Area Status: Open
Welcome to the land of ice & rock...
Portage Valley is a 14 mile isthmus that connects the Kenai Peninsula to mainland Alaska. Portage Glacier once extended the entire length of the valley. The glacial remnants that can be seen today are Explorer, Middle, Byron, Burns, and Shakespeare glaciers. While still massive in size, these glaciers stand as reminders of the immense ice sheets that once covered this landscape.
Portage Glacier has advanced and retreated over the years, due to climatic fluctuations. This diagram illustrates the retreat of both Portage and Burns Glaciers over the last century. The blue colors show the current position of Portage Lake and the main retreat of Portage Glacier. The brown tones indicate land and the main retreat of Burns Glacier.