight down the most scenic Seward Highway. The scenery from Anchorage down to the glacier is not to be missed with photo opportunities all throughout. Portage glacier is a great stop. There are lots of tours but one of the nicest and least expensive is to take the boat that leaves from the lake in front of the glacier. It is about 2 hours and costs $39.00. The boat gets very close and allows for great photos. When we went, there was a park ranger on board giving us the history and statistics. Very interesting trip and well worth the time and money.

What a great day. Seals, Sea lions and Orca on the way out to the Glacier. We went by boat. A 6 hour tour that got long winded. A overall great day. The Glacier was nice. Do some research to understand where you are going so your disappointed.

Very beautiful place, lush nature, quite cold, even in the summer. Giia with a lot of empathy and rich in
Details, worth it

What a. Amazing experience ! We were very lucky with the weather blue sky’s and sunshine brought out the best of the glazier with blue flecks running through it.
The young lady giving out information on the boat was very passionate and informative. One for the bucket list

Large glacier in a city some distance from Anchorage. Combine this visit with another attraction or a trip to Homer or Seward. Worth the visit, very beautiful nature and grandeur.

An hour boat tour on the Portage Glacier Lake, located an hour from Anchorage just off the Seward Highway, offers an inexpensive and quick way to see a glacier up close. The glacier lake is on the highway side of the mountains separating Portage from Whittier and can easily be visited while en route to Seward or Whittier, and can be combined with a visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, just a mile or two away on the Seward Highway. I was skeptical of a mini-cruise but the lake is relatively small but rich in sights. We cruised around the lake, with its chunks of bluish glacier ice floating in the lake and past thin waterfalls streaming down the sides of the mountains, to see the Portage Glacier. We were able to get within one-quarter mile of it to see what are actually several glaciers that have combined into one coming down into the water. While we did not see the glacier calving, there was a lot of ice floating near the glacier that had come off earlier. Photos on board the shop showed how much the glacier has shrunk over the years, when it was much bigger and the lake much smaller. We also did other cruises of a half-day length but enjoyed this short cruise equally well.

Beautiful scenery. The ice calves floating in the lake were impressive. It was quiet due to the season and day of the week. But the views were nice.

We had to take time to see the glacier. It's receded but we still could see some of the blue ice. It was off season so the visitor center was closed.

I’ve been coming here since I was a child. It is a glacier you can drive up to. It’s a short drive off Seward highway. Make sure you stop and walk the trail and boardwalk on your right hand side driving in, you might see salmon and it’s lovely.

Unfortunately for us it was raining during our time on the Portage Lake Glacier trip but everything was done to make our cruise enjoyable.

This is a beauty to see! Even tho they’ve melted a lot, it’s still so big! It’s a must see and the guide for the cruise is very knowledgeable!

This is a very nice one hour boat tour. Up close glacier views and nice commentary by a National Forest Service employee.

It is a short ride or cruising trip to the Glacier and totally worth it. You have to buy the tickets first and then drive 5 minutes to the boat, no reservation required. Even though it was hot and sunny I wore gloves because it was windy. I was able to get one adult price discounted with a coupon.

My husband was excited to stop here, but it's changed drastically in the 40+ years since he lived here. Fun to see, but not as impressive as I expected.

Portage Glacier is a gem of a destination. The passage through the Whittier Tunnel is unique in and of itself. The hike into the glacier is moderate to strenuous, but once you get to the top there are stunning views of the bay, and just a short distance further you get to see one amazing glacier. Make sure you keep track of the tunnel schedule, since it only has one way traffic once per hour

We took the Portage Glacier cruise toward the end of our two week Alaska trip last week (8/18). We had seen glaciers from the air and day trips on a boat from both Homer and Seward. For those who do not like small planes / helicopters or longer boat rides this is a great option to see a glacier without having to experience the motion sickness of the ocean or a long trip.

