Welcome To
Portage Glacier Cruises

Find out why Portage Glacier is one of Alaska's most popular attractions. Visit the sheer, awesome face of a mighty Alaska glacier located just an hour from Anchorage. Cruising across Portage Lake on the mv Ptarmigan, you'll stand just 300 yards from a relic of the Ice Age and watch for fractures of ice break off the glacier and crash into the water below.

Learn More About Portage Glacier

mv Ptarmigan Highlights:
  • mv Ptarmigan is the only boat operating on Portage Lake
  • fully narrated by an on-board representative of the U.S. Forest Service
  • fully enclosed, heated cabin
  • expansive windows for enhanced viewing
  • topside view deck offers a great vantage point for watching the glacier "calve," and for visitors to enjoy the fresh air
  • holds up to 149 passengers
  • 80-foot vessel was built on site at Portage Lake to U.S. Coast Guard specifications
  • 6.5-foot draft for minimal environmental impact
  • operates on national forest service lands of the Chugach National Forest and is operated under a special-use permit from the USDA Forest Service
  • the mv Ptarmigan's sound system cannot be heard from the shore, ensuring preservation of this naturally peaceful setting for wildlife and for other visitors
  • hull designed for safety in ice-filled waters
  • operates daily mid-May through mid-September
    		•
    Want to spend more time exploring Alaska?
    Gray Line of Alaska offers a variety of multi-day packages, Denali rail tours and sightseeing options throughout Alaska and the Yukon.
    Click here for more details

    Book Your Vacation

       2014 Schedule
       Daily May 16 - September 16
       Departures: 10:30 am, 12:00 noon, 1:30 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:30 pm

       Book your tour online or call us at 1.800.544.2206.

       Save $5 on Your Portage Glacier Cruise



    Click for a larger map.
    Click for a larger map
    or Google map.    		     Driving Directions to Portage Glacier:
    • Take the Seward Highway south from Anchorage.
    • Take a left on Portage Glacier Road (milepost 78.9) approximately 48 miles out of Anchorage.
    • Travel 5 miles to fork in road, take the right-hand fork, travel ½ mile, turn left for the Portage Glacier Day Lodge to purchase cruise tickets.