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Alaska Railroad Passenger Service Coastal Classic Train Anchorage, Girdwood - Seward Train  Coastal Classic Train runs between Anchorage and Seward with a stop in Girdwood. First 50 miles is along the Turnagain Arm. With tides that can vary over 40 feet, it has the second highest tides in North America. Beluga whales and Dall sheep are also often seen along this section. Heading up into the mountains you'll pass glaciers, waterfalls, snowy mountaintops of the Chugach Range and travel through lush spruce and birch forests. The Coastal Classic Train is your rail connection for a whale watching and glacier day cruise to Kenai Fjord National Park.Alaska Railroad's Coastal Classic Train is the transportation connection for arriving and departing cruise ships in Seward, Alaska. Here is what you can expect once you step onboard the Coastal Classic Train:
 Highly Recommend Gold Star Dome Seat UpgradeGoldStar Service - Upgrade to first-class service aboard double-deck dome cars, the unobstructed scenic views and luxury rail travel has never been better. The exclusive private GoldStar open air viewing deck is the perfect way to enhance your Seward train experience and to experience the grandeur of Alaska. GoldStar passengers rave about the expansive views and service that brands it a sure classic between Anchorage and Seward.
OVERVIEW
Tour Type: Scenic, Alaska Railroad Passenger Service, Whistle Stop Difficulty: Easy, Wheelchair Access Comfort: Adventure Class Good Prior Experience: None Coastal Classic Train Route Highlights The Coastal Classic Train is a local favorite that winds through the stretch of wilderness between Anchorage and Seward. A string of massive glaciers visible from the track enriches the journey. This train travels to the shores of Resurrection Bay for convenient connections to Kenai Fjords National Park, whale watching, sea kayaking, tidewater glacier viewing, fishing, and dog sled rides. Seward Seward is the southern terminus of the railroad. From Seward it quickly begins its climb through primeval forests of Sitka spruce. After crossing Snowy River, Kenai Lake comes into view, set off with its stunning aqua color and surrounded by soaring mountains. Moose Pass  Thirty miles from Seward the track winds through Moose Pass, a former railroad construction camp on the shores of Trail Lake. As the rail ascends into the Kenai Mountains, it leaves behind the forests and reveals mountain meadows and streams of gin-clear glacial waters. Trail Glacier appears on the right and soon after, the summit of Grandview at 1,063 feet and the historic Loop District - named for a complex series of trestles built to handle the steep grade in the age of steam engines. In the same stretch, Bartlett Glacier crowds the track just 800 feet away.Placer River Valley Heading towards Anchorage the train passes through a series of short tunnels, and the track descends to the Placer River Valley near Spencer Glacier. Moose, bear and wolves populate the valley among the willow and alder trees. Trumpeter swans migrate through in spring and fall and arctic terns hover above the ponds and river looking for small fish and insects. Twelve miles later Turnagain Arm appears, where 40-foot tides rush into the narrow confines of the Chugach Mountains. Beluga whales pursue salmon and other schooling fish. Next comes Girdwood, home to Alaska's premier ski resort, a 40-mile commute from Anchorage. Chugach National Forest Near Anchorage Chugach National Forest borders Turnagain Arm, some six million acres, the second largest National Forest in the U.S. Bald eagles cruise the thermals above and Dall sheep come to feed on the low plants growing on the cliffs bordering the track. Next comes Potter Marsh in the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge. Anchorage is the final stop, 114 miles out of Seward.
ITINERARY **
May 10 to September 14
MAPS
Alaska Railroad Route Map, Points Of Interest RELATED LINKS AND NATURAL HISTORY Rail Passenger Service Trains Denali Star -Anchorage to Denali & Fairbanks Costal Classic - Anchorage to Seward Hurricane Turn - Anchorage to Huricane Aurora Winter Train - Anchorage to Fairbanks Rail Day Tours Rail Vacations Alaska Railroad History Alaska Railroad Wiki Alaska Central Railroad Tunnel No. 1 SUGGESTED ALASKA READING LIST Kenai Fjords Historic Resource Study (online book) by Linda Cook and Frank Norris Exploring Alaska's Kenai Fjords  by David MillerKenai Fjords Park - Trails Illustrated Map  Alaska: A Novel  by James A. MichenerAlaska: A History of the 49th State  by Claus-M Naske and Herman E. SlotnickGuide to the Birds of Alaska  by Robert H. ArmstrongWild Flowers of the Yukon, Alaska  by John G. S. TrelawnyComing into the Country by John McPhee Travels in Alaska by John Muir  Did You Know? Did you know that Denali or Mt. McKinley, located within Denali National Park and Preserve, is the highest mountain on the North American continent? Measured from the 2,000 foot lowlands to its snowy summit at 20,237 feet, the mountain’s vertical relief of 18,000 feet is greater than that of Mount Everest.
Limitations of liability: Although every precaution is taken to safeguard you and your belongings, our adventure trips involve inherent risks and dangers which are beyond our control and Backcountry Safaris shall assume no responsibility for personal injuries or deaths and loss of personal property. Due to the nature of the activities, a condition of your participation is that you will read and sign the acknowledgment and Release of Liability before the tour begins. A copy of the text is available on request. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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