This is a one hour ranger guided boat cruise on a large boat with the indoor downstairs seating area and the top deck having open air where you can get better views but also exposed to the elements like the rain. It rained the entire time we were in Alaska including this trip but you should expect that when you go to Alaska in August. Dress for rain and layers ; it was our coldest day in 2 weeks and winter was starting to arrive with the foliage colors.

Downstairs is where the Ranger talks on the microphone but you can hear clearly upstairs as well which was our preferred location for the open air and to take photos.

It’s a quick one hour cruise to see the glacier and some small icebergs that are right in front of the glacier.

You can also see, if you’re lucky, white mountain goats high on the hills surrounding the lake.

There are two large restrooms downstairs; the boat is very comfortable and smooth and we would suggest this cruise for anyone including people that were mobility challenged since you can stay downstairs and still see and hear everything.

Nice clam ride. The glacier is impresive. Its on a lake and you do not get sea sick. Short ride and only see the glacier.

We did this tour as an add on to a Wilderness, Wildlife, Glacier Experience day tour out of Anchorage. Regardless of how you do it, the tour was worth the time. It was only about an hour on the water to see waterfalls and small icebergs that calve off the glacier. The boat is big, and we only had about 30 people on it. The boat is very stable sand the water is very calm so no one should get seasick. It’s a beautiful lake and glacier.

First time to Alaska and glad we took this Glacier cruise...worth the time!! FAmily trp that everyone enjoyed and from Girdwood it was a short trip....dress warm...as the breeze across the lake is cold but awesome sights!!

This was a great boat ride to see Portage glacier! It was very informative and they got you close to the glacier. The Captain was very helpful and friendly. The whole crew were delightful!

There are a bunch of glaciers to the south of Anchorage. This one was a little more than an hour. Very nice boat ride on a sunny day! If you're pressed for time, this might be the one to visit. If not, go further south and take a longer cruise to a large array of choices.

We saw the lake and the surrounding glaciers from the visitors center and around the lake, but did not take the boat. Close off the Kenai to Anchorage road.

Our glacier hike with Ascending Path was by far the highlight of our 10 day trip. 10 out of 10!! We took a helicopter to the glacier and hiked around for a few hours. Ice caves, water falls, cold water pools, crevasses -- lots to see and experience!

Yes, there certainly seems to be weather related reasons for many of the world's receding glaciers and Portage appears to be no exception. A 15-20 minute drive outside of Girdwood, board a small cruise craft that will take you as close as safely possible to view yet another of Mother Nature's marvels. If you are there at the right time, see some calving as chunks of all sizes break off and fall into the lake creating small icebergs. See it now before it's gone.

An unlikely sunny day out on the water. The staff were knowledgeable and professional. Glaciers are not all that interesting to look at for long periods of time BUT the information and knowledge from the National Park ranger who is present on every cruise is extremely knowledgeable (history of the area and of glaciers) and adds a vital component to this excursion to make it not only relevant but worth the time and modest price.

Portage is strategically located at a bend in Seward Hwy near AWCC, east of Girdwood. It's on the road to Whittier. I have been there twice in overcast and rainy weather. Small icebergs float near the visitor center. A salmon observation point is just down the road. You can give it a few minutes or hours.

All the glaciers are beyond beautiful in Alaska. I took a train ride and saw 11 glaciers. The Portage was one of them.

You don't really appreciate the glacier until you get up close to it. The beauty and magnitude of the glacier is magnificent. If you are lucky enough to experience a calving that is a great bonus to the trip.

This is a great place to visit and an excellent way to see a glacier up close. The boat ride is fun and educational. The boat staff are friendly, well informed and professional. The glacier is in a good spot for viewing, and feeling the cool air coming off of it. I would definitely return and recommend it.

We took a boat trip to see this. It was an extra arranged by our tour group. It was very scenic and there was a nice commentary by the crew.

