Girdwood & Alyeska Resort 2026 — Alaska’s Premier Mountain Destination

Alaska’s Mountain Getaway, 45 Minutes from Anchorage

Girdwood sits about 40 miles south of Anchorage along the Seward Highway, tucked into a forested valley where the Chugach Mountains rise sharply on three sides. Most visitors drive through on the way to Seward or the Kenai without turning off — a mistake that costs them one of Alaska’s most rewarding stops. Whether you’re coming in summer for the aerial tram and mountain trails or in winter for the skiing, Girdwood and Alyeska Resort reward the detour with scenery and activities that justify an overnight stay just as easily as a day trip.

Alyeska Resort in Summer

Alyeska’s aerial tram runs year-round, lifting visitors roughly 2,300 vertical feet in about eight minutes to a mountain station with views of glaciers, Turnagain Arm, and the full Girdwood valley below. The views from the top justify the ticket price regardless of season. In summer the mountain opens for hiking, with the Glacier Bowl route taking experienced hikers above the tram terminus into genuine alpine terrain. Mountain biking runs on dedicated downhill trails from late June through early September, with bike and helmet rentals available at the resort base.

The tram itself is worth prioritizing regardless of other plans. On a clear day, the view extends down Turnagain Arm toward Cook Inlet and across the valley to the surrounding ridgelines — a perspective you can’t get from the road or the trail network below. The upper mountain view shifts with every season and every weather pattern, which is why repeat visitors keep coming back to it.

The base area concentrates dining, gear rental, and lodge facilities in a walkable cluster — easy to spend a full day without leaving resort grounds. Seasonal programs and events extend the Alyeska experience for families through the summer months.

Girdwood Valley on Foot

Beyond the resort, the valley holds some of the best accessible day hikes in Southcentral Alaska. Winner Creek Trail runs 4.7 miles through old-growth hemlock and spruce forest to a dramatic river gorge, ending at a hand tram crossing that’s become a trail landmark. The path is flat and well-maintained for most of its length — one of the most rewarding forested walks near Anchorage.

Crow Creek Mine on Crow Creek Road offers gold panning in a historic placer mining setting, family-friendly and genuinely Alaskan. The Crow Pass Trail begins from the same road and climbs to a glaciated alpine basin for hikers ready to earn serious elevation.

Winter Skiing

Alyeska is Alaska’s largest ski resort: 1,610 acres of terrain, 76 runs, 7 lifts, and an average of 669 inches of snow per year. The mountain covers all skill levels — wide groomed cruisers for beginners, sustained steep terrain and chutes for advanced skiers. Night skiing extends the vertical day for those who want more time on the mountain. The snowpack typically runs late November through early April, with peak conditions in January and February.

Dining and Lodging

Hotel Alyeska is the slope-side lodging anchor — convenient, well-positioned, and worth booking ahead for winter weekends. Seven Glaciers Restaurant, accessed by tram, serves upscale Alaskan cuisine at elevation with mountain views that are difficult to match anywhere in the state. For a casual evening in the village, Double Musky Inn has been serving French Cajun cooking to Girdwood’s local crowd since 1962. Girdwood Brewing Company handles après-ski and summer evenings with craft beer and wood-fired pizza that works well after a long day on the mountain.

Getting There and Day Trip Logistics

From Anchorage, take the Seward Highway south past Turnagain Arm to the Girdwood exit at Mile 90 — roughly 45 minutes under normal traffic. The drive itself is part of the experience: watch for beluga whales in Turnagain Arm (a small resident population feeds here year-round) and Dall sheep on the cliffs above the road. Bore tides — incoming tidal water that forms a visible wave — are another Turnagain Arm phenomenon visible from highway pullouts on the way down. Parking at the resort base is free. Girdwood works well as a day trip, but an overnight at Hotel Alyeska or one of the valley’s smaller lodges shifts the experience significantly — fewer crowds, more mountain time, and dinner at Seven Glaciers without the rush back to the city.

Practical Tips

• Tram availability: The aerial tram runs daily but hours vary by season and can be paused for wind or maintenance. Check Alyeska Resort’s website before you visit.
• Arrive early on weekends: The resort base and Winner Creek trailhead parking fill quickly on summer weekend mornings. Before 9 a.m. is the reliable window.
• Add Portage Glacier: The Portage Glacier cruise terminal is about 10 miles northeast of the Girdwood exit — a natural pairing for a full Seward Highway day.
• Best season: Summer for tram, hiking, and dining; January–February for peak ski conditions. Both are strong.

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