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Alaska Event Guides/Turnagain Arm Bore Tide/Girdwood Flats (MP 90)

Bore Tide · Seward Highway

Girdwood Flats (MP 90)

The most-watched bore tide location — pullouts #4 and #5, classic Seward Highway vantage

Location

MP 90, Seward Highway

Bore arrives

~2h 38min after Anchorage low

vs Hope/Mile 13

~45 min after Hope

Drive from Anchorage

~50 min

The Girdwood Flats pullouts at MP 90 on the Seward Highway are the most photographed bore tide viewing spots on Turnagain Arm — specifically turnouts #4 and #5, which the girdwood.com bore tide schedule has been directing people to for years. The arm is narrower and shallower here than at the lower pullouts, which means the bore has compressed and grown by the time it reaches Girdwood — a small bore at Beluga Point becomes more visible here. On good-tide days (27+ ft range), the Girdwood bore is substantial and worth the drive. The bore arrives roughly 2h 38min after Anchorage low water — calibrated against the girdwood.com schedule.

Paddleboarder silhouetted on Turnagain Arm during bore tide, storm clouds over Chugach Mountains
The bore tide wave visible behind the paddleboarder — Girdwood pullout view
Three surfers riding the Turnagain Arm bore tide wave, mountains behind
Three surfers catching the bore — the wave runs wall-to-wall across the arm
Wingsurfer riding the bore tide wave at Girdwood Flats
Wingsurfer on the bore tide — Girdwood sees one of the highest rideable waves on the arm
Bore tide wave line advancing across Turnagain Arm in winter, snow on mountains
Winter bore — the wave line is the white band mid-frame; seals visible on the far mudflats
Lone paddleboarder on Turnagain Arm before the bore tide arrives, Chugach peaks behind
The calm before — bore tide approaches the flat arm from the west
Surfer riding the Turnagain Arm bore tide wave close-up, winter conditions
Close-up on the wave face — the bore averages 4–6 ft at Girdwood on a good day

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.

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Pullouts #4 and #5

These two pullouts on the north side of the Seward Highway at roughly MP 90 are the classic Girdwood bore tide viewing spots. They're set slightly back from the water with views across the flats. On high-range days the bore arrives as a distinct wave; on lower-range days it may only be visible as a line of turbulence moving across the arm.

Why it's more dramatic than lower spots

The bore grows as it travels up the narrowing arm. By the time it reaches Girdwood, it's been channeled between closer shores and has had less room to dissipate than at Beluga Point. A 'Small' bore at Beluga Point may be entirely visible at Girdwood. This is why the girdwood.com schedule became the reference — they got the right spot to see a maximum bore.

Combining with Alyeska

Girdwood is the home of Alyeska Resort (skiing in winter, tram and hiking in summer). A bore tide visit at the pullouts pairs naturally with a tram ride up the mountain, a trail run, or dinner at the resort — making Girdwood a full-day destination rather than just a pullout stop.

The timing offset explained

Hope/Mile 13 sees the bore 45 minutes before Girdwood. This is because Hope sits on the south shore at a position roughly equivalent to MP 96-100 on the north shore — further west (down-arm) than Girdwood, so the bore hits it earlier. If you're at Hope at the bore time, the same wave will reach Girdwood 45 minutes later.

Pro tip

The girdwood.com bore tide schedule hasn't been updated since April 2026 — our live schedule uses real-time NOAA data and is always current. Bookmark this page instead.

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

Beluga Point (MP 110)

Closest to Anchorage — also one of the best spots to see Cook Inlet belugas

Bore Tide Surfing Safety

What you need to know before you paddle out — gear, training, and the risks most people underestimate

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