The ride is informative and at a great pace. The cruise bring you up close and center with glaciers and beautiful vista views. The captain provided smooth sailing and stopped for photo shots.

This tour was part of our tour package. We boarded the boat and traveled the area. While it was a rainy day, it was still a beautiful sight. The boat had clear windows on the first level and an open level on the top. Worth the trip. Beautiful!

Interesting view, stories and beautiful scenery. Good place to use restrooms and stretch your legs and see the lovely town as well.

I have traveled many places. Alaska by far Is the most beautiful place I’ve been. A must see. Can’t wait to take my grandchildren when they get a little older to see all the beautiful things God created.

Did a combination Portage Glacier and Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center Tour from Anchorage on Grayline.
Grayline lost our reservation, but we had room on the bus so no problems getting on.
Boat ride was enjoyable-bring warm clothes--guide was very well informed and they had additional people taking pictures, if you wanted. They had covered space on one level but we chose to be outside.

Another designation on our trip (see review of Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center) which I really hoped would be a delight for all involved was the Cruise to Porter Glacier. It’s the only way to see this Glacier upfront. The tour guide on the Ship was excellent and informative. Scenery was beautiful. Be advised and take warm clothes if you want to view everything outside. Although, if you get cold you can sit downstairs which is fully enclosed. The best place to be however is on he top deck. The tour only lasts about an hour but I felt it was worth the cost which is a lot lower than most excursions like this if you do it yourself. Note that if you go to their website you can get a coupon that will save you $5 per adult. The views are fantastic and again I feel a must see!

We drove our rental car here to Portage & Byron Glacier. The boat wasn't running on the lake because we went at the end of December. We parked at a parking lot a little ways up the road towards Byron Glacier. We walked about a mile towards the Byron glacier on a flat, easy, wide trail. The Glacier has receded quite a bit but you can walk across the small creek and come up to portions that have been left behind by the melting glacier. We stayed for about 30 minutes. The views are spectacular, the air is clean and brisk and there weren't too many people. We walked back and drove further down the road, through the tunnel and stopped at a lookout above Portage Lake. Beautiful.

We went on the Portage Glacier cruise tour as part of our Holland America Alaska Land/Sea Journey. It was beautiful with lots of beautiful scenery and some wonderful views of Portage Glacier.

We stopped in Portage to try to visit the glacier. We were disappointed that it was closed. With the pandemic they were not operating any boats so we saw it from across the lake.

I was hoping to get closer to the glacier but the viewing was nice and the staff was friendly. There are other glaciers you can go right up to; not this one.

We stopped here on our way to and from Seward! Our guide made sure we got all of the highlights! I was with my mom and husband. Fabulous trip!

In a few hours, you can go to see the great wonder. Easy to get and a nice boat ride. And when you're done go check out Whittier. Pick a nice day!!!

The women the visitor center said it was one of the seven most beautiful rides in America - nailed it! So beautiful, several places to pull over and get some good views. So pleased we did this.

nice little hour tour to the Portage Glacier. parking may be tight when the season gets going but right now(late May) there was plenty of parking. the boat is two decks and for the best views try for the top deck unless of course the weather is bad. you may bring food/drink(non-alcoholic) on board for they do not have any food or drink available for sale on the cruise. be one of the 1st in line when the season picks up so you can get the seat/view YOU want.

I had no idea what to expect when I turned off the Seward Highway at the Portage Glacier sign. I was in awe the whole time. Absolutely spectacular scenery and so quiet!

This park offers an easy hiking trail to get a nice view of the glacier. It's a beautiful trail (especially in fall foliage season) that brings you to a few nice viewpoints (and also to the the moraine at the glacier bottom). There are signs along the trail (and the road that leads to the parking area) indicating where the edge of the glacier extended to in prior years (which made the reduction in size very apparent).

From Anchorage we can go by car then a boat to come close to the glacier, beautiful glacier.
I recommend this place to visit and we could do hiking around this area too. Beautiful scenery !!

