Whittier Day Trip
A Mallard forages for food along the banks in Duck Park, an optional stop on the way to Whittier
From Anchorage, a day trip to Whittier is a pleasant 58 mile drive to the Southeast coast along the Seward Highway. You drive through the Chugach National Forest, next to the Turnagain Arm. A turn down the Portage Glacier Highway has many viewing opportunities for bears, moose, eagles, cranes, and an assortment of wildlife.
Moose Flats and Alder Pond are a couple of day-use areas where wildlife viewing and hiking trails are available. Hanging glaciers can be viewed, but not Portage Glacier. The Begich, Boggs Visitor Center is the headquarters for the Portage Glacier area. Your Whittier day trip starts from the moment you hit the road, with stops along the way.
The Way to Whittier
A day trip to Whittier does have a feature worth mentioning. This experience means being prepared on-time logistics for any time sensitive tour excursions or activities. The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, often called the Whittier Tunnel, is a 2-1/2 mile long tunnel through Maynard Mountain. It is a shared tunnel, so the train can use it, and cars and trucks can use it. Both cannot be used at the same time. There is a toll, and set schedule for traffic flow in each direction since the tunnel is only one lane, one track wide. You can’t be in a hurry if this will impact your Whittier-based activity.
A visitor enjoys a magnified view of the surrounding mountains and glaciers nearby Whittier
The Namesake
The town of Whittier, at the destination point of your Whittier day trip, was named for poet John Greenleaf Whittier. The nearby Whittier Glacier was as well. It is a deep water harbor, and served as a supply port for the gold mining industry and later, the oil industry. Today, cruise ships dock in Whittier so the passengers can participate in a host of outdoor activities: sightseeing, photography, paddling, fishing, and others.
Whittier has only been linked by roadway from Anchorage since the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel was opened in 2000. Before that, Whittier was only accessible by plane, rail, and boat. The rocky shores here are patrolled by bald eagles, and you are likely to see many migrating coastal birds and marine animals moving about their days.
The small fishing town’s local eateries supply fresh seafood fare. And nearby breweries offer cold beer to sip on while you take in the coastal views after a day of exploring. This quaint town is known for its cloudy and rainy temperaments, so be sure to bring your raingear!
