Turnagain Arm

One of the biggest draws to Alaska is its unparalleled natural scenery, and Turnagain Arm is one of the most beautiful—and potentially dangerous—places to visit near Anchorage. Turnagain Arm is a waterway that empties into the northwest portion of the Gulf of Alaska, and it is one of two branches of Cook Inlet that are known for their extreme tide ranges, dangerous mud flats, and stunning views.

About Turnagain Arm

Arguably one of the most beautiful stretches of American highway, Turnagain Arm can be seen from Seward Highway that hugs its dramatic shorelines. With some of the largest tides in the country, the waters of Turnagain Arm can rise 40 feet at high tide—with low tide exposing expansive mud flats cut by stream channels.

Geography & History

Turnagain Arm was named as a result of an expedition party in 1778 that was on a mission to find the Northwest Passage. William Bligh led a part up Turnagain Arm only to report back that it led to a river—in frustration, the Bligh named the body of water “Turnagain River”.
Turnagain Arm flows east to west and is over 40 miles long, forming part of the Kenai Peninsula’s northern border. The rugged terrain surrounding Turnagain Arm is framed on the left by the 3,000 foot mountains of Chugach State Park. Glaciers can still be found dotting the U-shaped valleys of the Turnagain Arm area, including Portage Glacier, Explorer Glacier, and Skookum Glacier.

Interesting Facts

Turnagain Arm is stunning from a distance, but it holds dangerous secrets that can be a hazard for unaware visitors. With plenty of local legends, tragic accidents, and a storied past, Turnagain Arm is worth the drive—just be careful about getting too close!

• In the top of the highest tides in North America, Turnagain Arm’s 40-foot high tide can come in so quickly that it produces a bore tide—a wave of water that ushers in the rising waters.
• Extreme sport enthusiasts have been known to take advantage of the bore tides by kayaking and surfing the waves as they roll in.
• In 1964, an Alaskan earthquake destroyed the former settlement of Portage at the head of Turnagain Arm.
• Many have lost their lives in Turnagain Arm from disasters that include a 1920 avalanche, windsurfing accidents, plane crashes, and drowning in the quicksand mud flats.
• The Cook Inlet around Turnagain Arm averages one search and rescue operation a week due to accidents with planes, boating, or swimming.
• Both gold placers and gold quartz lodes have been found in the mineral resources of the Turnagain Arm area.