The City of Whittier is at the head of Passage Canal, a fjord of Western Prince William Sound. Whittier is approximately 47 air miles (62 miles by road) southeast of Anchorage. The nearest major communities to Whittier are Anchorage, Cordova (110 miles to the east), Valdez (97 miles to the northeast), and Seward (125 miles to the southwest). Whittier is a year round ice-free port and is a focal point for marine activity and freight transfer from sea train barge serving South Central Alaska.
The city town site lies on a fan-shaped delta on the south shore of Passage Canal. The delta, approximately a mile square, is bordered by Whittier Creek on the west and by a mountain ridge on the east. At the west end of Passage Canal is a delta, commonly known as “West Camp” or the “Head of the Bay,” about one and one-half square miles in area. This delta is formed by creeks flowing from Portage Pass, Shakespeare Glacier and Learnard Glacier. These two deltas comprise the land area upon which the Whittier community infrastructure is presently located.
Things to See & Do
* Prince William Sound cruises and tours
* Begich Towers
* Whale watching
* The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel
General information
Cruise Season – May - September
Currency - United States Dollar (USD)
Language - English
Land Area - Alaska 586,000 square miles
Population – 200
Electricity – 110 vlt 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style or with a round pin below
Time - GMT minus 10
International Country Telephone Code – 1
Port Location - The new cruise ship terminal is located at the mouth of Whittier Creek, and offers efficient check-in and disembarkation facilities.
Transport Links - Whittier is an easy 90 minute drive from Anchorage by rental car, although additional time and expense should be allowed for the Anton Anderson Memorial tunnel.The Alaskan Railroad offers service to Whittier from Anchorage, and many companies offering Whittier day tours offer bus transportation from Anchorage.
