Portage Glacier Cruises near Anchorage: Is it worth it?

Is the Portage Glacier Cruise worth the trip? IMO, absolutely. If ever there was a scenic boat ride that packs a punch for beautiful sites AND is easy to fit into a busy schedule, the Portage Glacier Cruise is it. With just an hour on the water, you’ll get to see some wonderful scenery and, of course, the Portage Glacier. This is a great opportunity to watch for wildlife, enjoy tons of waterfalls and maybe even get to see a glacier calving. The Portage Glacier Cruise is an easy activity for all ages and you’ll be hard pressed to get such great views, a fun boat tour AND a glacier all in one. If you only have a short time in the Anchorage area, make sure you’ve got the Portage Glacier Cruise on your itinerary.

We’ve got the full scoop on what to expect on the Portage Glacier Cruise and how to have the best time. I love being on the lake, and this is my favorite way to experience it. If you have any questions about the Portage Glacier Cruise tour or need more recommendations for things to do along the Seward Highway, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a fun adventure in Alaska.

Why Do the Portage Glacier Cruise

What really stands out to me about the Portage Glacier Cruise is how easy it is for visitors who are limited on time or don’t get to explore a lot of Alaska, and just how much it packs in for the experience. I always feel like time in Anchorage, Girdwood and Seward should be at least four days, but a lot of visitors just get one or two days. To be able to see a glacier, get out on the water and have some epic scenery, all of that is a part of this boat trip. Really, this trip is a winning pick for either people short on time or anyone doing an Alaska road trip but not doing a cruise.

Only taking an hour, the Portage Glacier Cruise is also a great pick for families because it’s just long enough to get to see a lot, but it’s not such a long tour that kids are crashing out with boredom. There aren’t many tours available in Alaska with a short duration, let alone boat tours, but getting out on the glacier lake is one, which also makes it really popular. This is a solid pick for an all-ages activity because it’s unique, brief, easily accessible and is beautiful.

I almost forget one of the best parts of the Portage Glacier Cruise: the narration! Visiting Alaska means that you’re getting all sorts of information and stories everywhere you go, from geology to mining history, glaciology to indigenous cultural stories. This is all a part of the one hour boat tour on Portage Glacier Lake. It’s enough talking and information that you’ll learn some new things, but not so much that it detracts from the beauty and experience. I think it’s managed well and is a nice balance. Even the corny jokes.

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Tips for a Great Boat Tour on Portage Glacier Lake

I always tell people to book their activities for their Alaska trip as far in advance as possible. It’s one of those tips that ensures that you can both stay within a budget AND that you’ll get to do the activities you’ve been excited about. The Portage Glacier Cruises boat tour is one of the easiest tours to add to an Anchorage, Whittier or Seward Highway day, so it books out in advance. Since there are several tours each day, if the boat tour you want is full. You can likely get one within an hour or two. I like an afternoon boat tour on Portage Glacier Lake because the sun is usually in the best position. A good thing about summer is that the sun doesn’t change position too much, but if it’s early or late season when there is more variation to the sun, an afternoon sailing is perfect.

You’ll need to time it with lunch, as there’s nowhere to eat in the Portage Valley, but if you grab a bite in Girdwood beforehand, or if have snacks and can hold out until you get through the tunnel to Whittier you can eat then. There is a small selection of snacks available onboard, but if you need to bring your own that’s okay too.

Ooh! And one other thing to think about is when you’re done with your cruise to the glacier, if you’re heading to Whittier next, be sure to look at your watch. The Anderson Tunnel is open from the Portage side to Whittier on the HALF HOUR, meaning on the :30. You should be able to time it just write to wrap up your boat tour and make it to the tunnel for whatever time you’re aiming for. If you aren’t heading to the tunnel, drive a few minutes to the Byron Glacier trail and do the hike. It’s beautiful and you’ll be able to get one more glacier visit into your day.

Being Prepared for the Portage Glacier Boat Tour

Even though you’ll only be doing the Portage Glacier Cruise in the summer (the lake is frozen in the winter) you’ll still want to be ready for some cold weather. Yes, it may be sunny and beautiful, but that can change quickly. Also, when you pull up to the face of Portage Glacier, like with the glaciers you visit on Kenai Fjords Tours or if you do College Fjord with Phillips Cruises, it gets really cold when the breeze comes off the ice fields of a glacier. Dress for the weather you see and be ready for the weather you don’t. You may have the chance to hold a chunk of glacier ice after you visit the face of the glacier, and if so, that’ll drop your temp a bit more.

I mentioned bringing small snacks if you need them, but you also should bring a water bottle. As you travel in Alaska, try extra hard to think of the ways that you can be low impact and create less trash. One very easy thing you can do is to have reusable water bottles for everyone in your group and fill them frequently. It might seem like a little thing, but it’s easy and lightens the load on Alaska.

For camera gear on the Portage Glacier Cruise, you can keep it simple. A camera phone will do nicely for capturing the surrounding landscape, the waterfalls and the glacier itself. If you want to bring a bigger camera, go for it, and you can be as heavy duty with lenses as you want. For photographing Portage Glacier, you won’t need anything bigger than a 250mm, but there is always a change of wildlife on the hills around Portage Lake, and for that you’ll want a larger lens. This is a very busy tourist area with the boat cruise, hiking and kayaking, so there isn’t usually a ton of wildlife around Portage Lake, but there’s always a chance, especially on an earlier cruise.

Getting to Portage Glacier Cruises

Portage Glacier Cruises is at the end of the Portage Valley, almost to where it turns into Bear Valley, which is where the Anderson Tunnel to Whittier is. As you drive, watch for the signs for the Begich Boggs Chugach National Forest Visitor Center, and then there is another sign that points to Portage Glacier Cruises. NOTE: if you haven’t bought tickets yet, there is a building, the Lodge, where you’ll need to stop to secure your spot on the boat. You cannot purchase tickets at the dock.

You’ll continue along the road and wind down to the lakeshore where you’ll park. There is plenty of parking at two different levels of the sloped parking lot. There are restrooms here at the dock too. For boarding, you’ll form a line and show your digital or printed boarding pass, but then they do also have a passenger manifest that they will check off. Arrive at least 15 minutes before boarding so you can get a good spot in line and secure the seat you want for your glacier cruise. You’ll be able to move all around the boat, inside and outside, but it’s nice to have a seat you like secured, particularly if the weather isn’t good and you want to stay inside.

Where to Stay in Portage / Girdwood / Whittier

If you’re thinking you don’t want to stay in Anchorage to drive down to activities in the Portage Valley, Girdwood or over in Whittier, there are actually lots of places to choose from down here along the Turnagain Arm and up the valley. There are not a ton of hotels, but lots of private rentals. Stays in Whittier are few and far between, so planning to be on the west side of the tunnel is a good idea.