Trail of Blue Ice

The feel

The Trail of Blue Ice stays on the valley floor and links all the developed recreation sites in Portage Valley. Most of it is a wide gravel path with boardwalks and bridges, and the brush is cleared away, so the walking is flat and easy. Along the way you get views of Byron, Middle and Explorer glaciers, and the trail winds by the Williwaw Fish Viewing Platform, where salmon spawn.

People hike it and bike it, and it suits all skill levels. Moose and black bears use the corridor, and wildflowers crowd the edges, including the relatively rare pale poppy. At the lake end, a 700 foot long section climbs about 30 feet by a small flight of stairs, and an accessible route along the road shoulder avoids the grade.

What to expect

Route and terrain

Point-to-point, 4.5 to 5 miles one way, with 30 to 150 ft of gain. Wide gravel with boardwalks and bridges on the valley floor; the lake-end stairs have a paved road-shoulder alternate.

Time

2 to 3 hours one way.

Crowds and best time

Public use is heavy, and the trail is open all year.

Parking

Moose Flats Day Use Area, Explorer Glacier Pullout, pullouts at 1.5, 2.5, 3, 4 and 5 miles along the Portage Highway, or the lakefront lot at the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center.

Kids

Rated easy and suitable for people of all skill levels.

Hazards

Several encounters with black bears; make a lot of noise, travel in groups and carry bear spray. Avalanche run-outs reach sections between Black Bear Campground and Five Fingers Trailhead. Be prepared for inclement weather.

Season and access

Open all year and closed to motorized vehicles year-round. From Seward Highway Mile 79, 49 miles south of Anchorage, turn onto Portage Glacier Road.

Mingo says

Go in late summer or early fall, when the trail crosses streams full of spawning salmon. In winter, keep your time short wherever the trail runs close to the mountains. Walk only the stretch you want, because you can join the trail at five places.

Before you go

• Carry bear spray and walk in a group.
• Park by Portage Lake on the way to the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center, or at Moose Flats Day Use Area.
• Call the Glacier Ranger District at (907) 783-3242.

Written October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.