We didn't take a tour. We were just trying to do some short and not overly demanding hikes. We had hoped to do the full trail but we have gotten some bad information. So we didn't have the time to do the full trail. We did hike a little over a mile up to the top of the ridge. This leg had a little over 800' incline. The views were wonderful. This was not overly strenuous. We are 65+ years old and in fairly good health. It was a nice climb and got the heart to pumping. Thankfully, it was all downhill to get back to the car.

Went to see this on a glacier tour and it was unbelievable. It seems small until you're right infant of the glacier and see people standing on the shore next to it. CRAZY and so beautiful. It was very cool to here the glaciers breaking off.

Short enough walk, lots of ice! Awesome views! And allow an easy hour or two so kids can play and parents to take pictures! Remember to wear good shoes for the ice or you’ll be walking back with wet feet!

We were staying in Whittier and hoped to take the boat tour of the glacier. It was Mother's Day weekend and sadly, they were not open yet.

the hike up was challenging - definitely a cardio workout! but once I got to the top and saw the prize - every step and panting breath was worth it! This was one of the most magnificent sceneries I've ever seen. I was in heaven!

Right after 2 1/2 mile tunnel you turn right and park to go up hill on loose rock pathway. Take bug spray because of the flies. But the view is worth it. If you have bad knees or ankles, do not try it. We parked our RV on the Portage Glacier parking lots, and the most quiet spots you could pick. No water hook ups. Just a great free spot to park and sleep.

We had a wonderful tour guide, Aaron, for our Wildlife Wilderness and Glacier tour out of Anchorage. It is a 6 hr van tour to the Conservation area where we got to see all the wild animals in Alaska. Then we had a great surprise in Girdwood as Aaron took us to the Virgin Creek waterfall. Then we went to the Portage lake glacier of a one hour tour of the area glacier. Aaron took many pictures and then sent them to all of us on the tour. What a great thing to do. Highly recommend this tour out of Anchorage.

The scenery was absolutely beautiful. Despite the Glaciers continuing the melt, what’s left is breathtaking.

We were on a tour and the guide stopped here for us to run into the gift shop as one in our party needed a coat. We first viewed the glacier and talk to the park ranger. We got to see an actual piece of glacier ice floating in lake. This location also has a peace pole!!!! We then drove to gift shop, free parking and handicapped accessible. This gift shop had great prices on Jewerly, hand carved antlers , postcards and so much more. I highly recommend this stop on your trip.

We are so grateful that we were directed to this hike! It is quite steep and uphill on the way up, but it is so worth it to get the views! Just outstanding glacier view. We also spotted a bear family of 4 off in the distance on a snowfield.

What amazing views here! Stopped on a tour and fell in love with the majestic scenery. Really made me think about the sad reality of global warming.

I've been here several times.In the 1990's the lake was covered in icebergs like the picture. Boy, does it look different now. There was only 1 iceberg that was good sized and 1 little one. The visitors center is still interesting with lots of information on the area.

Incredible. We happened on the attraction by good fortune and It is still clearly a high point on our tourist type adventures in Alaska. The boat was spacious and felt safe ( I'm not good in boats) The staff were helpful and engaging. After a safety briefing we set off on the lake out to the glacier being informed/educated and entertained the whole trip.
It was a great adventure to start our day.
I still don't see way the trip wasn't full it is a stunning trip with friendly staff, at a reasonable price $40 ish.

Courteous staff. Good way to see a glacier up close. Easy to enter and exit boat. Ample seating. Restrooms on board but no concessions. The park ranger was entertaining and informative. The staff gathered glacier ice and encouraged interaction.

Warning- web site is incorrect- due to boat maintenance not being done yet, and weather, they are not open for cruises- I would call and not trust website for reliable information in may! They said “maybe try next week or so”.

