On a clear morning in Girdwood, the aerial tram cars slide up out of the trees while the peaks above the valley catch the first light and the smell of spruce and wet moss drifts across the parking lots. This is a small mountain town in a rainforest-green valley, with a ski resort at one end, a handful of cafés and taverns in the middle, and trailheads that start almost at the back doors. It suits travelers who want mountains, glaciers and good food within easy reach of Anchorage, and who like a base that feels like a village rather than a resort strip.
Girdwood sits near the end of Turnagain Arm, where the Chugach Mountains drop toward the water, and almost everything you do here is shaped by that setting. You ride, hike, bike, eat and wander with big peaks overhead, and the roads out of town lead to tidal flats, a ghost town and a glacier lake.
What are the best things to do in Girdwood?
The best things to do in Girdwood revolve around the mountain and the water that surrounds it: riding the Alyeska aerial tram, walking forest trails, watching Turnagain Arm from the highway, and taking a short trip out to Portage Glacier. Add a good meal and an evening in a mountain tavern, and you have the shape of a visit.
Each of these is developed in the sections that follow. Here is the short list to keep in your pocket while you plan.
- Ride the aerial tram at Alyeska Resort, because the top of the mountain puts the whole valley and its glaciers at your feet, with a restaurant, a bar and a gift shop up there.
- Step into the Mt. Alyeska Roundhouse at the summit, an octagonal building that now holds a small museum of local ski history.
- Walk or bike the valley trails, since the forest, creeks and gorges begin right at the edge of town and Alyeska runs a summer activities program built around biking and sightseeing.
- Pull over along Turnagain Arm, where the tides are among the strangest sights on the Alaska road system.
- Visit Portage Glacier and its lake, the classic glacier outing within reach of town, with commercial boats crossing the water in summer.
- Spend time at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, which Alyeska itself recommends as an outing for guests.
- Eat in town, from sourdough breakfasts to Alaska seafood and a pint at a local brewery.
- Stay for the dark hours, because winter nights here come with a chance of Northern Lights and a bar at the top of the tram.
If you only have a day, tram in the morning, a forest walk after lunch, and dinner in town makes a full and satisfying loop. With two or three days, add Portage Valley and a slow drive along the Arm, stopping wherever the view asks you to.
Girdwood is also a place to do very little on purpose. A table by a window, a slow coffee with the clouds shifting over the ridges, and a walk down a quiet road under old spruce trees count as real activities here.
Sights and landmarks in Girdwood
Girdwood’s landmarks are mostly the mountains themselves and the few buildings that cling to them. The town is a resort community in the southern part of the Municipality of Anchorage, and its sights are laid out along a short valley road, which makes it pleasant to see them at a walking pace and a slow drive.
Alyeska Resort and the aerial tram
Alyeska is the largest ski area in Alaska, and it is the town’s anchor in every season. The aerial tram carries visitors from the base up the face of the mountain, and at the top there is a restaurant, a bar and a gift shop, so a ride can be a coffee break, a long lunch or an evening drink with a view. The name Alyeska comes from an Aleut word meaning great land of the white to the east, a fitting phrase for a view of snowfields and ice.
Look for the way the valley opens out as the cabin climbs, with the spruce and hemlock forest shrinking beneath you and the glaciers coming into view on the surrounding ridges. The vertical drop of the mountain is 2,500 feet for lift-served skiing, and 3,200 feet in total, which gives you a sense of how much height the ride covers. Clouds can sit on the summit and hide everything, so a clear day is a gift, and a gray one still makes for a moody, atmospheric lunch.
The Roundhouse at the top
At the summit stands the Mt. Alyeska Roundhouse, an eight-sided building listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. It now houses a museum devoted to local ski history, a modest but charming stop that tells the story of how a mining and railroad valley became a ski town. Photographs and old gear bring the early days of the mountain back to life.
Take the time to walk around the building and look out from each side, since the shape of the valley, the glaciers and the Arm below all read differently from different angles. It suits history lovers, photographers and anyone who likes a landmark with a story attached. Pair it with a snack at the restaurant upstairs.
The valley itself and the seven glaciers
Girdwood lies in a valley in the southwestern Chugach Mountains, ringed by seven glaciers. You will not see all of them from any one spot, but the hanging ice and bare rock walls above town are the reason the place looks the way it does. Walk a stretch of the main road and the peaks keep appearing between the trees, especially after fresh snow on the high ridges.
