Portage Creek
Only a 45 minute drive south of Anchorage will bring you to Portage Valley and one of the most scenic places on the Kenai Peninsula. The glacier fed river has 6 miles of Class 1-2 water to hone your paddling skills in one of our classes or tours. Hundreds of locals, young and old , have learned how to SUP on Portage River due to its proximity to the Girdwood Valley and overall gentleness of the river. There are sometimes icebergs floating in Portage lake at the start of the trip and the scenery is jaw dropping the entire way. There aren’t too many spots on the tour where you cannot see at least one glacier off in the distance, most of the time you can see at least five! Sometimes water levels, wind or rain will prohibit us from starting at the lake , in which case we will start a bit farther downriver by Tangle or Willawaw Pond.
Portage Creek SUP Tour
This trip is a level 1 and requires no experience on a SUP. We will start this tour at Portage Lake with a safety and skills session and focus on basic whitewater paddling techniques to learn how to navigate your SUP before floating down the river. First timers will find Portage Creek a perfect place to feel the current without considerable dangers. Once on the river your guide will be working with you the entire tour to practice all these maneuvers to increase your river paddling confidence.
The valley is surrounded by huge peaks with glaciers everywhere, the river meanders for about 5 miles with a few sections of faster -flowing water and splashy waves here and there to safely practice our skills on. The river is tough to see the bottom in most places due to the amount of glacial silt deposited but this is what makes the surreal turquoise aqua colored water so beautiful. We will stop on beautiful black sand beaches along the way and perhaps even see bear or moose along the shoreline. This is one of the most beautiful valleys in the Chugach National Forest and the river is perfect for anyone who wants to learn to SUP!
Meeting directions: This tour meets at the take-out where you will leave your vehicle, we will then shuttle you up to the lake for the start of the tour. Approximately 10 min south of Girdwood on the Seward HIghway you will turn right into the same entrance as the Wildlife Conservation Center at mile 79 and then take an immediate right towards the river, you will then see a small parking area next to the river within a few hundred yards.
Tour Times: This tour is approx. 3 1/2 hours
Cost: $175
Prepared fresh by Alpenglow Coffee House in Girdwood
Add a riverside lunch to any tour!
Choice of sandwiches prepared fresh on the day of your tour and brought along by your guide:
-Panini with turkey, havarti cheese, sweet peppers, spinach and dijon mustard (or) Bagel and salmon lox with red onions and capers
Fresh baked chocolate chip cookie
Choice of seltzer, Lacroix or water
All lunch packages are $25 per person and can be added when you book your tour. Please allow an additional 1/2 hour for any tour with the lunch option.