We had the best time hiking up the mountain to view Portage Glacier and a great view of Prince William Sound. We hiked all the way down to Portage Lake in from of the glacier. It was awesome but over 4 miles total. Be prepared for the hills.

Ok...so we came in the winter. So there was plenty of snow! I mean we had a rental Kia SUV- and she handled herself pretty darn well. So we get out there. We had to help push a guy's car through the snow so he could get to the parking spot with his rental car. We get there, and just wow! I am sure that the winter trail is slightly different from the summer trail as I am not sure how close you can get to the glacier in the summer. In the winter you hike up this little peak and over look the glacier. And if you do decide to do this...might I suggest you either wear high boots, or even bring some snow shoes. We had snow up to out hips...and I am 5'9'' so it's not like I am short. While it was exhausting at times. The view was completely worth it! The giggles had while slipping down the trail on etc ice and me ultimately busting my butt when we get back to the car is completely memorable! This was a trip that made memories and I can't wait to come back and experience this again!

We were in the area last year, but the weather was poor - so we didn't want to pay the $13 to go through the tunnel. This year, it was a beautiful September day, so we did. (If you are doing the cruise, you do not have to pay the toll - $13.) The trail head is on the right after you go through the tunnel - it is a gravel road leading to a very small parking area (more like parking on the side of the road). The trail had some major holes, but was doable in a standard car. The hike states 4 miles round trip to the lake...but I would put it at slightly more than that. Definitely to the pass is about a mile (2 miles total). In my opinion, it was worth going to the lake. Just beautiful. The second portion of the hike (after the pass) is beautiful. Glad we finally got a good day to do the hike...I understands it rains a lot in Whittier! (about 800 feet elevation gain from the parking lot to the pass...and then about 800 down to the lake). No water or pit toilet at the trail head...come prepared.

I originally was going to skip this on the way to Seward but decided to stop. Glad I did
this was very fun. The boat got up pretty close to Portage Glacier. The Ranger
who came aboard was very knowledgeable with the talk about the history.

Whole family had fun and crew took pictures of us and others. Very nice
employees. We all really enjoyed this. Was about hour to hour and a half.

A very enjoyable tour with excellent narration. The glacier view was great. We were fortunate to see an iceberg that had previously calved.

I think Portage Glacier has hands down the best view for the effort. The trail can be a bit crowded until Portage Pass, but after that it becomes way less crowded. It's a moderate hike all the way to Portage Glacier and the view is excellent. We've done many hikes to glaciers in Alaska, including Byron Glacier, Grewingk Glacier in Kachemak Bay, Harding Icefield in Kenai NP, but I think Portage Glacier has the best view vs effort (I think Grewingk Glacier and Harding Icefield has better views, but with require 2-3x more effort). Highly recommend it.

Great trip out to the Glacier. Our narrator was Robert and he did a great job informing us of the glacier including how to get there by hiking if one was so inclined. Captain Wayne piloted the boat and the playing of the theme from Titanic gave all a chuckle. I highly recommend this tour (it’s an hour but you get plenty of views of the glacier and waterfalls). We didn’t get to see any calving but there were a few ice pieces in the water so it calved at some point that day.

We took this little boat cruise part of another tour but you can also buy ticket to a shop and restaurant near buy the parking.

The very young captain and her crew as well as a park ranger were very knowledgeable and provided great information on the glacier and its surrounding. Where you will leave with the boat, the glacier was about there 50 years before ;-(

The first level of the boat is all interior (very useful as often bad weather) while the upper deck let you go breath and enjoy outside scenery. It got little things and toys to entertain kids too.

We highly suggest no matter the weather... Enjoy while still not completely melted

We drove and then took a helicopter ride in firewood to do our dog sledding adventure. Had a fabulous time people were great. This was on my bucket list. Great time and the dogs are wonderful. People were too

Some of our group took the boat tour and others hiked. We all had a great time. I was in the boat group and enjoyed the beautiful scenery and interesting information given by our guide and boat captain.

