Thompson Pass and Worthington Glacier
Worthington Glacier State Recreation Site; National Natural Landmark · Valdez, Alaska
A mountain pass and roadside glacier on the Richardson Highway about 28 miles north of Valdez. Thompson Pass, at about 2,678 feet, is the snowiest place in Alaska, holding state records for a season's snowfall of nearly 975 inches and more than 60 inches in a single day, and it draws heli-skiers each spring. Just below the pass, Worthington Glacier, a National Natural Landmark, descends almost to the highway. At the state recreation site, a paved lookout trail of about 0.3 miles leads to a viewing platform and interpretive signs near the ice. The older trail onto the glacier is permanently closed because of unstable conditions, and the ridge trail has been closed after rockslides. In summer the site charges a $5 parking fee. Thick cloud can reduce visibility to a few feet on the pass, and winter storms can close the highway.
Worthington Glacier State Recreation Site, Richardson Highway Milepost 29, Valdez, Alaska, 99686, United States
Worthington Glacier State Recreation Site is open in summer. Thompson Pass (Richardson Highway) is open year-round, weather permitting (check dnr.alaska.gov/parks and 511.alaska.gov).
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