Alaska Marine Highway System

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(AMHS) trips within Alaska & the Alaska Coast Highway system provide year-round transportation service to & from more than 30 communities in Alaska. In the southern entrance to the city from Bellingham, Washington & from the British Columbia Rupert Prince port to the various ports in Alaska. Many Alaskan communities are not easily accessible by the road, so sea or air travel must be considered. This sea route is very special, determined to be an All-American Road & National Scenic Byway, this is the only sea route with this title.

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This waterway is a route through southeast Alaska, through the Gulf of Alaska, Prince William, Kenai, Kodiak & the Aleutian Islands, traveling more than 3,500 miles. The Ferry system connects to the highways located in Bellingham, Washington & Prince Rupert in British Columbia, as well as Skagway, Haines, Whittier, Valdez & the Homer Alaskan communities. Drivers often travel with the ferry, which saves hundreds of miles of driving time, depending on ones route.

The Alaska state ferry fleet operate in three regions to provide for ferry passengers/vehicles: South-East, South Central & South Central/South-West. The Alaska state ferry system works during two stages; Summer (usually May–September), when sailings are most frequent; & the rest (October–April 30), when service is less often.

Vehicles on ferries will cost differently depending on the size of the vehicle & the distance traveled. It costs more if a vehicle takes a lot of space. Motorcycles, bicycles & kayaks are also available for a fee. Do not try to estimate the length of a vehicle, All vehicles must be measured accurately to avoid additional costs, & may be transferred to future flights due to size limitations.

Although some restrictions apply to certain ports & ships, the maximum length is 60 feet. The US Coast Guard provides that it is prohibited to enter the car deck when entering a ship, so passengers are not allowed to sleep or dine in the car.

Cabins are great housing during ferry trips. If one is traveling on one of the long-distance ferries, such as the 38-hour journey between Bellingham, Washington & Ketchikan, Alaska, it is advised to book a cottage in advance. Cabin rates are charged per unit, not by the number of used cabins. In other words, the cost of the cabin is the same, regardless of whether one or more passengers occupy it. Cabins are available in single or double bunk beds, though they vary in size & availability. Some cottages have a toilet, shower, bed, & linens (towels, sheets, blankets). Blankets, pillows, & towels can also be purchased on board, if need be. If the cabin space is sold out or saving money is on the mind, then the inner living room & the sun deck on the upper deck can be used as a sleeping area. Just bring a sleeping bag & relax in the evening, though it would be advised to watch for the weather if one were to do this. Small detached tents are also allowed on the sun terrace (but not under the heated covered area) & aft of the cabin deck.

Be sure to attach the tent to the deck, as a strong wind may increase as the steam goes. Food services depend on the vessel. All boats in the cafeteria or snack bar offer hot meals, snacks & drinks (including beer & wine). Time of service varies depending on the departure time of the journey. Alcoholic beverages can be consumed only in cabins or cafeterias for people aged 21 years or older, & they should not be consumed in public places on the ship. Food & drinks may be brought on board, however, there is no refrigeration equipment available to passengers. Microwaves, coin operated ice machines, soft drink & snack machines on the main line vessels are still accessible. On foot passengers can carry up to 100 pounds hand luggage. There are no restrictions on luggage carried in a vehicle. The luggage trolley for carry-on baggage moves between the terminal & the car deck. One thing to take note of is that passengers are responsible for their own luggage as handling is not provided, & the Alaska Marine Highway System is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged baggage.

The Alaska Railway is a landmark building in the history of Alaska, connecting some of Alaska’s most popular destinations for over 90 years! It provides daily summer service between Anchorage, Denali Park, Fairbanks, Seward, Girdwood, Whittier, Portage, Grandview & Spencer Glacier, as well as year-round service between Anchorage & Fairbanks. The peak season is from June 1 to August 31, the most cost-efficient season is from May 12 to 31 & September 1 to 16. Children from 2 to 11 years old will be charged 50% of the fare for adults, & children under 2 years old ride free of charge. The US military may receive a 20% discount on retail rail fares & must use a military ID when boarding.

