Riding the Rails: An Unforgettable Way to Experience the Last Frontier

Alaska is one of the few areas of the United States where trains are a big part of the experience. Sharing about the Alaska Railroad including experiences on a Boy Scout trip to Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop and a visit to an Alaska Railroad open house in Anchorage.

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Alaska is a land of rugged terrain, breathtaking vistas, and incredible wildlife. But beyond its natural beauty, Alaska is also home to a rich history of railways and trains that have played a crucial role in the state’s development.

Today, Alaska’s railroads continue to transport goods and people across the vast expanse of the state, offering a unique perspective on its diverse landscape and culture.

Taking a train ride on the Alaska Railroad is one of the best ways to experience Alaska’s stunning natural beauty and rugged terrain.

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Experiencing Alaska via Railroad

Covering a distance of approximately 470 miles, the Alaska Railroad runs from Seward up to Fairbanks with Anchorage serving as the main hub.

There are five trains (routes) offered. Most of them run from mid-May to mid-September with the Aurora Winter Train only running from mid-September to mid-May.

• Coastal Classic: This route runs from Anchorage to Seward and back, offering stunning views of Turnagain Arm, Kenai Mountains, and Kenai Fjords National Park. It was named on the Top Ten Train Rides in North America list by National Geographic Traveler. The train makes a brief stop in Girdwood.
• Denali Star: This 356-mile, 12-hour journey runs from Anchorage to Fairbanks and back, passing through the heart of Alaska’s interior and offering views of the Alaska Range, Denali National Park, and the Tanana River. The train stops in stops in Wasilla, Talkeetna, and Denali National Park along the way.
• Glacier Discovery: This route runs from Anchorage to Grandview and back, offering views of glaciers, fjords, and wildlife in Prince William Sound. Stops include Girdwood, Portage, Whittier, Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop, and Whittier.
• Aurora Winter Train: This route runs from Anchorage to Fairbanks and back during the winter months, offering views of Alaska’s winter wonderland and the Northern Lights. There are a few stops made along the way including Wasilla, Talkeetna, Hurricane Gulch, Healy, and Nenana. The train departs Anchorage on Saturdays and returns from Fairbanks on Sundays with select mid-week days available.
• Hurricane Turn Train: The train route runs year-round to service backcountry locations. In the Summer months on Thursday – Monday, the train departs Talkeetna for a round-trip journey through  Indian River Valley. Stops include Chase, Curry, Sherman, Gold Creek, Twin Bridges, Chulitna, and Hurricane. From October to May, the roundtrip journey begins in Anchorage with stops at Wasilla, Talkeetna, and the flagstop area south of Hurricane Gulch.

The experience of riding the Alaska Railroad is truly unique and unforgettable. The train cars are comfortable and spacious, with large windows that provide panoramic views of the surrounding wilderness.

The onboard amenities for the Coastal Classic and Denali Star trains include dining cars, lounges, and observation decks, where you can relax and enjoy the scenery while sipping a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.

The Aurora Winter Train has a dining car and the Glacier Discovery Train offers a Wilderness cafe snack bar for food options. There are no food options on the Hurricane Turn Train, so pack your own drinks and food.

Book a trip that includes a ride on the Alaska Railroad.

Heading to Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop

In the Summer of 2011, the older boys and I went on a day-long trip with their Boy Scout Troop. 

We caught the train in Anchorage and rode it to the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop.

The train made short stops at Girdwood and Portage followed by a longer stop in Whittier.

Getting to Whittier involves going through a tunnel that is also used by motor vehicles. This involves waiting for the train’s turn to go under the mountain.

P and R had never been on a train before. I’d only taken a ‘sample’ ride as a child in Louisiana that lasted a few minutes.

Once at Spencer Glacier, we walked the 1.3-mile gravel path from the train stop to Spencer Lake.

A Chugach National Forest Service Ranger was on hand to give a guided experience mentioning different flora and fauna you may see.

Here you can see Spencer Glacier and appreciate the cold as any breeze brings with it chilly air from the ice.

We saw people on a day trip that included kayaking around the glacial lake.

Walking along the trail allowed us to see the rustic campsites available for those wanting to experience the backcountry for a day or more.

For our return journey, we caught the train part way back to Anchorage before transferring to a bus in Portage. This option is available to save travelers approximately 2 1/2 hours of time. 

Short “Sample” Ride in Anchorage (Spring 2012)

The younger boys and I went to the Alaska Railroad open house in the spring of 2012. 

After standing in line for over an hour, we got to ride the train for about 15 minutes. 

My only regrets for that visit were not eating a big lunch before we arrived (as they were starving by the time we left) and not having heavier jackets to wear. 

Thankfully, there was another family in line with us that held our place so I could take the boys into the static displays to get warm and break up the wait.

The boys had a blast!

It was just enough to give them a taste for it and want a longer trip in the future. 

Overall, riding the Alaska Railroad is a great way to experience the beauty and grandeur of Alaska’s wilderness, while enjoying the comfort and convenience of modern train travel.

She’s doing a theme for each week and this week is Railroad/Train/Train Tracks.  Make sure you visit her post (if you haven’t already) to see a nice collection of photos. I pulled photos from a few ‘adventures’ on the Alaska Railroad to share here.

This post was originally a photo-heavy one on October 18, 2012, titled Think Back Thursday – Railroads/Trains/Tracks. It has since been significantly expanded.