Anchorage: Portage Glacier Cruise & Wildlife Center Day Trip

Summary

Portage Glacier cruise meets rescued wildlife on Alaska’s wild edge

You’ll ride down Turnagain Arm spotting wildlife with a local guide, walk among rescued bears and bison at Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, then cruise right up to Portage Glacier’s icy face before heading back to Anchorage—all with pickup included. Expect real Alaskan weather, animal encounters up close, and those quiet moments that stick with you long after.

What’s the experience like?

Li was already grinning when we climbed onto the shuttle in Anchorage—she’d grown up here, she said, and still got excited every time she saw Dall sheep on the cliffs along Turnagain Arm. I tried to spot them through the window but mostly just saw my own reflection and a blur of green. She pointed out Potter Marsh, where some locals were standing knee-deep in mud with binoculars. “Birder paradise,” she called it, and I believed her. The air felt damp and sharp, like rain could start at any second.

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center was bigger than I expected—140 acres, Li said, full of animals that couldn’t survive in the wild anymore. There was a wolf pack lounging under spruce trees and a brown bear that scratched its back against a log so hard you could hear it thumping from across the path. The smell was a mix of wet earth and hay. We wandered past moose (huge) and wood bison (even huger), and I tried to pronounce “caribou” the way Li did—she laughed, probably because I butchered it completely. It’s not a zoo; you get close enough to see their breath clouding in the cool air.

After that, we shuttled over for the Portage Glacier cruise. The boat ride was only an hour but felt longer in that good way—time stretches when you’re watching for icebergs to break off right in front of you. A Park Service ranger told us about how much the glacier had shrunk since she was a kid. Standing just 300 yards from all that ancient blue ice made me feel small but weirdly calm too. I kept thinking about how quiet it got when everyone stopped talking at once, waiting for another chunk to fall—just water lapping against metal and this low creaking sound from somewhere deep inside the glacier itself.

The drive back to Anchorage was sleepy; people dozed or scrolled through photos of mountains half-lost in cloud. We stopped for one last look at Turnagain Arm—gray water, sharp wind, someone’s leftover coffee steaming on a rock—and then we were back in city traffic before I really wanted to be. Sometimes you don’t realize what stuck with you until later; for me it’s that moment of silence by the glacier, everyone holding their breath together.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Scenic drive, wildlife, and glacier cruise

• Shuttle along Turnagain Arm
• Stop for photos and views
• Visit Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
• One-hour cruise to Portage Glacier
• Shuttle back to Anchorage

Top questions

How long is the Portage Glacier cruise?

The Portage Glacier cruise lasts about one hour aboard the mv Ptarmigan.

Is hotel pickup included for this day trip?

Yes, pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points in Anchorage are included.

What animals can I see at Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center?

You may see brown bears, black bears, wolves, wood bison, moose, and more native Alaskan animals.

Do I need special shoes or clothing?

Comfortable walking shoes are recommended; weather can change quickly so dress accordingly.

How far is Portage Glacier from Anchorage?

The drive along Turnagain Arm from Anchorage to Portage Glacier takes about an hour each way.

Is lunch included on this tour?

No lunch is included; bring snacks or purchase food at stops if available.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, it’s suitable for all physical fitness levels though some walking is required at the Wildlife Center.

Are there photo stops along Turnagain Arm?

Yes, there are several picturesque photo stops along Turnagain Arm during the shuttle ride.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup and drop-off from your chosen meeting point in Anchorage, guided shuttle transport down scenic Turnagain Arm with plenty of photo stops along the way, entry to Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center where you’ll walk among native animals up close, plus a one-hour boat cruise right up to Portage Glacier led by a Park Service Ranger before returning comfortably back to town in the evening.