The White Pass & the Yukon Route (WP & YR) is a narrow-gauge (36-inch) private railway built during the Klondike gold rush. The construction of WP & YR began in May 1898 & reached the White Pass in February 1899, then arrived in Whitehorse in July 1900. It was the first railway in Alaska, and temporarily the northernmost of all railroads in North America. Starting from sea level at Skagway, the railroad climbs to 2,865 feet at the top of the white mountain pass, having traveled just 20 miles. In 1994, it was declared a landmark of international historical civil engineering & today is one of only 42 monuments in the world. From 1900 to 1982, WP & YR provided passenger & freight services between Skagway, Alaska & Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. Today it serves only passenger services from Skagway, Alaska to Carcross, Yukon Territory, & the White Horse circuit is inactive. Bus service fills in & out of Whitehorse.

The Alaska Highway begins at Mile 0 in Dawson Creek, British Columbia. The highway runs northwest to the Yukon Territory border, near Watson Lake, Yukon Territory (Historical Mile 635). From there, continue along the Yukon Highway 1, crossing the Yukon area for 577 miles to Alcan port on the Alaskan border. The Alaska Highway enters Alaska through the historic mile 1221.8, where it becomes the Alaska Highway 2. From this international border to the official end of the Alaska Highway, 200 miles from Delta Junction, Alaska (Historical Miles, 1422). It is 298 miles from the unofficial end of the highway, Fairbanks, at Historic Mile 1520. The road conditions on the Alaskan highway do not differ from the road conditions on the lower 48 & is equal to many Canadian secondary roads. The huge length of the highway, combined with extreme climatic conditions & northern climate, often leads to accidents on this road.

However, historically, the Alaska Highway has rarely been blocked by any weather phenomena, & even then it usually did not exceed one day. While highway improvement projects usually mean that drivers must drive miles of gravel roads, all of Alaska’s highways are paved. Asphalt roads of the Alaska Highway vary from bad to excellent. Most highways are in good condition, with old roads at least consisting of gravel. The newly modernized sites provides excellent surface cleanliness. Relatively few roads fall into the category of 'poverty', namely: potholes, gravel cracks, shoulder destruction, ups & downs. In other words, though the highway is in generally good shape, the environment is still likely to run amok and create unfortunate driving conditions despite the road authority’s best efforts. Cold winters or torrential rains can quickly destroy the good condition of the roadway, & road workers can quickly improve previously poor-quality roads. Highway companies & other travelers are often a useful source of information about current road conditions. Always ask local locally about what road conditions may be encountered & what services are available in the off-season, as many businesses operate seasonally.

Denali National Park & Preserve is located in the north wing of the Alaskan Mountains, 250 miles south of the Arctic Circle. Originally created in 1917 as Mount McKinley National Park, the Alaska National Interest Lands Protection Act changed the status of the park & had it renamed to Denali in 1980. The 1980 legislation also expanded the park from 2 million acres to the current 6 million acres to protect the Denali side of all the parks & protect the habitat of regional wildlife. The park entrance is 237 miles north of Anchorage & 124 miles south of Fairbanks, accessible through the park highway. National Park provided campgrounds & private cottages in the Kantishna area can be accessed from Park Road 92. The movement of private vehicles is limited to the checkpoint on the Savage River 15 miles away. From the end of May to mid-September, the Visitor Transport System (VTS), including shuttle buses& buses, provides access to parks outside the 15th mile. In September of each year, after the bus stop season, the park will hold a four-day car lottery. Lottery winners can purchase a one-day permit for driving a private car on the long road of the park (or, as far as possible, given weather constraints).