The center of town is small and informal, a scatter of wooden buildings housing cafés, a brewery, a few shops and galleries, and lodgings tucked among the trees. The old mining history of the valley, with its gold creeks, lives on in names such as Crow Creek and Winner Creek, which you will see on trail signs and maps. A stroll here takes in local character that no resort brochure quite captures.
Turnagain Arm and the ghost forest at Portage
Turnagain Arm is the long inlet that Girdwood looks out toward, and it is a landmark in its own right. It stretches a good 40 to 45 miles and has tides up to 40 feet, the largest in the United States. At low tide it empties into a broad mud flat cut by stream channels, and when the flood tide returns it can start with a tidal bore up to six feet high, moving at a brisk walking pace.
Nearby, the ghost town of Portage tells a quieter story. The 1964 Alaska earthquake dropped the ground so far that most of the town ended up below high tide level, and what remains are the ruins of a few buildings and a ghost forest of trees killed when salt water soaked their roots. The gray, standing trunks make a haunting scene, and it is worth slowing down to look at them.
Portage is now a junction, where the road and the Alaska Railroad connect to the glacier park and to the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, the passage that leads on to Whittier.
Outdoor things to do in Girdwood
The outdoors in Girdwood begin at the edge of the pavement. Chugach State Park, a huge protected area of roughly 495,000 acres and one of the four largest state parks in the country, includes Girdwood among the communities within minutes of its boundaries, so the mountains, forests and alpine slopes around town are part of a very large wild landscape.
Forest trails and mountain biking
Summer here means green: moss on the trunks, devil’s club under the hemlocks, fireweed on the roadsides and creeks running loud with melt. Alyeska Resort’s summer program lists sightseeing, biking and activities for children, and the valley’s forest paths run through the same mossy woods. The Winner Creek area, with its gorge and a hand-pulled tram across the water, is a local favorite among the walks that start near town.
Bring a layer, because the forest holds cool air and rain comes and goes, and plan your walks around the weather rather than a rigid schedule. Biking suits riders who like to roll through trees and finish with a view, and the resort’s summer guide gives the options in one place. Walkers who prefer a quiet pace can simply follow a creek and turn around when the mood changes.
Portage Glacier and Portage Lake
Portage Glacier lies south of Portage Lake, about four miles west of Whittier. In summer, a boat ride across the lake is required to view the glacier, and commercial boat tours are available, so the outing is built around a short crossing toward the ice. Floating icebergs, gray-blue water and the sound of wind off the glacier give the trip a very different feel from the forest.
In winter, when Portage Lake freezes, the glacier sees foot, bike and ski traffic. That means the same landscape offers two personalities, a boat-and-water version and a frozen, quiet one. The Begich-Boggs Visitor Center, which Alyeska lists among its activities, is the place to learn about the glacier and the valley before or after you go.
Northern Lights and winter on the mountain
Alyeska lists Northern Lights viewing among its winter activities, and the dark skies above the valley give you a chance of seeing the aurora on a clear night. It is only a chance, since clouds are common, but the setting of mountains, snow and a few lights makes the wait pleasant.
Winter is also the season for skiing at the largest ski area in the state, and the resort offers heli-skiing and cat-skiing tours for those who want terrain beyond the lifts. Those outings are for experienced skiers and riders who want a guided day in the backcountry. Other travelers can simply ride up for the view and the warmth of the lodge.
Day trips from Girdwood
Girdwood is a good base for day trips because the Seward Highway and the Alaska Railroad both pass through the area. The highway, reached at Milepost 90, runs beside Turnagain Arm and can be slow when summer traffic is heavy, so build in time to stop and look rather than rushing.
| Place | Distance from downtown Anchorage (miles) |
|---|---|
| Girdwood | 37 |
| Portage | 47 |
| Portage Glacier | 50 |
Portage Glacier and the Begich-Boggs Visitor Center
This is the classic outing from town. The glacier sits next to Turnagain Arm and is reached through Portage Valley, where the road runs between steep walls hung with waterfalls and small hanging glaciers. At the visitor center you can learn how the ice has behaved, and in summer a commercial boat takes you across the lake for a close look at the face of the glacier.
It suits nearly everyone, from families to photographers, and it works on cloudy days because the mood of low cloud over the lake is part of the appeal. Bring warm layers, since cold air flows off the ice.
