Things to do in Girdwood
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
Chair 5 Restaurant
The kind of bar and restaurant skiers love after a long day on the slopes. It features more than 60 beers, including a dozen on tap, gourmet pizzas, big burgers and a lot of blackened dishes like blackened halibut tacos.
reviewed
-
Winner Creek Gorge Hike
Winner Creek Gorge Hike is an easy and pleasant hike that winds 5½ miles through lush (and sometimes muddy) forest, ending in the gorge itself, where Winner Creek becomes a series of small cascades. You can also connect to the National Historic Iditarod Trail for a 7.7-mile loop. Either way, you'll cross the gorge on an ultrafun hand-tram.
The most popular trailhead is near Arlberg Rd: walk along the bike path past the Alyeska Prince Hotel, toward the bottom of the tram. Look for the footpath heading into the forest.
reviewed
-
Crow Pass Trail Hike
The highly recommended Crow Pass Trail Hike is a short but beautiful alpine hike that features gold-mining relics, an alpine lake and often there are Dall sheep on the slopes above. It's 4 miles to Raven Glacier, the traditional turnaround point of the trail and 3 miles to a USFS cabin. Or you can continue on the three-day, 26-mile route along the Iditarod Trail to the Eagle River Nature Center. The trailhead is 5.8 miles north of Alyeska Hwy on Crow Creek Rd.
reviewed
-
Crow Creek Mine
Girdwood was named for James Girdwood, who staked the first claim on Crow Creek in 1896. Two years later the Crow Creek Mine was built and today you can still see some original buildings and sluices at this working mine. You can even learn how to pan for gold and then give it a try yourself (adult/child around US$5/around US$4) or pitch the tent and spend the night ($5).
reviewed
-
Girdwood Ski & Cyclery
Girdwood Ski & Cyclery will rent you the bikes to enjoy it.
The most scenic ride is the Indian-Girdwood Cycling Trail, a paved path that leads out of the valley and along the Seward Hwy above Turnagain Arm. A new segment built in 2005 has extended the route to Mile 103 of the highway, linking Alyeska Resort with Indian Creek 17 miles away.
reviewed
-
Seven Glaciers Restaurant
Sitting on top of Mt Alyeska, 2300ft above sea level, is the best of Alyeska Resort's six restaurants and bars. The hotel tram will take you to an evening of gourmet dining and absolutely stunning views that include Turnagain Arm and, yes, seven glaciers. The menu is dominated by seafood; even the meat mains are offered with a side of king crab.
reviewed
-
Alyeska Glacier View Trail
Take the Alyeska resort tram to this easy, 1-mile Alyeska Glacier View Trail through an alpine area with views of the tiny Alyeska Glacier. You can continue up the ridge to climb the so-called summit of Mt Alyeska, a high point of 3939ft. The true summit lies farther to the south, but is not a climb for casual hikers.
reviewed
-
Double Musky Inn
One of the most honored restaurants in the Anchorage bowl, the reason you have to wait (reservations are not accepted) two hours on weekends. The cuisine is Cajun accented and it specializes in steaks, like its New York strips crusted in cracked peppercorns and served with a burgundy sauce.
reviewed
-
Indian-Girdwood Cycling Trail
The most scenic ride is the Indian-Girdwood Cycling Trail, a paved path that leads out of the valley and along the Seward Hwy above Turnagain Arm. A new segment built in 2005 has extended the route to Mile 103 of the highway, linking Alyeska Resort with Indian Creek 17 miles away.
reviewed
-
Ascending Path
A climbing-guide service that has a three-hour glacier hike on Alyeska Glacier (around US$140), including a midnight-sun glacier trek from mid-June to mid-July that begins at 21:00. The company also offers a three-hour rock-climbing outing designed for beginners ($129).
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Downhill Mountain Biking
For some hair-rising biking head to the Alyeska Resort day lodge where Downhill Mountain Biking will send you up on the chairlift for a wild ride down one of four trails. Lift tickets are around US$29 per person and bike rentals are available.
reviewed
-
Class V Whitewater
Offers guided raft trips through some of the whitest water in Alaska, the class V canyons of Sixmile River (around US$130). If you can't handle that icy roller coaster, trips through class III rapids (around US$75 to $95) are available.
reviewed
-
Maxine's Glacier City Bristol
Maxine's Glacier City Bristol,is a Mediterranean bistro with a Girdwood feel (friendly dogs congregate outside while their owners eat). Your lamb shawarma is accompanied by live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
reviewed
-
Alyeska Ski Resort Tram
The Alyeska Ski Resort Tram offers the easiest route to the alpine during the summer. At the top you can dine at Seven Glaciers Restaurant or just wander above the tree line, soaking up the incredible views.
reviewed
-
Girdwood Center for Visual Arts
The Girdwood Center for Visual Arts serves as an artisan cooperative during the summer and is filled with the work of those locals who get inspired by the majestic scenery that surrounds them.
reviewed
-
Alpine Air
Has a two-hour glacier tour that includes a helicopter landing on the ice and an opportunity to drive a sled dog team (adult/child around US$350/$299).
reviewed
-
Jack Sprat
Creative, inspired cuisine at the base of the ski hill. Its salads are wonderful, dark chocolate torte sinful, and it's recommended.
reviewed
-
Java Haus
The place to go for espresso drinks, cheap egg sandwiches and internet access.
reviewed
-
