About this city
Also known as: Glacier City
Girdwood is a scenic resort town nestled in a valley of the Chugach Mountains, located just 40 miles south of Anchorage along the Turnagain Arm. Originally a gold mining camp called Glacier City in the late 1900s, it was relocated inland after the catastrophic 1964 earthquake and subsequently blossomed into Alaska's premier year-round alpine destination. Hemmed in by seven majestic hanging glaciers and ancient northern rainforests, it offers an laid-back, community-driven mountain culture centered around outdoor recreation.
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Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 1–3 days
Ski the world-class powder slopes at Alyeska Resort, ride the Alyeska Aerial Tramway for panoramic glacier views, and hike the Winner Creek Trail across a hand-tram gorge.