From October to mid-February, Park Road is reserved only at the headquarters of Milepost 3 Park. Over Milepost 3, the road is unnavigable & covered with snow, though skiers, snowshoes, & dog sleds can still access the park. In the middle of February each year, this road will start to enter 12.7 mile (trial version) in order to stimulate an increase in the number of visitors in winter. In addition to paying for a bus & a campsite, visitors who camp in a park or take a shuttle bus (green bus) or tourist bus (cistern bus) must pay a $ 10 entrance fee per person (16 years or older). Charges may vary. National Park passes, America the Beautiful Interagency Passes & annual passes to Denali are available for a fee, information about these passes is available at the Visitor Center. In addition to admission & camping fees, a non-refundable service fee of $6 is charged for each reservation at the campsite. Park shuttles & park campsites can be booked. A pre-booked shuttle can be picked up at the Wilderness Access Center shuttle bus. Any unclaimed prepaid tickets sent before 7 am will be processed by the bus driver, but the driver does not sell tickets.

Kenai Peninsula in Alaska, south of Anchorage, is known as a playground in the south of central Alaska. This is a favorite vacation spot for Alaskan & foreign tourists, & they are attracted by the incomparable landscapes & opportunities for fishing in Kenai, Russian, & Kasilof Rivers, a well as the Resurrection Bay, Kachemak Bay, & Cook Bay. Drivers on the Seward Highway can travel from Anchorage to Kenai Peninsula. The Seward Highway (Alaska Highways 1 & 9) was completed in 1951, passing through an isthmus along the northern coast of the Turnayin branch, separating Kenai Peninsula from the rest of southern Alaska, 52 miles south of Anchorage. Without the Milepost S 75 “Welcome to Kenai Peninsula” logo, drivers may never notice that they crossed the peninsula & left Anchorage center, just 45 miles from Seward Highway.

As soon as the Seward Highway passes through the Kenai Peninsula, it first climbs to the Turnagain Pass, an amazing alpine region, a popular winter recreation area & a summer observation deck. Over the Turnaine Pass, Milepost S 56.3, the Seward Highway & the 18-mile intersection of Hope Highway lead to the historic mining town of Hope on the south bank of Turnagain Arm. Seward Highway is located in the picturesque town of Seward in Resurrection Bay, at the gate of the Kenai Fjords National Park. Stirling Highway is another major road on the Kenai Peninsula. The Stirling Highway begins at the intersection of the Seward Highway at Camp Turn Lake Milepost S 37, 90 miles south of Anchorage. (It is at this intersection that Seward Highway becomes Alaska Highway 9.) From here, the Sterling Highway (Alaska Highway 1) runs 57 miles west to Cook Bay, then travels south along the West Coast of Kenai Peninsula 85 miles from the picturesque city of Homer in the bay Kachemak.

(From this route there is a stunning view of the three active volcanoes in the Gulf of Cook: Redut, Iliamna & Augustine.) The opposite of Homer is the settlement of Halibut Bay & Seldovia, which can be reached by boat. Stirling Highway leads to communities such as Cooper Landing, Soldotna, Kenai (via Kenai Spur Road), Kasilof, Clam Gulch, Ninilchik & Anchor Point. The Sterling Highway also leads to the famous Kenai & Russian rivers, the Kasilof & the Anchor rivers,& is considered one of the most popular fishing rivers in Alaska. Hiking & canoeing are two equally well-known events on the Kenai Peninsula: The Stirling Highway provides access to the popular Voskresensky Pass of the North Pass & the canoe trails of the Kenai National Wildlife Reserve. Homer is the starting point for the following areas: the exciting seaside community center & the tourist center of Seldovia, which can be reached by air, national ferries & private ferries, the artist’s Bay of Paltus, located on the east coast of the Kachemak Bay, with private ferries. Arrivals, as well as parks & wilderness areas around Kachemak Bay, Kodiak Island, on a national ferry or plane from Anchorage, as well as other charter charter or water taxis.

