Turnagain Arm · On foot
Hiking Out of Girdwood
From the historic Crow Pass to easy rainforest waterfalls
Base
Girdwood / Alyeska valley
Marquee hike
Crow Pass Trail
Easy options
Winner Creek · Virgin Creek Falls
Season
Summer–fall (alpine snow-free)
Girdwood, at the head of Turnagain Arm, is a trailhead town. From easy boardwalk strolls to a high alpine traverse on a section of the original Iditarod Trail, the valley packs in rainforest, waterfalls, glaciers, and ridgelines — all within minutes of the bore-tide pullouts.
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]Crow Pass
The Crow Pass Trail climbs out of the upper Girdwood valley along a section of the historic Iditarod/Crow Pass route, switchbacking past waterfalls and an old mine to a high pass with Raven Glacier and Crystal Lake. As a day hike it's a strenuous climb to the pass and back; as a multi-day it continues over to Eagle River. Snow lingers high into summer.
Winner Creek
From the Alyeska base, the Winner Creek trail is a gentle, popular walk on boardwalk and gravel through old-growth hemlock and spruce rainforest to a creek gorge. It's family-friendly and open much of the year.
Virgin Creek Falls & valley walks
A short trail leads to Virgin Creek Falls, a quick waterfall stop near town. The Girdwood valley has a network of shorter paths good for a leg-stretch between other activities, and the Alyeska tram opens ridge hiking up high without the climb.
Pro tip
For Crow Pass, start early and check conditions — the pass holds snow into summer and the Eagle River crossing on the through-hike is serious. For an easy day, Winner Creek and the tram-served ridge are hard to beat.
For business owners
Get found by Girdwood hikers
Travelers planning Crow Pass and Winner Creek trips check this guide before they book gear, rooms, and guides. Get an official Last Frontier Events listing so they find your business first.
More things to do nearby
Alyeska Resort
Alaska's premier mountain resort — 15 minutes up the arm from the bore
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