Mountains meet the sea in Girdwood, Alaska.
Girdwood area services
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Lodging
Charters and tours
Girdwood is a town of about 2,000 people. It sits on the northern shore of Turnagain Arm, in the Municipality of Anchorage, 35 miles southwest of downtown Anchorage along the Seward Highway. Girdwood is bordered on three sides by Chugach State Park and Chugach National Forest.
Climate
The average temperatures in January range from 6 to 20 degrees; in summer, temperatures range from 50 to 70. Annual precipitation is 15.9 inches, with 69 inches of snowfall.
Alyeska Resort
The resort, nestled at the base of the Chugach Mountains near Turnagain Arm, is an outdoor lover's mecca. Access to the mountain is made easier by the ski area's tram, which climbs Mount Alyeska between 10:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. The five-minute ride ends 2,300 feet above sea level with spectacular views of Turnagain Arm and seven glaciers. Tram ticket prices range from $7 to $16.
Alyeska hosts a variety of summer activities and celebrations including the Alyeska 5-kilometer Fun Run (early July), the Midnight Sun Paragliding Fly-In (early July), the Alyeska Mountain Run (mid-August) and the Blueberry and Mountain Arts Festival (early September). Other activities at the resort include tandem paragliding and guided mountain hikes.
Begich, Boggs Visitor Center
One of the most visited sites in the area, the center overlooks Portage Lake in Portage Valley, a short drive south of Girdwood along the highway. Exhibits focus on Portage Valley, Prince William Sound, Alaska animals and Native stories. A 20-minute film, "Voices From the Ice," shows several times daily with a $1 admission charge.
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
The nonprofit organization's private reserve is home to a collection of animals that can no longer survive in the wild. They roam over a 140-acre, drive-through park. View moose, brown bear, porcupine, elk, bison, caribou, musk ox, eagles, Sitka blacktail deer and other animals.
The park is at Mile 79 of the Seward Highway. It's open daily.
Crow Creek Mine
The working mine, on the Register of National Historic Places, gives visitors the opportunity to strike it rich. The first gold strike here was made in 1898. Today, visitors make a trip to the panning shed to practice their skills and then head down to the creek with a shovel and bucket. The site also includes eight original buildings that have been restored. The area around the buildings is wheelchair accessible.
The mine is three miles up Crow Creek Road off Alyeska Highway and is open from mid-May to mid-September.
Girdwood Forest Fair
The annual fair gives arts and crafts lovers an opportunity to browse through dozens of booths featuring items handcrafted by Alaskans. Music is provided throughout the weekend.
The free fair is the first weekend of July. It's at Community Park, Mile 2.2 Alyeska Highway.
Indian Valley Mine
The mine is one of only two underground mines in the area and was built in 1916. Visitors can pan for gold, discover the mine's history in the museum or visit the gift shop.
The mine is at Mile 104 Seward Highway and is open from mid-May through mid-September.
Portage Glacier Cruises
Receding Portage Glacier is one of the easier glaciers to view in Southcentral Alaska. Gray Line offers one-hour cruises on Portage Lake to within about 300 yards of the glacier. Tours can be booked at the Anchorage office, 745 W. Fourth Ave., Suite 200, or or bought at the dock.
To reach the boat, follow Portage Lake Road around from the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center at the lake. The tour costs $25, less for kids 11 and under, and is operated from May through mid-September. Call 907-277-5581.
More about Girdwood
Employment includes the school, service businesses, Alyeska Ski Resort and the Westin Alyeska Prince hotel. Several artists live in the area. A few residents commute to Anchorage. Thirty-six Girdwood residents hold commercial fishing permits. There are a number of seasonal-use and vacation homes in Girdwood.
Girdwood has an airstrip. The Alaska Railroad provides daily train service in the summer.
Nearby attractions are the Bird-to-Girdwood hike/bike trail, a highway viewing area for the bore tide and beluga whales, hooligan and salmon fishing and viewing, and the Begich, Boggs Visitors Center at Portage Glacier and Lake.
History
The community was named for James E. Girdwood, who staked a claim at Crow Creek in 1896. The Girdwood post office was established in 1907. In 1951, the Seward Highway was completed, linking Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula.
The city of Girdwood was formed during the 1960s, but the community was unified with the City of Anchorage and the Greater Anchorage Area Borough in 1975.
