Page 28 - Anchorage & Kenai Peninsula Bearfoot

Bearfoot Checkpoint: The Portage Road is accessed on the TURNAGAIN ARM ea st side of Mile 79 of the Seward Highway.
PORTAGE
GLACIERS & BLUE WATER ON TURNAGAIN ARM
Mile 79 Seward Highway & Portage Road
You can easily see glaciers from the Portage Road , a short drive south of Girdwood, and about an hour south of Anchorage. The Portage Road starts at Mile 79 of the Seward Highway and twists and turns alongside the Portage River, so drive carefully here. Numerous campgrounds dot the Portage Road , and the Trail of Blue Ice is a recent addition to the area: a walking trail with several visible glaciers.
The Portage Road leads to Portage Lake and the Begich-Boggs Visitor Center at Mile 5. Boat tours here travel the lake and take visitors to the Portage Glacier as it calves into the water. Farther up the road from Begich-Boggs is the Whittier Tunnel, a shared train and road tunnel. The old town site of Portage, along the Seward Highway, was destroyed in the 1964 Earthquake.
WHITTIER
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND
PORT TOWN
Mile 11 Portage Road (Turn at Mile 79 Seward Highway)
Whittier is a deep water port in Prince William Sound - not in Turnagain Arm. Compared to the shallow bore-tide waters near Portage, the port of Whittier is much deeper and can allow ferry and cruise traffic. Whittier is reached through the longest road tunnel in North America, shared with the Alaska Railroad. The tunnel is one lane only. Ferries here connect with the towns of Valdez and Cordova.
Whittier has seaside views and a small town square. Many Alaskans own small boats here, and fish out of this port. Around 200 people live in Whittier. Most residents live in one of several large apartment complexes. The town was originally built as a deep water port by the U.S. military during World War II. Summer visitors explore Prince William Sound on boats and tours. There are several restaurants.
PORTAGE
GLACIERS & BLUE WATER ON TIIRNlo.r.tdN lo.RM