Guests depart from Anchorage by train on this full-day excursion deep into the mountainous backcountry south of the city. The route covers some of the most scenic miles on the rail, snaking between the silty water of the Turnagain Arm and the cliffsides that border it. At Girdwood, the tour's guides board the train and gather guests for a side trip to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
Paddle through a maze of icebergs.
The center is a sanctuary for orphaned or injured animals that could not be returned to the wild. Those animals include wolves and wood bison, moose and muskox, caribou and coyotes, and black and brown bears. The group spends about an hour observing and learning about these fascinating creatures before returning to Portage to catch the train.
After enjoying a sack lunch on board (included), the train reaches the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop at about 1:45 PM. Here, guests take a quick bus ride down a bumpy mining road to the shore of Spencer Lake, get outfitted in rubber boots and lifejackets, and climb into the waiting rafts. The guides paddle through a maze of icebergs calved earlier in the season from Spencer Glacier. Past these icy figures, some as big as cars, the leisurely float heads into the mild Class I and II rapids of Placer River. After two hours on the water, guests meet the train once again for a return to Anchorage.
The Spencer Glacier Bears, Trains, & Icebergs full-day tour out of Anchorage includes a ride on the Glacier Discovery train, a guided tour of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and a raft trip through Spencer Lake and down the Placer River. The tour operator provides rain gear and rubber boots for the float trip as well as a sack lunch. The tour goes rain or shine.
Proper gear is critical for comfort and safety in this remote environment. Guests should wear warm synthetic hiking pants and a long-sleeved top. Bring a rain jacket, thick wool socks, gloves, hat, and sunglasses. Don't forget a camera and binoculars.
Great for families, but children must be at least two years old to participate.
The Bears, Trains, & Icebergs tour starts at the Anchorage Depot. On the return trip, guests travel by train to Portage and then transfer to deluxe motorcoach for the final leg to Anchorage. Utilizing the motorcoach for the return to Anchorage shortens the trip by 2.5 hours. You will arrive at the depot about 6:45 PM. This trip is also available from Girdwood. Please inquire for details.
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, but children must be at least 2 years old to participate.
| Dates | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| 5/24/25 (Sa) to 9/15/25 (M)5/24/25 (Sa) to 9/15/25 (M) | Adult: $384.00 | Child: $235.00 |
| The rates above do not include taxes/fees of $7.00 per person and are subject to change without notice. | ||
Departure times and locations are listed below. Click on a link for an interactive map.
| Depart | Location |
|---|---|
| Depart: 9:45 AM | Location: Anchorage Train Depot |
| Depart | Location |
|---|---|
| Depart: 11:00 AM | Location: Girdwood Train Depot |
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.
"We hope to be able to come back to Alaska; we found so much more we'd like to do. Our itinerary was perfect for first time visitors."
~Randy from Illinois~
