Glaciers! They have sculpted much of America's beauty. Yet, there are few places today where glaciers still wage their ancient battle against the land. Southcentral Alaska's 5.6-million-acre Chugach National Forest (pronounced "Chew'gatch") is one of these places - a land of glacial diamonds set on a ring of fire. The slow, relentless force of glacial ice has not been the only land-shaping agent: Forces as quick and powerful as earthquakes, and as dramatic as volcanoes, have played a role in creating one of the most diverse landscapes in Alaska, if not America.

The 2nd largest national forest in the nation has the Kenai Peninsula, its wooded mountains and crystal waters, and the islands and glaciers of Prince William Sound as attractions. The 700,000-acre delta of the Copper River is a unique wetlands ecosystem and home to millions of birds. Also, Portage Glacier, the most visited recreation site in Alaska, offers glaciers and wildlife.

These treasures and more await the visitor at Chugach National Forest: towering blue-white glaciers grinding to the sea through spruce forests, killer whales rolling at the surface, trails leading to alpine meadows, clear mountain lakes and rushing streams, Dall sheep and mountain goats.

• Cordova/Copper River Delta -
• Glacier/Prince William Sound -
• Seward/Kenai Peninsula -

• Take a float-plane trip to a remote lake-side cabin and explore the backcountry and its undisturbed beauty.
• Kayak around the Copper River Delta, exploring the inlets and coves which give depth to the shoreline.
• Hike from Seward to Cooper Landing via a series of trails, skirting the picturesque Kenai Lake.
• Cross-country ski in the winter or ride a dog-sled around a lake.