Tunnel in — Sound boat or inland corridor

Prince William Sound

Wartime harbour behind a mountain tube

Whittier was built as a military and rail port in the Second World War, sheltered by steep mountains at the head of Passage Canal. Much of the population still lives in a handful of large buildings rather than a spread suburban grid. Built as a Second World War military and rail port sheltered by steep mountains at the head of Passage Canal, Whittier still houses much of its population in a handful of large buildings rather than a suburban grid beside the harbour.

The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel is the land link to the Anchorage side. It runs to a timetable shared with the railroad; missing a slot can strand a day plan. The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel — a one-lane shared rail-and-road tube through Maynard Mountain — is the land link to the Anchorage side and runs to a timetable; missing a slot can strand a day plan under those mountains.

Prince William Sound’s glaciers, islands and marine life are reached by boat from Whittier’s harbour. Cruise days work when the Sound outing or the tunnel corridor is the centre of gravity, not both plus downtown Anchorage at full length. Prince William Sound glaciers, islands and marine life leave from Whittier’s harbour. Cruise days work when the Sound outing or the tunnel corridor is the centre of gravity, not both plus downtown Anchorage at full length.

Ashore

Harbour, Sound boat, or tunnel corridor

1. 01

   Harbour waterfront and town walk

   Short grid under the mountains: docks, a few shops and weather watching. Fine rain buffer and orientation hour. Short grid under the mountains — docks, a few shops and weather watching — is fine rain buffer before a Sound boat from Passage Canal.

2. 02

   Prince William Sound boat trip

   Glacier and wildlife cruises are the main reason most visitors come through Whittier. Book a length that still meets all-aboard with margin. Glacier and wildlife cruises are why most visitors come through Whittier; book a length that still meets all-aboard with margin on open water.

3. 03

   Begich, Boggs Visitor Centre / Portage area (via tunnel)

   Interpretive stop and glacier views on the Anchorage side of the tunnel. Needs timetable discipline both ways. Begich, Boggs and Portage views on the Anchorage side need tunnel timetable discipline both ways under Maynard Mountain.

4. 04

   Skip a full Anchorage lap on a short call

   Anchorage is a separate city beyond the tunnel. Sensible as the day’s sole inland focus; poor stacked onto a long Sound boat. Anchorage is a separate city beyond the tunnel; sensible as the sole inland focus, poor stacked onto a long Sound boat.

5. 05

   Passage Canal harbour orientation

   Walk the compact waterfront under the mountains before you pay for a boat. Confirm meeting points and weather boards. Town is the door; the Sound is the point of the call. Protect all-aboard with a clear return plan before you linger.

6. 06

   Tunnel schedule photograph before inland plans

   If Begich, Boggs or Anchorage is the spine, capture the last return slot that still meets all-aboard. Shared rail-and-road timing does not negotiate. Miss a window and the mountains keep you. Protect all-aboard with a clear return plan before you linger.

7. 07

   Refuse Sound-plus-Anchorage stacking

   Long wildlife cruise and full Anchorage lap each want the day. Boat the Sound or use the tunnel inland — the harbour town is the door, not a third marathon. Protect all-aboard with a clear return plan before you linger.

Keep these

What's worth doing

Before you sail

Tunnel clock, boat clock, weather

• If you leave Whittier by tunnel, learn the schedule and the last return that still meets all-aboard. Leave by tunnel only with schedule literacy and a last return that still meets all-aboard from Whittier.
• Sound boats need firm buffers; wind and fog can slow decks and docks. Sound boats need firm buffers; wind and fog slow decks and docks on Prince William Sound.
• Expect cool rain even in summer. Layers matter more on an open boat than in the harbour shops. Expect cool rain even in summer; layers matter more on an open boat than in harbour shops under the mountains.

Who calls

Ships that stop at Whittier

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