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Alyeska Resort highlights the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center as an outing for guests in both summer and winter. It is a wildlife park where animals native to Alaska, many of them orphaned or injured, live in large enclosures, and you see them from a path through the grounds. Bears, moose and other northern animals are what people come for, and the visit gives a close, safe look at species that are hard to see in the wild.
It works well with children and with anyone who wants a wildlife experience that does not depend on luck. Plan a leisurely visit and combine it with Portage Valley, since the two fit naturally into a single day. Wear shoes for walking and dress for the weather.
Whittier and Spencer Glacier by rail or tunnel
The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel leads from the Portage junction to Whittier, a small port town on Prince William Sound. The Alaska Railroad’s Glacier Discovery train also stops in Whittier, Portage and Spencer Glacier, which makes it possible to explore the area by rail rather than road.
Whittier is a place of cloud, water and steep mountains, where the sound feels huge and quiet at once. Spencer Glacier, reached on the Glacier Discovery route, gives a very different day out, with glacial lake scenery and a wild feel. Both suit travelers who like the idea of a trip that is half the point.
Seward, Anchorage and Eklutna Lake
The Coastal Classic train, which stops in Girdwood, runs between Anchorage and Seward, so Seward is a destination that can be built into a longer trip. Anchorage, for its part, is about an hour away by car, and the Alaska Railroad train takes about an hour and a half, which makes the city workable for a museum visit or a dinner out.
Eklutna Lake, in Chugach State Park, offers a different type of day. The Lakeside Trail follows the shore for 12.7 miles and in summer can be traveled on foot, by mountain bike, ATV or on horseback, and in winter by snowmobile, snowshoes or cross-country skis as regulations and weather permit. Most people sample a stretch of it rather than the whole length, then turn back.
What to eat in Girdwood
Eating in Girdwood means mountain-town food with an Alaska accent: big breakfasts, wood-fired kitchens, fresh seafood and craft beer. Menus lean on what the state is known for, and a meal here tends to be hearty because the day before it was probably spent on a trail or a slope.
Start with breakfast. Sourdough pancakes, eggs with reindeer sausage and strong coffee are the local way to set out for a day outdoors, and the town’s bakeries and cafés turn out pastries and sandwiches to carry in a daypack. Many travelers like a bakery stop on the way to a trailhead, with a warm roll still in hand by the time they reach the first creek crossing.
For dinner, look for Alaska seafood. Wild salmon, halibut and king crab appear in season on the best menus around Southcentral Alaska, grilled, pan-seared or tucked into chowder, and smoked salmon often appears as an appetizer with crackers and cream cheese. Sweeter notes come from birch syrup and fireweed honey, which are local specialties found in desserts and sauces.
A meal at the top of the mountain
The top of the aerial tram has a restaurant and a bar, and it is one of the more memorable places to eat in town because the view comes with the meal. Alyeska also has dining at the base, so you can choose between a casual bite and a long dinner with a window onto the peaks.
A lunch at the summit pairs well with a walk around the Roundhouse, and an evening drink at the bar suits anyone who wants to watch the light change over the valley. The details of what is on the menu are best left to the restaurant itself, but expect Alaska ingredients and a mountain-lodge mood.
Taverns, brewery and local favorites
Girdwood has its own brewery, Girdwood Brewing Company, where the taproom feels like a living room for skiers, bikers and locals. Beers lean toward the styles that suit cold mountain weather, from crisp lagers to dark, malty pours, and the food on offer is the kind that goes with them.
Other spots, such as the Bake Shop for breakfast and baked goods and the Double Musky Inn for a hearty dinner, are the names you will hear from people who know the town. Choose by mood. A bakery table for a gray morning, a tavern for a lively evening, a lodge dining room for a celebration.
Things to do in Girdwood at night
Nights in Girdwood are low-key and cozy, built around a warm room, a good drink and the dark outside. There is no big-city nightlife here, and the pleasure lies in a small town where people gather in taverns, lodges and the bar at the top of the tram.
A drink above the valley
The bar at the top of Alyeska’s aerial tram is the most dramatic place for an evening drink, since you sit high above the valley as the light fades and the town’s lights come on far below. The same building holds a restaurant, so a drink can lead naturally into dinner.
It suits couples, friends celebrating the end of a trail day and anyone who likes a view with their cocktail. Dress warmly, since the temperature at the summit differs from the valley floor, and let the sky set the mood. Clear evenings give long views, while clouds make the whole scene feel like a small island above the weather.
