Established
1980
Size
3,223,384 acres
Visitors / yr
672K
Entrance
Free
Best season
June through August
Nearest airport
GST Gustavus Airport
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Why Glacier Bay is worth the trip
Alaska · Established 1980
Glacier Bay did not exist 250 years ago. When Captain George Vancouver sailed past in 1794, this was a wall of ice; since then the glaciers have pulled back more than 65 miles, opening a fjord system so new that science has watched it grow up. Boat past tidewater glaciers like Margerie and you can see bergs the size of houses calve into the sea, then look down-bay at mature forest and realize every tree stands on ground the ice released.
It is also simply loaded with life. Humpbacks feed here all summer, sea otters raft in the kelp, and puffins patrol the cliffs. Most visitors see it from a cruise ship deck. The better move, if you can swing it, is the day boat or a kayak out of Bartlett Cove, the one developed corner of three million wild acres and home to the tribal house of the Huna Tlingit, who have known this bay since before it was a bay.
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Top things to do in Glacier Bay
Where we would start, and what we would plan a day around.
01
Self-Guided Tours - Walking · nps.gov
Experience the Huna Tribal House
Take a walk on the Łingít trail to see the first permanent clan house in Glacier Bay since Łingít villages were destroyed by an...
02
Kayaking · nps.gov
Kayak the Beardslees
If you’re visiting Glacier Bay on a budget, one of the more accessible wilderness areas of the park is the Beardslee Islands. Kayak through...
03
Hiking · nps.gov
Hike the Trails at Bartlett Cove
Bartlett Cove has the only developed trails in the park. The forests and shorelines offer great hiking opportunities through a beautiful setting and a...
04
Camping · nps.gov
Camp at Bartlett Cove
The Bartlett Cove Campground is steps away from incredible views of the Fairweather Mountains and the bay. Spend a night in this enchanting rainforest...
Self-Guided Tours - Walking · nps.gov
Experience the Huna Tribal House
Take a walk on the Łingít trail to see the first permanent clan house in Glacier Bay since Łingít villages were destroyed by an...
02
Kayaking · nps.gov
Kayak the Beardslees
If you’re visiting Glacier Bay on a budget, one of the more accessible wilderness areas of the park is the Beardslee Islands. Kayak through...
03
Hiking · nps.gov
Hike the Trails at Bartlett Cove
Bartlett Cove has the only developed trails in the park. The forests and shorelines offer great hiking opportunities through a beautiful setting and a...
04
Camping · nps.gov
Camp at Bartlett Cove
The Bartlett Cove Campground is steps away from incredible views of the Fairweather Mountains and the bay. Spend a night in this enchanting rainforest...
Before you go
Get the Glacier Bay heads-up
Permit windows, closures and seasonal alerts, plus our best Glacier Bay guides, in your inbox before you go. Free, no spam.
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Plan your trip
Our guides for the big decisions, plus the gear, maps and lodging we would actually use for Glacier Bay.
Where to stay
Gateway towns with lodging, food and outfitters.
- Gustavus, AKGateway town
- Juneau, AKGateway town
- Bartlett Cove Campground 33 sites
Maps & guides
Carry paper. Cell service dies fast inside most parks.
America the Beautiful pass
$80 a year. Covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Get the pass
What to bring
Field-tested picks we bring on park trips.
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Bear SprayRequired carry in grizzly country. Practice the quick-draw before you need it. View on REI
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Day Hiking PackA 22-30L pack fits water, layers, snacks, and a first aid kit. View on REI
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Trail ShoesLightweight with good traction for maintained trails. View on REI
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Water BottlesCarry at least 2 liters. More in desert heat. View on REI
Getting there
- GST Gustavus Airport 10 mi
- JNU Juneau International 65 mi
Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would use ourselves.
Glacier Bay map
VC Visitor Center
CG Campground
Nearby Park
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When to go
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Month-by-Month Conditions
Tap any month for details
Month
High
Low
Crowds
Roads
Jan
32°
26°
Low
Partial
Feb
34°
26°
Low
Partial
Mar
37°
28°
Low
Partial
Apr
46°
33°
Low
Partial
May
54°
39°
Peak
Open
Jun Best
59°
45°
Peak
Open
Jul Best
61°
48°
Peak
Open
Aug Best
60°
48°
Peak
Open
Sep
54°
43°
Peak
Open
Oct
45°
37°
Moderate
Open
Nov
36°
30°
Low
Partial
Dec
33°
27°
Low
Partial
Best months to visit
Crowd level (low to peak)
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More Glacier Bay guides
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Parks near Glacier Bay
Within reach if you are building a longer trip.
Worth protecting
Glacier Bay belongs to all of us
Protections that took generations to win can be rolled back in a single session of Congress. We keep watch so they hold.
Stay in the Loop
Free dispatches on the parks and the policy fights around them, almost every day. Threats tracked, wins celebrated, no fluff.
Threatened Lands Map
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