Entry No. 64 — the Anchorage file — filed under: ghost_town

Old Portage Townsite

Once a bustling railroad town, Portage was completely devastated during the 1964 Good Friday earthquake when the ground subsided up to ten feet, submerging the area in saltwater. Today, all that remains of the abandoned settlement are a few decaying wooden cabins sinking into the marsh and an eerie 'ghost forest' of petrified, saltwater-killed spruce trees. The site stands as a haunting, nature-reclaimed monument to one of the most powerful earthquakes in recorded history.

The move: Pull off the Seward Highway at the designated viewing areas to safely photograph the sunken cabins and the eerie ghost forest against the backdrop of the Chugach Mountains.

📍 Before you go The ruins sit in a marshy tidal flat subject to extreme high tides, unstable mudflats, and quicksand-like silt, making it highly dangerous to walk out to the structures. Visitors should safely view and photograph the site from the highway pullouts.

• 📍 Girdwood
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Girdwood, AK 99587, USA

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Wikipedia · alaska.org · Atlas Obscura

last checked: 2026-07-20