The Alaska Railroad's Glacier Discovery route takes passengers through some of the most scenic miles of track in the state. This unique day trip gives true train lovers a roundtrip, one-day train experience to rival many others.
Glacier-capped mountains laced in waterfalls.
After passengers settle into their comfortable seats the train departs the depot and travels 50 miles along the picturesque Turnagain Arm. In every direction, the view offers something unique. To the right, bald eagles can often be seen scouting for fish on the incoming tide. To the left, passengers frequently spot Dall sheep balancing on the rocky cliffsides high above the track.
Beyond the ski town of Girdwood, the track leaves the Turnagain and turns north toward one of America's longest railroad tunnels. On the other side, the train pauses in the port town of Whittier before reversing course. With a backdrop of huge glacier-capped mountains laced in waterfalls, this stretch of rail is worthy of a second pass. The train continues through lush marshland in the Placer River Valley, and then heads into the pristine Kenai Mountains wilderness. Among these remote peaks, passengers enjoy spectacular views of Trail Glacier, Bartlett Glacier, Spencer Glacier, and the alpine meadows of Grandview Pass.
After stopping at Grandview, the Glacier Discovery train returns to Portage. Here passengers disembark and board a motorcoach for the final leg along the Turnagain Arm and back to Anchorage. Utilizing the motorcoach for this portion shortens the trip by over two hours. The trip ends at the Anchorage depot about 6:45 PM.
More Details
The Alaska Railroad offers one level of service on the Grandview route. All passengers are seated in spacious Adventure Class cars with tall windows and large seats. Everyone enjoys access to a shared dome observation car and the ability to easily walk between different cars on the train. Food and beverages are available for purchase onboard in the Wilderness Café.
What to Bring
Bring a camera, medications, and government issued photo ID. Bring a credit or debit card for additional onboard purchases (cash not accepted). It is a good idea to dress in layers, since the temperature can vary depending on the weather and the train car's heating and cooling system.
Special Instructions
Check in at the depot with a valid government issued photo ID one hour prior to departure. Boarding passes with seat assignments will be issued then. All passengers are assigned seats by the Alaska Railroad upon check in at the depot. The Alaska Railroad offers checked baggage service. Passengers are allowed two checked bags plus one carry on, with dimension and weight restrictions like those of airlines. The Alaska Railroad charges $20 per item for oversized or excess baggage.
Departure/Arrival Points
Passengers can transfer to and from the Anchorage Depot by taxi, rideshare, or hotel shuttle (where available).
Anchorage Train Depot 411 West 1st Avenue Anchorage, AK 99501
Rates & Dates
Here are the rates and operating dates for this product. Remember, we have a lowest price guarantee for nearly everything we sell.
Child rates apply to children under the age of 12. Infants under the age of 2 may travel for free but must sit on an adult's lap.
Rates & Dates
Dates
Adult
Child
Infant
5/31/25 (Sa) to 9/15/25 (M)5/31/25 (Sa) to 9/15/25 (M)
Adult: $167.00
Child: $84.00
Infant: $0.00
The rates above are subject to change without notice.
Departure Times
Departure times and locations are listed below. Click on a link for an interactive map.
Select a departure below to see current availability. If your desired date is sold out (red) we will do our best to find an alternative, but we may not be able to accommodate your request.
