チューガック国勢調査地域周辺のおすすめファミリーハイキング＆ウォーキング

This is about as far as you'd want to go on the sometimes steep, unstable and unofficial gravel "path" that parallels the glacier. You do get some amazing views here, but all the warning signs you hiked past are there for a reason. This isn't the safest trail on the planet, and it's very easy to suddenly notice you're walking on the glacier itself, as the rock and dirt you started on merge seamlessly into the ice itself. Don't believe me? Look for the glimmers of blue and blue-white ice peeking out through the grime, and trace the source of the miniature waterfalls spilling down near the trail. They're fueled by melting ice.

This is the closest of a couple different viewpoints you can reach with some easy walking. From here, you get very nice views of the glacier's blue ice and the lake of meltwater in front of it. What might be less obvious is that the glacier is actually larger than it appears: A portion of it is covered in dirt, rock, and silt that makes it look like part of the earth.

This gently rolling trail wanders out to a great observation point overlooking the water; you start getting beautiful views even before you fully emerge from the trees. You can walk back along the northern shore of this little point, if you like, turning this hike into a short loop.

Follow the gravel path

Once upon a time, you could see Portage Glacier from this viewpoint. Now it has receded behind a corner of the mountains, so from here you can only see the lake left behind by the glacier, and every so often a few icebergs might still float by. Still, the lake itself is wildly beautiful and the small visitor center nearby is interesting to visit... if it's open. More information here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/chugach/recarea/?recid=71946

Portage Lake is a popular destination near Anchorage, attracting visitors with its scenic allure. Once a site for icebergs, the lake's appearance has evolved due to glacier shifts. Though less frequent, glacier ice chunks still float by.

Valdez is a city that played in important part in the Alaskan Gold Rush and is today one of the most important ports in Alaska. The city is renowned for its ice climbing festival, which takes place every winter. The nearby Keystone Canyon and its waterfalls is one of the most iconic venues for the sport in the world.

Glorious Alaskan mountain scenery and gold mining heritage combine on the Mineral Creek Trail. The Trail begins in Valdez and ventures alongside Mineral Creek up the valley along first a rough gravel road and then a dirt track beyond a gate. The trail ends at an abadonded stamp mill from the gold rush era.