Turnagain Arm: Wildlife Center, Glaciers & Girdwood Lunch

Summary

Alaska’s wild animals up close, glacier air on your face, lunch in Girdwood’s forest

You’ll travel from Anchorage along Turnagain Arm with a local guide, stopping first at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to see bears, moose, and more up close. Glaciers fill your view as you explore Portage Valley before sitting down for lunch in Girdwood’s rainforest setting. Expect animal encounters, glacier air, and small surprises you’ll remember long after.

What’s the experience like?

Hands pressed against the glass, I watched a brown bear lumber past at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center—close enough to see the mud caked in its fur. Our guide, Jamie (she grew up just outside Anchorage), pointed out where the caribou like to hide. She laughed when I squinted at a muskox and called it a “shaggy tank.” The air smelled like spruce needles and something sweet from the snack bag she’d packed for us. I didn’t expect to feel so calm watching these huge animals just do their thing.

The drive along Turnagain Arm was one of those stretches where you keep craning your neck—mountains on one side, water on the other, and Jamie slowing down whenever someone spotted Dall sheep perched way above us. We pulled over once because someone thought they saw beluga whales (not sure if I actually did). Portage Valley was next—glaciers hanging over us like blue-white curtains. Explorer Glacier looked almost fake in that morning light. I kept touching the cold metal of the van door just to ground myself; it all felt kind of unreal.

Lunch in Girdwood came late but nobody minded. That place is tucked into rainforest—real mossy trees and everything—and our table was covered in maps and phones full of animal photos. Someone tried reeling off all the species we’d seen at AWCC but lost count after “porcupine.” The food tasted extra good after breathing glacier air all day (I still think about that soup). On the way back, we stopped at Potter’s Marsh for a last look at birds skimming over the water. It was quiet except for someone’s jacket zipper and a kid giggling about moose tracks in the mud. Can’t really explain it better than that.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Tour Turnagain Arm and Wildlife

• Travel along scenic Turnagain Arm Highway
• Visit Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
• Explore Portage Valley and view glaciers
• Enjoy lunch in Girdwood
• Stop at Potter's Marsh wetland

Top questions

How long is the Turnagain Arm tour from Anchorage?

The full-day tour lasts approximately 8–9 hours including stops.

Is entry to Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center included?

Yes, entry fees for AWCC are included in your tour price.

Are meals provided during this day trip?

A late lunch in Girdwood is included along with bottled water and snacks throughout the day.

What wildlife can I expect to see at AWCC?

You may see brown bears, moose, caribou, muskoxen, reindeer, black bears, porcupines, wood bison—and sometimes lynx or foxes if they’re not hiding.

Is this day trip suitable for children or families?

Yes—infant seats are available and strollers/prams are welcome; it suits all fitness levels.

Will we visit any glaciers on this tour?

You’ll stop in Portage Valley to view Explorer Glacier and Byron Glacier up close.

Is transportation provided from Anchorage?

Yes—the tour includes pickup from Anchorage with return transport after lunch.

Are service animals allowed on this tour?

Service animals are permitted throughout the trip.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from Anchorage with comfortable transport along Seward Highway; entry fees for Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center; bottled water and snacks en route; a sit-down lunch in Girdwood surrounded by rainforest; plus time exploring Portage Valley’s glaciers before heading back—with everything arranged so you can just watch for wildlife out your window.