Trail of Blue Ice — Portage Valley improved-path return
Alaska · Greenway
From the Moose Flats trail access follow the main Trail of Blue Ice toward Portage Lake for up to the published 5-mile main-trail extent, then retrace. Stay on the designated improved route through recreation-site junctions. Walk the steeper lake-end reach if needed or turn earlier; do not use the road-shoulder alternative, enter a work site or add the separate Williwaw Nature loop.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Portage Valley · Alaska
- Ride length
- Up to about 10 miles return
- Ride format
- Out and back
- Surface
- Mostly wide improved gravel with paved, boardwalk and bridge sections; dry, firm conditions required
- Road crossings
- Slow at access roads, driveways, junctions and bridge approaches. Stop and yield at marked crossings; do not extend onto traffic lanes.
- Elevation
- Forest Service describes an easy valley-floor route, with a steeper approximately 700-foot section near the lake end. This is mixed surface and can require walking transitions; not a flawless pavement or accessibility claim.
- Starting location
- Trail of Blue Ice at Moose Flats Day Use Area, Portage Glacier Road mile 1.5, Portage Valley, AK
Forest Service describes about 5 miles one way; about 10 miles for the whole main trail and return. The interior access/actual open end can shorten the trip. Williwaw Nature loop and road-shoulder alternatives are not added.
Approximate named facility or trail reference. Use the written public start and posted visitor parking; not a surveyed stall or navigable route.
Trail of Blue Ice — Portage Valley improved-path return — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-22. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
An established separated bicycle path, with a selected public start and a return option.
Start and parking
Start: Trail of Blue Ice at Moose Flats Day Use Area, Portage Glacier Road mile 1.5, Portage Valley, AK.
Forest Service names Moose Flats Day Use Area at Portage Glacier Road mile 1.5 as a trail access. Use only open designated visitor parking, with posted seasonal terms. If its gate is closed, choose another ride rather than leaving a car on the highway or assuming campground access.
Ride and distance
Selected ride: Up to about 10 miles return. Format: Out and back.
Ride: From the Moose Flats trail access follow the main Trail of Blue Ice toward Portage Lake for up to the published 5-mile main-trail extent, then retrace. Stay on the designated improved route through recreation-site junctions. Walk the steeper lake-end reach if needed or turn earlier; do not use the road-shoulder alternative, enter a work site or add the separate Williwaw Nature loop.
Forest Service describes about 5 miles one way; about 10 miles for the whole main trail and return. The interior access/actual open end can shorten the trip. Williwaw Nature loop and road-shoulder alternatives are not added.
Surface and effort
Mostly wide improved gravel with paved, boardwalk and bridge sections; dry, firm conditions required. Forest Service describes an easy valley-floor route, with a steeper approximately 700-foot section near the lake end. This is mixed surface and can require walking transitions; not a flawless pavement or accessibility claim.
Crossings and shared use
Slow at access roads, driveways, junctions and bridge approaches. Stop and yield at marked crossings; do not extend onto traffic lanes. Yield to pedestrians, keep right, and slow at blind corners. Stop at barriers; never use a traffic-road detour to bypass a trail closure.
Hours, costs and access
Choose daylight and obey posted trail and parking hours. Winter gates and snow affect access. Posted parking and facility terms govern; no free admission or all-season restroom promise.
Reviewed 2026-10-22. Forest Service’s retained guide and public brochure establish bicycle use and the improved 5-mile corridor. Their route descriptions are historical and do not certify current boardwalks or seasonal gates. Avalanche runouts occur between the Five Fingers and campground areas, and the historical map is not proof that the present lake-end connection is passable. This is a snow-free-season guide: postpone for snow, ice, high water, avalanche exposure or barriers and confirm current Forest Service access before driving. This is a source review, not a same-day inspection. Recheck the linked manager before travel.
Map and Directions
Use the named public start and its posted parking signs. The map reference identifies the facility or selected trail area; it is not a surveyed parking stall or navigable route line. Bicycle and e-bike rules can differ; only ordinary bicycle use is established unless noted.