Taprooms, taverns and live music
In town, the evening scene revolves around the brewery, a few taverns and the restaurants that stay busy after the day trips return. Conversation is easy, tables are shared, and you will meet skiers, hikers, fishing guides and seasonal workers swapping stories about the day.
Live music appears from time to time in mountain towns like this, and the local calendar is the place to learn what is on during your stay. Even without a show, a pint beside a fire is a satisfying way to end a day on the trail.
Aurora watching and quiet hours
Alyeska lists Northern Lights viewing among its winter activities, and on a clear, dark night there is a chance the sky may light up above the peaks. Cloud cover is common in the valley, so treat the aurora as a bonus rather than a plan, and keep an eye on the sky.
If the lights do not appear, the night still has something to offer. Stars over the Chugach, cold clean air and the sound of the creek make a walk outside worthwhile, and a hot drink afterward feels well earned. Evenings here reward people who like to slow down, sit by a window and watch the weather move across the mountains.
Things to do in Girdwood with kids
Children find plenty to love in Girdwood, from a cable ride high above the trees to real wild animals up close. Alyeska Resort’s summer activities include options for kids, along with sightseeing, day trips and biking, so there is a family-oriented menu to pick from.
The tram and the mountain
For many children, the aerial tram is the highlight, because it feels like an adventure from the moment the doors close and the cabin lifts off the ground. At the top there is a restaurant and a gift shop, so there is a snack, a souvenir and a view in one stop, and the octagonal Roundhouse with its ski-history museum gives older kids something to explore.
Keep in mind that the summit can be cooler and windier than the base, so bring jackets for everyone, and let children set the pace on the way around. Younger kids may prefer to look from windows, and older kids may want to linger at the displays.
Animals at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Seeing animals native to Alaska up close is a thrill for children, and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center gives them that chance in a setting designed for visitors. Walking from enclosure to enclosure makes a good outing for families, with plenty of room to stop, point and ask questions.
It is one of the activities Alyeska recommends in both summer and winter, so it fits into most family plans. Wear sturdy shoes, bring layers and give children time to enjoy the animals at their own speed, since this is the sort of stop where a short visit can easily stretch.
Boats, ice and trains
A boat ride across Portage Lake toward the glacier is the kind of outing children tend to remember, with floating ice, cold air off the water and a huge wall of blue in front of them. The Begich-Boggs Visitor Center gives context for the ice and the surrounding valley before or after the boat.
The Alaska Railroad adds another option for families who like trains. The Coastal Classic runs between Anchorage and Seward, and the Glacier Discovery stops at Portage, Whittier and Spencer Glacier. Kids who love windows and rails may find the journey itself part of the adventure.
With children, remember that distances in this part of Alaska are real, the water is cold and weather changes fast. Pack warm layers, snacks and a flexible attitude, and leave room in the day for a break by a creek or at a café table.
Good to know before you go
Girdwood is reached by the Seward Highway, with the turn at Milepost 90, and the town is small enough that you can walk between its main spots. The Alaska Railroad also stops here, so arriving without a car is possible. Services at Alyeska and on the glacier boats are seasonal, so check each operator’s own listing for the dates that match your trip.
Sources
- Alaska.org, dest girdwood (https://www.alaska.org/destination/girdwood), checked October 11, 2026
- Wikivoyage, Girdwood (https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Girdwood), checked October 11, 2026
- Wikipedia, Girdwood, Alaska (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girdwood,_Alaska), checked October 11, 2026
- Alyeska Resort, Girdwood (https://www.alyeskaresort.com/), checked October 11, 2026
- Alyeska Resort, summer (https://www.alyeskaresort.com/summer/), checked October 11, 2026
- Alyeska Resort, winter (https://www.alyeskaresort.com/winter/), checked October 11, 2026
- Wikipedia, Alyeska Resort (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alyeska_Resort), checked October 11, 2026
- Wikipedia, Turnagain Arm (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnagain_Arm), checked October 11, 2026
- Wikipedia, Portage, Alaska (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portage,_Alaska), checked October 11, 2026
- Wikipedia, Portage Glacier (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portage_Glacier), checked October 11, 2026
- Wikipedia, Chugach State Park (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chugach_State_Park), checked October 11, 2026
- Alaska State Parks, Chugach region (https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/chugach/chugachindex.htm), checked October 11, 2026