Rail - anchorage to girdwood

[chandrisellinis]

Had decided on taking rail return Anchorage to Girdwood.

However would appreciate comments re the option of getting off train at Spencer WS and doing the trail tour instead of going all the way to Girdwood.

 

Also option to take coach back from Portage rather than going over same

route on way back. Are there any advantages of going back all the way by rail ?

 

Will be travelling on 22nd June.

[Budget Queen]

Had decided on taking rail return Anchorage to Girdwood.

However would appreciate comments re the option of getting off train at Spencer WS and doing the trail tour instead of going all the way to Girdwood.

 

Also option to take coach back from Portage rather than going over same

route on way back. Are there any advantages of going back all the way by rail ?

 

Will be travelling on 22nd June.

 

The train parallels the road, so doesn't matter what mode you take.

 

You are doing this touring round trip Anchorage?? The Spencer route is scenery loaded. :)

[PennyAgain]

There is no railroad station at Girdwood. How would you get off the train?

[AKman2495]

Had decided on taking rail return Anchorage to Girdwood.

 

As noted, there is no stop at Girdwood. Even if you could get the train to stop there, it is a long walk into town.

 

However would appreciate comments re the option of getting off train at Spencer WS and doing the trail tour instead of going all the way to Girdwood.

 

Spencer glacier is south of Girdwood. You have to pass Girdwood quite a ways before you get to Spencer Glacier. Not to mention There is really nothing at Spencer glacier besides the scenery. Where would you go once you got there?

 

Also option to take coach back from Portage rather than going over same

route on way back. Are there any advantages of going back all the way by rail ?

 

Will be travelling on 22nd June.

 

The train route from Portage to Anchorage is about the same as the highway. The real difference between the highway and the railroad is after portage.

 

Are you sure you mean Girdwood and not Seward?

[Budget Queen]

The Seward train stops in Girdwood. I didn't catch they were looking at the Whittier train? A little confusing, and it looks like they are mixing up the different train routes?

 

I think, the scenic tour option for Spencer is good, if that is the choice?? Aren't there some hiking guided tours?

[Budget Queen]

They are on the Amsterdam, so looking at a round trip Anchorage train option.

[mytime53]

Here is the link to AK RR schedules for this summer:

http://alaskarailroad.com/travel/Schedules/tabid/98/Default.aspx

 

Although I too found the OP confusing, I think the Glacier Discovery Train is the one in question. Note from the schedules...you can get off at the Girdwood stop on both the way to Seward (Coastal Classic) and the way to Whittier (Glacier Disc.).

 

As mentioned above, it is a jaunt to get to where anyone would probably want to go in Girdwood. There is a shuttle...I don't know how often it runs, but it makes a circuit and costs $1.

[chandrisellinis]

Apologies , I meant Grandview not Girdwood.

Amsterdam has the following options which are also available direct from Alaska Rail however intend to book as a cruise ship excursion.

 

1)Anchorage - Grandview return by rail.( depart 9.45 am return 9.15 pm )

2)Anchorage - Spencer WS - Hike then rejoin train on its way back to Anchorage.

3) Either above however coach back to Anchorage from Portage ( get back much earlier at 6.45 pm )

 

The escorted hike sounds good however someone told me chance of seeing bears on rail leg Spencer WS to Grandview.

[AKman2495]

Apologies , I meant Grandview not Girdwood.

Amsterdam has the following options which are also available direct from Alaska Rail however intend to book as a cruise ship excursion.

 

1)Anchorage - Grandview return by rail.( depart 9.45 am return 9.15 pm )

2)Anchorage - Spencer WS - Hike then rejoin train on its way back to Anchorage.

3) Either above however coach back to Anchorage from Portage ( get back much earlier at 6.45 pm )

 

The escorted hike sounds good however someone told me chance of seeing bears on rail leg Spencer WS to Grandview.

 

OK, that makes some sense. As for option 1, that is straightforward scenic trip by rail.

 

Option 2 is a bit more adventurous. You get off in the middle of nowhere, hike through some more beautiful country and rejoin the train.

 

Option 3 does get you back earlier because the bus can do 65 mph and it is only an hour drive from Portage to Anchorage. The train goes a lot slower.

 

There is not difference in scenery between Portage and Anchorage. Past Portage, the trail goes through one valley and the highway through another valley. So there is a difference in scenery between the two.

 

The escorted hike can be quite interesting as you get up close and personal with the view. You have as good a chance of seeing a bear on the hike as you do from the train-maybe better.

 

I would not recommend an outsider doing the hike without an escort. You will be moving through essentially a wilderness and it is easy to get very lost unless you know how to read maps and have hiking experience.

 

If it were me, I would take option 2 with the hike -assuming it is nice weather- and then taking the coach back to Anchorage from Portage.

[Glaciers]

I think you’re idea of doing the Grandview roundtrip with the possibility of getting off at Spencer is a great idea. There is shelter where the train drops you off although if it’s raining you might be better off staying onboard to Grandview. You would certainly want to check to make sure getting off earlier is ok. There is a park ranger who accompanies each trip and narrates along the 1.3 mile walk to the glacier observation area. If you’re ambitious you can hike the additional 2.1 miles to the glacier although time management is really important as the only way out of the area is when the train comes back through in a few hours. Here’s a photo from my trip out last summer taken near the observation area.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Dt4DdD6rp5VIYvQNS8-CI9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0

[chandrisellinis]

Great to have local advise and recommendations, all clear now and we will enjoy the trail if its not raining :)

[chandrisellinis]

About to book the ships OPTIONAL SPENCER GLACIER RAIL & TRAIL presume you would with Alaska Rail direct to save :)

 

Booking HA tour saves the inconvenience of finding own way to railway from ship and in case ship delayed etc etc

 

Have you done this tour as it sound great ?

[Budget Queen]

About to book the ships OPTIONAL SPENCER GLACIER RAIL & TRAIL presume you would with Alaska Rail direct to save :)

 

Booking HA tour saves the inconvenience of finding own way to railway from ship and in case ship delayed etc etc

 

Have you done this tour as it sound great ?

 

Nope, I have not.

[laughing husky]

The trip to Spencer Glacier is outstanding....While it is in the "wilderness" there are Park people who take you for a walk, explain the local plants....and yes, there are clean outhouses for those who need them. It is quite an experience to see that big blue and yellow train come barreling down the tracks, stop and load everyone on with all of their belongings....It is an experience that isn't too common these days....It is not a good one, it is a great one...I would highly recommend that particular trip.

[chandrisellinis]

Many thanks LH looking forward to it.