Whittier is best known as the gateway to Prince William Sound. Although cruise ships bring droves of people to this tiny town, road trippers will get to experience a different side of its small-town charm. Although some cruise ships come a long way to reach Whittier, those driving by car will only have a 1.5-hour drive from Anchorage.

A visit to Whittier by car or train feels particularly momentous due to its unique entrance through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, North America’s longest highway tunnel (2.5 miles!). Since you’ll be sharing this tunnel with other drivers (and even the train) on a one-way track, you may have to wait for it to open on your side for up to 15 minutes. As you wait for your turn to pass through, you’ll be rewarded for your patience by views of surrounding glaciers, waterfalls, mountains, and even some wildlife if you’re lucky.

Finally, it’s your turn to drive through the tunnel. This tunnel was specifically designed to withstand -40 F temperatures and 150 mile per hour winds (-40 Celsius/241 kilometers per hour), which gives you an idea of how extreme weather can get here in the winters. Take a moment to appreciate the amount of work that went into building this tunnel into the side of a mountain and enjoy the cool breeze until you emerge on the other side in Whittier.

Shotgun Cove Road takes you past the cruise ship crowds and to some great hiking trails and viewpoints. You may notice that there are only a few residential cabins on this road. That’s because the majority of the town’s residents live in a large, cotton candy-colored apartment building that was originally built as an Army barracks in WW2 (another little quirk of Whittier).

Stop at Lu Young Public Beach to see some amazing views of Emerald Cove and Prince William Sound. If you’re visiting in the fall, you’ll also get to see where salmon go after spawning – many choose this little cove as their final resting spot after a long journey. You can see hundreds of salmon up close from the beach. They may look a little different than you’re used to now that they’ve reached the end of their lives. When the tide is low, it’s easy to get an up-close look through crystal clear water. Although they longer have their bright colors and impressive speed, it is still a special experience to see them at this stage of their lives.

Proceed onwards along Shotgun Cove Road (sometimes marked as a Jeep trail on maps, but it is well-paved and will be drivable with any of GoNorth’s vehicles). After the Second Salmon Bridge (both its official name and its description), you’ll reach the Shotgun Cove Trailhead where you can discover a beautiful, unmarked waterfall. Either hike to the base of the falls or follow the roughly marked trail up to the top of the falls (bring waterproof shoes as this area can get quite muddy after rain).

Can you spot the cruise ship? It’s carrying more people than the entire population of Whittier. The end of Shotgun Cove Road offers spectacular views of the town, as well as frequent otter sightings in the water below.

You can end your journey here or continue hiking along the trail at the very end of this road. Although road access may be limited in this town, the chances for exploration are endless.