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FAMILY TRAVEL FUN.COM
THE ALASKA RAILROAD COASTAL CLASSIC
TRAIN
REVIEW OF THE COASTAL CLASSIC TRAIN FROM ANCHORAGE
TO SEWARD ALASKA
by Paula Hughes Court
Editor, Family Travel Fun
"Brown bear on the left!" All passengers on the Alaska Railroad train
traveling from Anchorage to Seward jumped from their seats and ran
toward the left side windows searching frantically for the bear. "There's
a moose moving between the trees on the right!" yelled the railroad's
tour guide. The passengers laughed and dashed back to the right
looking for the moose. Cameras clicked constantly as everyone tried to
capture a shot of the animals.
I wondered if this was the norm for a trip on the Alaska Railroad since
we'd only traveled an hour and had already spotted eagles, bears, a
moose and several Dall sheep standing within ten feet of the train. A
repeat passenger assured me the passengers would settle down in a
couple of hours, exhausted from running back and forth to the windows
and glass domed viewing cars. In our case we were well into the third
hour before passengers calmed down enough to grab a bite in the
dining car or take a nap. The Anchorage-Seward trip is considered to
be the most scenic of all the Alaska Railroad routes and trying to
describe the beauty in words is truly impossible.
The train ride lasts 4 1/2 hours with the first three hours offering
constant photo opportunities. The train leaves Anchorage at 6:45 am,
meaning many passengers plan to sleep on the way. I recommend
waiting until the last hour of the ride before closing your eyes. There's
too much to see and you'll regret it later if you miss anything. The
scenery was some of the most beautiful of our entire Alaska trip and
we spotted more animals from the train than anywhere else.
Like my family, most of the train passengers were traveling to Seward
to board their cruise ship, Radiance of the Seas. Since one-way car
rentals are very limited from Anchorage to Seward, the Alaska Railroad
is the best way to get there. The train also takes care of transporting
your luggage straight to the cruise ship.
ANCHORAGE TO SEWARD RAILROAD HIGHLIGHTS
The scenery changes dramatically along the route, from the Potter
Marsh filled with migrating birds to snow covered mountains and icy
glaciers. Here are a few of the most interesting points along the way to
look for:
LAKE HOOD
Almost every house in this area has their own floatplane parked in the
yard. The Lake Hood Seaplane Base is the largest and busiest
floatplane base in the world.
TURNAGAIN ARM AREA
The Turnagain Arm area features the world's second highest tides at
over 30 feet. During the salmon run, Beluga whales can be spotted
chasing salmon on the incoming tide. In June, we were too early for the
belugas but the stunning views made up for it.
TURNAGAIN ARM PHOTOS
POTTER MARSH-ANCHORAGE COASTAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
At least 130 species of birds have been spotted in this refuge of tidal
flats, marshland and alder-bog forests. In the summer, watch for the
15-20 nesting pairs of Canadian geese and their babies. We spotted
several eagles in this area (our first!) sitting on the tops of trees.
WINDY POINT
With the exception of Denali, Windy Point is one of the best places to
spot Dall Sheep and mountain goats. We saw several rams milling
around low on the slopes just across the Seward highway. If you see
parked cars or tripods on the side of the road, grab your camera and
get ready!
PORTAGE
The town of Portage was completely destroyed by the 1964
earthquake. The ghostly white dead trees serve as a reminder of that
terrible day when the ground subsided 12 feet allowing salt water into
the water table. The salt water killed the trees and preserved the wood
for decades to come.
SPENCER GLACIER
The train offers a great view of Spencer Glacier since it's only 4,000
feet from the tracks.
SPENCER GLACIER PHOTOS
PLACER RIVER GORGE
The train goes through a series of five tunnels high above the Placer
River Gorge. Shoot fast if you want photos of the gorge before
heading back into the tunnels.
PLACER RIVER GORGE PHOTOS
BARTLETT GLACIER
The Bartlett Glacier is only 800 feet away from the tracks. The tour
guides did a great job of letting us know exactly when to take our
photos through the trees.
BARTLETT GLACIER PHOTOS
THE LOOP
A series of S-curves allows passengers to photograph the train moving
in front of or behind their car.
