Day Trip to Girdwood

Explore Scenic Trails, Take a Glacier Cruise and Ride the Aerial Tram 

This self-guided tour to Girdwood is truly ideal for the independent traveler. Explore one of the many hiking and biking trails in the area or take a cruise to get up close to a famous Alaska glacier.

Price: $49.50 each way or $99.00 roundtrip

Included: One-way or round-trip shuttle service with a tour of Turnagain Arm and pick up and drop-offs at appointed locations.

To Book: Scroll to the bottom of this page.

Things to Do

Girdwood is home to a number of great hiking and biking trails, among them the Byron Glacier Trail which offers awesome views of a glacier and surrounding mountains.

Be sure to visit the Alyeska Resort where you can take the Alyeska Aerial Tram to an elevation of 2,300 feet for great views of the Chugach Mountain Range, wildlife, and seven hanging glaciers. The ride up takes about 7 minutes and there is a viewing platform at the top to soak in the amazing view.

The Portage Glacier Cruise departs five times daily and takes visitors to the face of the famous Portage Glacier.

Visit The Tourist Trap when you get off the shuttle to find out about all the things you can see and do in Girdwood.

What to Expect

This self-guided day trip to Girdwood allows you the freedom to break away from the tour groups, explore on your own, and return at select times. Your journey to Girdwood begins with a custom tour of Alaska’s most scenic stretch of highway along the Turnagain Arm – it’s a treat you won’t want to miss!

The Turnagain Arm Shuttle will drop you off and pick you up at the Glacier Valley Transit pick-up point. This is where you can catch the town’s FREE shuttle service to get around town during your visit. Visitors should print the schedule for the Glacier Valley Transit to ensure they do not miss the return Turnagain Arm Shuttle back to Anchorage.

When you are ready to return back to Anchorage simply board the Turnagain Arm Shuttle at the time you booked at Girdwood Station. For information on Girdwood click here.

HIGHLIGHTS

Beluga Point
Popular photo stop with panoramic views of Turnagain Arm. Possible opportunities to see Dall sheep and Beluga whales.

Alyeska Aerial Tram
Journey to an elevation of 2,300 feet to gain spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, hanging glaciers, and wildlife in the area.

Byron Glacier Trail
Roughly a little over 3 miles, this popular hiking trail offers up spectacular views of Byron Glacier.

Portage Glacier Cruise
Board the MV Ptarmigan for an exciting cruise to Portage Glacier where you can view a relic from the Ice Age and watch as spectacular fissures occur, plunging chunks of ice into the waters below.

CHOOSE FROM FIVE DEPARTURES DAILY

We recommend that you spend no less than 5 hours in Girdwood to do at least one activity. If you want to do more than one activity then you will need to plan your time accordingly.

Below is a sample of departure times and return times. When you are ready to book, our system will ask you what time you want to depart and return. All journeys depart from and return to Anchorage. If you need help figuring out the best departure and return time for your journey, don’t hesitate to call us – we are here to help!

Price: $49.50 each way or $99.00 roundtrip