Cozihaus

Easiest from Cozihaus in Spenard

A day in Whittier

You reach Whittier through a single-lane tunnel shared with the railroad, which runs one direction at a time on a schedule. On the other side is an odd, likeable little port town with glacier and sound access.

Who this suits

A full day away, and the best route to glacier and sound scenery without flying.

A plan that works

  1. Check the tunnel schedule before you leave, and plan both your entry and your return window around it.
  2. Drive Turnagain Arm and through Portage Valley — the drive itself is a large part of the day.
  3. Book a wildlife or glacier cruise, or a guided sea-kayak trip, in advance if that is the goal.
  4. Leave buffer before the return tunnel window. Missing it means waiting for the next one.

Drive and timing, honestly

  • Roughly an hour from Cozihaus in Spenard; about an hour and fifteen from Cozihaus on Blodgett Lake — before the tunnel wait.
  • The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel is one lane and shared with rail traffic. It alternates direction on a published schedule, so your real timing is set by the tunnel, not the drive.
  • Turnagain Arm is beautiful and slow. Do not plan this as a half day.

What we won’t promise

  • We cannot promise wildlife. Cruises describe what lives in the sound, not what you will see on your sailing.
  • We cannot promise cruise or kayak availability — operators run seasonal schedules and cancel for weather and sea state.
  • We cannot promise tunnel timing. Schedules change seasonally and for maintenance.
  • We cannot promise glacier visibility or clear weather on the Sound.

Practical notes

  • Cruise and kayak costs vary a lot by operator and trip length. Book ahead in summer.
  • There is a toll for the tunnel.
  • Weather on the Sound can be entirely different from Anchorage weather the same morning.

Where this experience fits

Both Cozihaus homes are on the map. This experience runs easier from Spenard.

Approximate areas, drawn for direction rather than to scale. Exact addresses are shared once a stay is confirmed.

  • Cozihaus on Blodgett LakeA natural base for Valley and northbound exploring — Hatcher Pass, Palmer, Talkeetna, and beyond.
  • Cozihaus in SpenardA natural base for Anchorage and Turnagain Arm — city experiences, the Chugach, Girdwood, Portage, and Whittier.

What this stay reaches

You are here

Whittier

About an hour from Spenard; about an hour fifteen from Blodgett Lake — before the tunnel wait, which sets the real timing.