PHOTOS OF THE TRAIN IN THE LOOP
KENAI MOUNTAINS-SNOW, SNOW AND MORE SNOW
We live in Atlanta so my daughter wanted to see snow more than
anything in Alaska. We were shocked at the amount of snow still on the
ground in mid-June.
PHOTOS OF THE KENAI MOUNTAINS AND SNOW
GRANDVIEW AREA
Keep on the lookout for wildlife in the forests along both sides of the
tracks. We spotted bears, a moose (our only moose of the trip) and a
marmot here.
KENAI LAKE
Save some space on your camera card for Kenai Lake. The blue-
green color of the water due to sunlight hitting suspended silt particles
is amazing. More than 16 miles long, Kenai Lake is very cold and
hazardous in rough, windy weather.
PHOTOS OF KENAI LAKE
SEWARD
Seward Alaska is a quaint Alaska town and a great launching point for
some of the best tours and excursions in Alaska to the Kenai Fjords
National Park. While in Seward make time to visit the Alaska Sea Life
Center. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit there, especially the puffins
and Woody the huge Steller sea lion.
ALASKA RAILROAD TIPS-ANCHORAGE TO SEWARD
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR GO:
The Coastal Classic Train on the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to
Seward runs from May 10-September 15th. Prices are $69 one way for
adults, $110 roundtrip. Prices for children 11 and younger are $35 one
way, $55 round trip.
TRAIN
REVIEW OF THE COASTAL CLASSIC TRAIN FROM ANCHORAGE
TO SEWARD ALASKA
by Paula Hughes Court
Editor, Family Travel Fun
"Brown bear on the left!" All passengers on the Alaska Railroad train
traveling from Anchorage to Seward jumped from their seats and ran
toward the left side windows searching frantically for the bear. "There's
a moose moving between the trees on the right!" yelled the railroad's
tour guide. The passengers laughed and dashed back to the right
looking for the moose. Cameras clicked constantly as everyone tried to
capture a shot of the animals.
I wondered if this was the norm for a trip on the Alaska Railroad since
we'd only traveled an hour and had already spotted eagles, bears, a
moose and several Dall sheep standing within ten feet of the train. A
repeat passenger assured me the passengers would settle down in a
couple of hours, exhausted from running back and forth to the windows
and glass domed viewing cars. In our case we were well into the third
hour before passengers calmed down enough to grab a bite in the
dining car or take a nap. The Anchorage-Seward trip is considered to
be the most scenic of all the Alaska Railroad routes and trying to
describe the beauty in words is truly impossible.
The train ride lasts 4 1/2 hours with the first three hours offering
constant photo opportunities. The train leaves Anchorage at 6:45 am,
meaning many passengers plan to sleep on the way. I recommend
waiting until the last hour of the ride before closing your eyes. There's
too much to see and you'll regret it later if you miss anything. The
scenery was some of the most beautiful of our entire Alaska trip and
we spotted more animals from the train than anywhere else.
Like my family, most of the train passengers were traveling to Seward
to board their cruise ship, Radiance of the Seas. Since one-way car
rentals are very limited from Anchorage to Seward, the Alaska Railroad
is the best way to get there. The train also takes care of transporting
your luggage straight to the cruise ship.
ANCHORAGE TO SEWARD RAILROAD HIGHLIGHTS
The scenery changes dramatically along the route, from the Potter
Marsh filled with migrating birds to snow covered mountains and icy
glaciers. Here are a few of the most interesting points along the way to
look for:
LAKE HOOD
Almost every house in this area has their own floatplane parked in the
yard. The Lake Hood Seaplane Base is the largest and busiest
floatplane base in the world.
TURNAGAIN ARM AREA
The Turnagain Arm area features the world's second highest tides at
over 30 feet. During the salmon run, Beluga whales can be spotted
chasing salmon on the incoming tide. In June, we were too early for the
belugas but the stunning views made up for it.
TURNAGAIN ARM PHOTOS
POTTER MARSH-ANCHORAGE COASTAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
At least 130 species of birds have been spotted in this refuge of tidal
flats, marshland and alder-bog forests. In the summer, watch for the
15-20 nesting pairs of Canadian geese and their babies. We spotted
several eagles in this area (our first!) sitting on the tops of trees.
WINDY POINT
With the exception of Denali, Windy Point is one of the best places to
spot Dall Sheep and mountain goats. We saw several rams milling
around low on the slopes just across the Seward highway. If you see
parked cars or tripods on the side of the road, grab your camera and
get ready!
