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Nellie Juan-College Fiord Wilderness Study Area

Shoreline of Portage Lake

Lakes

Nellie Juan-College Fiord Wilderness Study Area

Shoreline of Portage Lake

Highlight • Lake

Shoreline of Portage Lake

Name: Shoreline of Portage Lake
Rating: 2

Recommended by 13 hikers

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Chugach National Forest

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Location: Nellie Juan-College Fiord Wilderness Study Area, Chugach Census Area, Alaska, United States

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Best Hikes to Shoreline of Portage Lake

5.0

(2)

hikers

1. Portage Pass Trail — Whittier, Alaska

8.94km

03:19

320m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Intermediate

3.3

(4)

hikers

2. Portage Pass – Shoreline of Portage Lake loop from Whittier

11.1km

03:47

300m

290m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Intermediate

Tips

Lisa

July 18, 2023

For most people, the broad, sandy shoreline of Portage Lake marks the turnaround point of this hike — or the perfect picnic spot. The glacier is not terrible active but it does sometimes calve (break off) chunks of ice into the water. If you're in the right place at the right time you might see and hear this happen, and sometimes the resulting icebergs even make it close to shore.

If you see a small cruise ship on the water that is the M/V Ptarmigan, which cruises from the visitor center on the far side of the lake to within good views of the face of Portage Glacier; more information here: graylinealaska.com/portage-glacier-cruises

Finally, some hikers do choose to continue hiking left (south) from here, in hopes of getting closer to the face of the glacier itself. Be warned, there is a not-insignificant stream crossing in the way, and it's very dangerous to walk on, underneath, or in front of the glacier itself, as chunks of ice can and do break off of it at random intervals.

🕊️ 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒓

December 1, 2016

In season arrive early in the day to take a boat from the visitor center around the lake to the Portage glacier base. Alternatively drive through the tunnel and start the hike from the backside, enjoying the unspoiled quietude and spectacular views of the lake and glacier from the ridge or further down.
See hiking tour komoot.com/tour/5031368

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Details

Informations

Elevation 220 m

Weather

Today

Sunday 9 November

-4°C

-9°C

81 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 29.0 km/h

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Location: Nellie Juan-College Fiord Wilderness Study Area, Chugach Census Area, Alaska, United States

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Shoreline of Portage Lake

1. Portage Pass Trail — Whittier, Alaska

2. Portage Pass – Shoreline of Portage Lake loop from Whittier

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