Located on the flat peninsula of Cook Bay, Anchorage has the mountains of Chugach & is the largest city in, as well as capital of, Alaska. The city has numerous parks & stunning pedestrian areas in the city center, unique galleries, shopping centers, the Alaska Performing Arts Center, various museums, botanical gardens & the Alaska Zoo. The Norwegian Tony Coastal Path (bike rental), Alaska Aboriginal Heritage Center, a tram tour & free entertainment in the park. The Anchorage Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Alaska, with a world-class Smithsonian Arctic research center with about 600 exhibits. The ConocoPhillips Gallery is located on the second floor & features many contemporary works of art by Alaskan aborigines, both traditional & non-traditional. Rotating exhibits can be placed on other floors. The redesigned Alaska Gallery opened in the fall of 2017 & showcases the past through a series of key themes that are now known, including characters, landscapes, adaptation, colds, prosperity & frustration, as well as Alaska’s strategic position in the world. The Thomas facility, the 45-seater planetarium, shows educational & entertaining films that demonstrate the night sky & the solar system. A great education center for kids & young people.

The museums, restaurants & art gallery of the North Gallery are at home in the museum. The 4th Avenue Cabin Visitor Information Center is the first stop for visitors. There are lnumerous summer flowers & photos that are worth exploring, not to mention free hikes & maps to learn about Anchorage’s sights & attractions. Next to the information center is the Peratrovich Park, where the famous musical event dedicated to park music. On weekends, Anchorage markets & festivals take place, including handicrafts, food, fresh produce & entertainment. Other places of interest in the city center include the Ulu factory, which demonstrates this traditional clay instrument,& Oomingmak, the Musk ox Manufacturers' Cooperative, the creator of a local musk-kiwi masterpiece. Anchorage Alaska, a public information center located in the historic Old Federal Building, offers natural science exhibits, children's entertainment, travel planning assistance, films & special events. Travel to Anchorage in Anchorage Trolleybus & stop at one of many historical sites.

The Alaska Veterans Museum is located on Fourth Avenue & includes all five armed forces & merchant ships. Anchorage also has one of the most popular hiking spots in the state, Flattop Trail.. (There is a Flattop shuttle in the center of the city, & it is possible go hiking along the trails.) On a sunny day, Flattop offers stunning views of Anchorage & Alaska, which are still visible at altitudes lower than the summit If one does not like hiking, rentable bikes are obtainable throughout the city. Alaska's Aboriginal Heritage Center is a short drive east of downtown. This 26-acre structure includes a 2-acre lake & a footpath leading to five traditional village surroundings representing Alaskan natives. The dramatic greeting building at the entrance to the center shows exhibitions, arts & crafts, as well as theaters. “Cultural Pass” includes a visit to the Anchorage Museum & the Alaska Aboriginal Heritage Center, including transfer between sites. The Alaska Aviation Museum & the Alaska Botanical Garden are the two most popular visitors.

Other attractions in the Anchorage area include the Alaska Zoo (transfer to the city center)& the Port Point State Reserve in Porters Marsh, south of the city, where more than 100 types of waterfowl can be seen. Long trips include a tram ride to the Alyeska resort near Girdwood or the Alaska Fair in late August. Another recommended tour is to travel south from the Seward Highway to a cruise on the Portage Glacier (up to an hour long) & the Whittier Tunnel, or the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Anchorage is the center of attractions, or trips to Denali, Prince William Sound, Kenai Fjords National Park & Portage Glacier trains. If a traveller arrives in Anchorage in February, they can enjoy the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous, which includes snow sculptures & the sled dog world championship. Another game, the famous Iditarod Trail dog sledding race, starts in March in Anchorage. Mushers played about 20 miles against their dog in Anchorage & loaded the team into a truck to start the game Willow, which officially begins the next day. After the end of the game in Nome the contestants will have travelled more than 8 days & 1000 miles.