Turnagain Arm · Girdwood
Alyeska Resort
Alaska's premier mountain resort — 15 minutes up the arm from the bore
Location
Girdwood · MP 90 Seward Hwy
From Anchorage
~40 mi / 50 min
Aerial tram
Base to ~2,300 ft
Season
Year-round
Alyeska Resort anchors the town of Girdwood at the head of Turnagain Arm, where the Chugach Mountains rise straight out of a coastal rainforest. In summer the aerial tram carries visitors to roughly 2,300 feet for glacier views, ridge hikes, and mountaintop dining; in winter it's one of the northernmost major ski resorts in North America, fed by deep maritime snow. It sits just 15 minutes up the Seward Highway from the best bore-tide pullouts, which makes it the natural base for a Turnagain Arm trip.
Live tide timing
Next good bores
Tomorrow
Mon, Jun 29
Tuesday
Tue, Jun 30
Wednesday
Wed, Jul 1
Thursday
Thu, Jul 2
Times for Hope / Mile 13 · arrive ~20–30 min early. The mudflats are deadly — stay on the gravel above the waterline.
Featured partner
Advertise to bore tide visitors
This spot reaches people actively planning a bore tide trip to Turnagain Arm. Perfect for surf schools, wetsuit rental, Girdwood lodging, guided tours, or gear shops.
Inquire → [email protected]The aerial tram
The Alyeska tram climbs from the hotel base to the upper terminal at roughly 2,300 feet in a few minutes. From the top deck you look out over hanging glaciers, the valley, and the sweep of Turnagain Arm. Ride round-trip for the view, or take it one way and hike down. The tram runs in both summer and winter.
Hiking the mountain
The North Face Trail switchbacks up the mountain from the base to the tram terminal — a steep climb of around 2,000 vertical feet that many hikers pair with a tram ride down. Gentler is the Winner Creek trail, a boardwalk-and-gravel path through old-growth hemlock and spruce to a creek gorge.
Nordic Spa & dining
The Alyeska Nordic Spa runs a Scandinavian hydrotherapy circuit — hot pools, cold plunges, saunas, and quiet relaxation areas set among the trees at the base. For dining with a view, Seven Glaciers sits at the top of the tram, with more casual options in the hotel and around Girdwood.
Winter at Alyeska
When the snow comes, Alyeska becomes a full ski-and-ride mountain with terrain for every level and a long season fed by heavy coastal snowfall. Night skiing, the tram, and slope-side lodging make it a destination in its own right — and the bore still rolls through the arm all winter.
Pro tip
Combine it with the bore: check the live schedule for a morning bore at Hope or Bird Point, then drive 15 minutes to Girdwood for the tram, a hike, or the spa in the afternoon.
For business owners
Reach travelers planning their Alyeska trip
Girdwood lodges, restaurants, and tour operators get found by visitors mapping out their Alyeska and Turnagain Arm getaway. Put your business in front of them with an official Last Frontier Events listing.
More things to do nearby
Ride the Alaska Railroad
The Glacier Discovery train along the arm — and the only way in to Spencer Glacier
Whitewater Rafting on Sixmile Creek
Class IV–V glacier canyons by Hope — and gentler floats nearby
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
A nonprofit refuge at the head of the arm — and the herd that brought wood bison back to Alaska
Bird-to-Gird Bike Path
13 paved, traffic-free miles along Turnagain Arm between Indian and Girdwood
Portage Valley & Whittier
Glaciers at the head of the arm, the one-lane tunnel, and Prince William Sound
Hiking Out of Girdwood
From the historic Crow Pass to easy rainforest waterfalls