We got on the tour bus in Anchorage and had the narrated road trip to the boat for our glacier tour. The tour guides on the bus and the boat were very informative and friendly. We spent a great deal of time at Portage glacier , time for photo ops and questions. After the boat ride, we went to the Alaska Wildlife Conservative Center. We stayed here for about an hour and a half. You walk around at your own pace and see th various wildlife (its the only place we saw bears while in Alaska). The entire tour is well worth the money.

Saw this on our trip. You have no idea how big they are until you get up close and personal. a must see!

The glacier was wonderful, but the weather was cool and rainy. We saw some minor calving, and that was cool. The captain made sure everyone had an opportunity to see the glacier.

Family has been viewing here for years. If you are "not sure" of seeing this glacier, I recommend to see it while you can. Either by boat or just to stop near the center and see it - I recommend to take a picture and cherish it.

We visited this glacier by going on the cruise at 4:25 in the evening. We got tickets online. We drove to the day lodge to pick up the tickets, be there around 3:45 pm. There is gift shop and snacks as well. We drove to the cruise parking very close to the lodge. We parked the car and took the boat. The lake has no life but is a beautiful blue. It was rainy and freezing cold. We enjoyed viewing the waterfalls as we were sailing in the boat. The views are breathtaking. The glacier is a good distance from the boat and the guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. There was a cave we could see. The captain and everyone else on the boat was fun to be with. Definitely dress warm and wear layers. Take some unique pics.

Short ride to Portage Glacier from downtown Anchorage, 50 miles. Great spot on the lake and a short ride down to face of glacier. Crew very experienced and want you to enjoy the travel down lake to Glacier

Great tour and guide ..really got a chance to see Alaska and some of the things people talk about.

Very enjoyable, informative, interesting and fun

Would go again next time I am in Alaska

this is one of the most amazing views that you can reach without reaching deep into your wallet. this is definitely a must experience for anyone travelling to alaska

If you have limited time but want to see a glacier, you can drive past the entrance to this glacier to the tunnel that goes to Whittier. You pull over before the tunnel staging area and look back across the lake and can see some of the glacier.

Alaska is full of all these beautiful sites! Beautiful opportunities to take photos of these beautiful glaciers. Majestic site here!

Easily located a few miles off the Seward Highway don't pass up the opportunity to see the glacier from the cruise vessel-MS Ptarmigan. Yes it costs but it is well worth the price. We did this on our 2nd trip to the Kenai. There were only about 10-12 passengers so was really easy to listen to the ranger and find a quiet spot to take pictures. The captain Joy expertly maneuvered us really close to the glacier in hopes that it would calve (it had on the previous tour) but alas it did not. We could see the icebergs from the previous calving and got great images from the close vantage point. The ranger narrated information is wonderful, touching a chunk and eating a piece is what is unique about this tour. I would recommend dressing in layers as the "Katabatic winds" at the glacier are chilly. The many waterfalls on the cliffsides only added to the grandeur of this place. Take the time to see it before it is gone!

Amazing experience with Phillips Cruise and Tours. So breathtaking and a must see for all!! Beautiful Alaskan Nature

The cruise was one hour and only cost $39 per person. Nice up close view and description of the glacier and surrounding area.

This lake is a beautiful example of a glacial lake, crystal blue, with the Portage glacier at the end of the lake.

We arrived before the ice had broken up, so the boats were not running yet. It was quiet and peaceful.

This is a special chance to see a glacier from a lovely Alaskan lake, not too far outside of a major city.

part of our tour with PicTours Alaska, the boat crew and staff were terrific and informative. You get very close to Portage glacier

Portage Glacier out did itself with beauty as the day was clear, comfortable with patches of white cumulus clouds.. The boat was excellent with nice bathrooms. Their delicious salmon chowder made for a wonderful lunch. The crew gives an ample geology review so you know what you are looking at. You see many other smaller glaciers and a variety of waterfalls adorning the cliffs. Have your camera ready when nearing Portage Glacier for the ice bergs can be stunning with their sculptured shapes. If you are not driving, this cruise includes transportation to and from Anchorage.

