Bore Tide · Seward Highway
Beluga Point (MP 110)
Closest to Anchorage — also one of the best spots to see Cook Inlet belugas
Location
MP 110, Seward Highway
Bore arrives
~1h 45min after Anchorage low
Drive from Anchorage
~25 min
Extra attraction
Beluga whale sightings (summer)
Beluga Point at MP 110 on the Seward Highway is the first major bore tide viewpoint heading south from Anchorage — about 20 miles from downtown and less than 30 minutes of driving. It's named for the Cook Inlet beluga whales that historically followed salmon runs into Turnagain Arm in numbers; the population has declined but sightings still occur, particularly in summer. The bore arrives here somewhat earlier than further up-arm spots, but the arm is widest at this point, which means the bore is lower and less dramatic than at Bird Point or Girdwood. It's a good choice when you're time-constrained or combining bore tide with a short Anchorage day trip.
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]Why it's earlier but smaller
Beluga Point sits near the wider, shallower inlet end of Turnagain Arm — the bore forms here and travels inland. When you're watching from Beluga Point, you're seeing the bore in its early stages, before it's been confined by the narrowing arm and grown in height. For maximum bore drama, continue south to Bird Point or Girdwood.
Beluga whale sightings
Cook Inlet belugas — a distinct and endangered sub-population — sometimes follow salmon runs into Turnagain Arm, particularly from June to October. The white adults are visible from the highway at a distance; the gray juveniles are harder to spot. Beluga Point is a designated watch area, with interpretive signs and a large pullout. Don't mistake bore tide turbidity (brown silty water) for a whale.
Combining with Potter Marsh
Potter Marsh Wildlife Refuge at MP 117 (8 miles north of Beluga Point) is an excellent shorebird and waterfowl area. Pair a morning at Potter Marsh with a bore tide stop at Beluga Point for an efficient half-day trip from Anchorage — birding at the marsh, bore tide at the pullout, back to Anchorage for lunch.
Pro tip
If beluga whale sightings are the goal, call the Anchorage-based Beluga Whale Observation hotline or check NOAA's Cook Inlet beluga tracking — timing your visit to a known feeding aggregation is more reliable than hoping the arm is full on a random day.
More bore tide guides
Hope / Mile 13
South shore quiet — the best unobstructed bore tide view, 45 min ahead of Girdwood
Bird Point (MP 96)
The best Seward Highway pullout — wide views, parking, and minimal trail to the shore
Girdwood Flats (MP 90)
The most-watched bore tide location — pullouts #4 and #5, classic Seward Highway vantage
Bore Tide Surfing Safety
What you need to know before you paddle out — gear, training, and the risks most people underestimate