PORTAGE
The town of Portage was completely destroyed by the 1964
earthquake. The ghostly white dead trees serve as a reminder of that
terrible day when the ground subsided 12 feet allowing salt water into
the water table. The salt water killed the trees and preserved the wood
for decades to come.
SPENCER GLACIER
The train offers a great view of Spencer Glacier since it's only 4,000
feet from the tracks.
SPENCER GLACIER PHOTOS
PLACER RIVER GORGE
The train goes through a series of five tunnels high above the Placer
River Gorge. Shoot fast if you want photos of the gorge before
heading back into the tunnels.
PLACER RIVER GORGE PHOTOS
BARTLETT GLACIER
The Bartlett Glacier is only 800 feet away from the tracks. The tour
guides did a great job of letting us know exactly when to take our
photos through the trees.
BARTLETT GLACIER PHOTOS
THE LOOP
A series of S-curves allows passengers to photograph the train moving
in front of or behind their car.
PHOTOS OF THE TRAIN IN THE LOOP
KENAI MOUNTAINS-SNOW, SNOW AND MORE SNOW
We live in Atlanta so my daughter wanted to see snow more than
anything in Alaska. We were shocked at the amount of snow still on the
ground in mid-June.
PHOTOS OF THE KENAI MOUNTAINS AND SNOW
GRANDVIEW AREA
Keep on the lookout for wildlife in the forests along both sides of the
tracks. We spotted bears, a moose (our only moose of the trip) and a
marmot here.
KENAI LAKE
Save some space on your camera card for Kenai Lake. The blue-
green color of the water due to sunlight hitting suspended silt particles
is amazing. More than 16 miles long, Kenai Lake is very cold and
hazardous in rough, windy weather.
PHOTOS OF KENAI LAKE
SEWARD
Seward Alaska is a quaint Alaska town and a great launching point for
some of the best tours and excursions in Alaska to the Kenai Fjords
National Park. While in Seward make time to visit the Alaska Sea Life
Center. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit there, especially the puffins
and Woody the huge Steller sea lion.
ALASKA RAILROAD TIPS-ANCHORAGE TO SEWARD
- The best scenery is along the water on the right side of the train
on the trip down to Seward. These seats are labeled C and D.
Obviously if you're traveling round trip your assigned seats do
not matter but if you're only traveling one way to catch the cruise
ship try to get on the right side.
- I also recommend buying the Ride Guide offered by the Alaska
Railroad tour guides on board the train. The guide lists by mile
marker every interesting point along the way along with history
of the area and the railroad.
- The young tour guides are another great source of information
about the railroad and Alaska in general. Our college student
guide constantly answered questions and gave us a running
commentary on what we were seeing. They're also much better
at spotting animals so pay attention to what the guides are
saying.
- Follow the railroad's guidelines to arrive an hour early to check
in. Our hotel told us we only needed to be there twenty minutes
early. Luckily we didn't follow their advice. The line to check in
grew longer and longer closer to 6:45.
- Be sure to visit the glass domed cars but limit your time to twenty
minutes to give others a chance to sit there too.
- The glare through the windows can cause reflections if you're
taking photos on the left side. There is an open area between
each car if you want to take photos without shooting through a
window. It can be chilly and windy so put on a jacket! The
glaciers and river gorge are on the left so be prepared.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR GO:
The Coastal Classic Train on the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to
Seward runs from May 10-September 15th. Prices are $69 one way for
adults, $110 roundtrip. Prices for children 11 and younger are $35 one
way, $55 round trip.
ALASKA PHOTOS
BARTLETT GLACIER
KENAI LAKE
KENAI MOUNTAINS
PLACER RIVER GORGE
SPENCER GLACIER
TURNAGAIN ARM
THE LOOP-ALASKA
RAILROAD
BARTLETT GLACIER
KENAI LAKE
KENAI MOUNTAINS
PLACER RIVER GORGE
SPENCER GLACIER
TURNAGAIN ARM
THE LOOP-ALASKA
RAILROAD
THE LOOP
THE LOOP
TURNAGAIN ARM
TURNAGAIN ARM
BARTLETT GLACIER
KENAI LAKE
KENAI LAKE
PLACER RIVER GORGE