Kenai Peninsula - The Most Scenic Drives in America: 120 Spectacular Road Trips - page 20

NIMBLE CLIMBERS
Smaller cousins of the bighorn (or mountain) sheep of the western United States and
Canada, Dall sheep are a familiar sight on Turnagain Arm near Beluga Point. Named
for turn-of-the century naturalist William H. Dall, these agile climbers have concave,
elastic hooves that give them a sure-footed edge on steep, rugged slopes, where, bey-
ond the reach of enemies, they munch on mountain grasses. Dall sheep range from
Alaska, where they are white, to British Columbia, where they are nearly black.
5. Alyeska Resort
As you continue along the highway, look for roadside waterfalls, bluebells in bloom, and
Dall sheep climbing the nearby slopes. For a bird's-eye view of the area, turn north at
Girdwood, where a three-mile spur leads to the Alyeska Resort, the largest in the state.
A 60-passenger aerial tram glides partway up Mt. Alyeska, offering panoramic vistas of
Turnagain Arm and the Alyeska Glacier.
6. Twenty-Mile River
Just north of Portage, the Twenty Mile River empties into Turnagain Arm. A roadside
turnout offers a striking view up the river's long, verdant valley, where locals use long-
handled nets to land smelt in May. Nestled at the valley's far end is Twenty-Mile Glacier,
where the river begins its journey.