We were a group of 8 (Ages 9-65) and we had the best time. We were equipped with great boots and cramps for our hike. We were safe and felt safe the entire time. Carson was awesome she is safe and experienced and very knowledgable. She took us through the most amazing glacier points to capture beautiful views of the blue ice and fresh glacier water to drink.

We drove through the long tunnel and took the 1 mile trail to top of the mountain. where you get a fantastic view of the lake and glacier. no picture makes justice; Need to warn about the trail is all the way up not easy.

We took a tour from Downtown to this site, taking in other viewing points along Turnagain arm and including the Alaskan wildlife conservation park. the lake was calm. The boat was not crowded and there was ample space for everyone on deck. the boat also stopped at the glacier for a considerable time to allow for photos and the national parks attendants were excellent with their commentary and their skill at taking photos of the customers for the customers. A nice touch! We missed the glaciers at Kenai because of rough seas so this was an excellent opportunity to get close to a glacier. the rangers also take ice from the lake and allow passengers to listen to it.

Although we've seen numerous photos of glaciers, it was amazing how impressive seeing the "real thing" was to us.

We took the Portage Glacier Cruise Tour and it was excellent. The staff was very informative and kind. We spent a long time on the lake looking at the glacier and were thrilled when it calved. It was simply wonderful.

Took another cruise to Anchorage Alaska this July 70F..a different world. Unfortunately Glaciers have melted much more than previous trip in 2012. But absolutely beautiful, whales, mountain goats, bears,Eagles etc. Stopped off in small towns, visiting ''old west'' atmosphere. So much to see and a great experience. Winter resorts has nothing on this trip.

Global warming has almost eliminated this glacier which is very sad. However, what is left is still breathtaking. Sign up and take the water tour ($35 for older folks), narrated by U.S. Forrest Service personnel. About an hour.

Easy to get to from Anchorage. Stop and seethe salmon running on the way up.

The drive out from Anchorage to Portage Lake takes just over an hour. The lake itself was somewhat bleak when we arrived, with small ice bergs floating near the shore and the water a grey-blue colour (which we later discovered is due to the deposit of glacial silt and prevents plant life from growing and hence no fish....). However there is a visitor centre which had some interesting stuff although there is an entrance fee to see much of the material. The boat tour to the glacier operates from a separate facility which is a few minutes' drive away from the visitor centre. That tour goes down the length of the lake to the glacier. There is a Park Ranger on board who provides an excellent commentary. We found the glacier itself to be impressive. Even more impressive was the fact that it has receded to much so swiftly (as is the case with most other glaciers in Alaska). The boat trip cost c. $80 for two people as I recall it, but in my view represented good value.

This one hour boat ride was very nice, even though the weather was not so nice. Crew onboard the Ptarmigan was nice. Commentary by the forest ranger was rather childish but overall good.

What a beautiful drive out to the glacier. We saw beluga whales on the drive there. Be sure to stop at Beluga point to see them. The glacier is beautiful and there are many opportunities for pics!

Smashing glacier, smaller, smaller, smaller! Each time I visit is seems to have grown smaller. Retreat is a nice word to describe this beautiful glacier.

Glaciers are worth seeing but the longer tours are just that...longer and after you have seen one? Well you get it.

That';s why I like Portage Glacier. Its a short cruise to one glacier that likes to break off and splash into the water a lot. I was told its fast moving so that makes the splash possible.

Great Scenery, very low cloud so unable to see all mountains, but an enjoyable picturesque drive into Lake Portage and surrounds

The people on the boat were very informative. They gave an excellent tour. It was not in a hurry so you had a chance to see the glacier.