As a gateway to Prince William Sound, Whittier is the point of arrival and departure for large ship cruises. One-day glacier and wildlife cruises into the Sound are available in Whittier. See Blackstone Glacier or Surprise Glacier while you listen and watch for giant slabs of ice to calve off and splash into the bay, giving birth to icebergs.
Witness the spectacular scenery of the snowcapped Chugach Mountains with massive glaciers carving valleys through them,. Towering waterfalls rise straight up from deep fjords filled with emerald water. Keep an eye out for whales, sea lions, seals, sea otters, eagles, and more.
Compared to Kenai Fjords National Park, Prince William Sound is more protected and has calmer water, so seasickness is rare. The Prince William Sound also has more glaciers and sea otters, while Kenai Fjords is know for whales and marine birds.
You can journey to Whittier with the Alaska Railroad, traveling up to alpine terrain in Grandview Pass and stopping at Spencer Glacier. You can raft amongst icebergs on Spencer Lake before heading down the Placer River.
Experience the only land access to Whittier through the 2.5-mile railroad tunnel, currently the second-longest highway tunnel in North America. The tunnel was paved in 2000 and now allows auto traffic.
Whittier is another Alaskan city that should be on your travel itinerary to the Great Land.
Explore the beauty and grandeur of Prince William Sound on an unforgettable cruise.
Ride the rail to Spencer Glacier, and float through Spencer Lake and down the Placer River.