Portage Glacier Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Portage Glacier. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Wilderness, Wildlife, Glacier Experience From Anchorage

• Wildlife and Glaciers With a Walk in the Rainforest

• Portage Glacier Cruise and Wildlife Explorer Tour

• Glaciers and Wildlife: Super Scenic Day Tour From Anchorage

• Glacier & Wildlife Discovery Tour

There is no entrance fee to visit Portage Glacier if you walk the Portage Pass Trail to see it up close or admire views of it from across Portage Lake. Tours that combine transportation from Anchorage, a cruise, and other attractions cost from US$235, while self-guided audio driving tours begin around US$40.

Yes, it's worth going to Portage Glacier from Anchorage if you can—it's one of the nearest and most accessible glaciers to the city. With opportunities to view the lakeside glacier by boat or from hiking trails, there are plenty of options to see this large and impressive natural phenomenon.

Per one customer who booked the Glaciers and Wildlife: Super Scenic Day Tour From Anchorage, "Fabulous day experiencing the beauty of Alaska! The tour bus was spacious and clean, and our tour guide, Catherine, was amazing! We truly enjoyed all of the history and knowledge that she shared, the fabulous communication in advance of the trip and strongly recommend this tour!"

The exact length of the Portage Glacier is difficult to measure (as the glacier fluctuates in size), but it is estimated to be around 6 miles (10 kilometers) long and is 10 stories high. Its impressive scale and proximity to Anchorage make it one of Alaska’s top tourist attractions.

That depends. While it’s impossible to walk on the glacier itself, this active glacier regularly “calves” chunks of ice into Portage Lake. If you head to the nearby Begich, Boggs Visitor Center, rangers regularly share samples of that ice for visitors to touch (and even taste).

Generally, no. The only official trail close to Portage Glacier is the 2-mile (3-kilometer) Portage Pass Trail, which offers excellent views but doesn’t lead up to the glacier itself. While some intrepid hikers cross Lake Portage when it freezes in the winter to reach the glacier, that’s risky and not recommended.

Yes and no. Portage Glacier has fluctuated throughout the years, advancing and retreating in different phases. Over the last century, the glacier has retreated significantly, revealing Portage Lake and disappearing from view from the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center, although its current position hasn’t changed significantly since 1999.

Yes, you can drive up to the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. The journey takes roughly one hour via AK-1 S and is considered one of the most scenic drives in the U.S. However, if you wish to see the glacier itself, you’ll need to embark on a boat trip or hike.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting Portage Glacier. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Anchorage:

• Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

• Matanuska Glacier

• Lake Hood

• Denali

• Cook Inlet

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Anchorage.