Glacier Bay

Overview

Glacier Bay National Park protects 3.3 million acres of tidewater glaciers, temperate rainforest, and fjords along Alaska's southeastern coast. Two hundred years ago the entire bay was buried under a massive glacier; today that ice has retreated over 65 miles, exposing a dramatic landscape where new ecosystems colonize raw rock in real time. The park holds 50 named glaciers, seven of which actively calve icebergs into the sea with thunderous cracks that echo across the water. Most visitors arrive aboard cruise ships or the Alaska Marine Highway ferry to the small community of Gustavus, then board park boats or kayaks to explore the bay's inlets. Margerie Glacier, a mile-wide wall of blue ice at the head of Tarr Inlet, is the most popular destination. Humpback whales breach in the lower bay, sea otters float on their backs in kelp beds, and harbor seals haul out on ice floes near the glacier faces. Kayaking the bay is the premier backcountry experience, offering multi-day paddle routes through pristine fjords where you can camp on gravel beaches beneath snowcapped peaks. The visitor season runs from late May through early September, with the warmest weather in July.

Things to Do

• Cruise to Margerie Glacier for calving ice
• Kayak the fjords on a multi-day trip
• Watch humpback whales in the lower bay
• Hike the Bartlett Cove rainforest trails
• Join a ranger-led boat tour
• Fish for halibut and salmon in Icy Strait
• Photograph tidewater glaciers from the water

Wildlife

Keep an eye out for these animals during your visit:

Weather & Best Time to Visit

Cool and very wet. Summer highs reach 55-65°F with frequent rain. Overcast skies are the norm, but clear days reveal stunning mountain backdrops.