An enormous ramous bay, where the ocean meets impressive glaciers and high snow-capped peaks form the backdrop to a pristine wilderness where wild animals live peacefully in their natural environment.
This is what you will find in Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska. The different ways to explore the park include riding on a boat, kayaking, or taking a breathtaking scenic flight in a small airplane.
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A Brief Introduction to Glacier Bay National Park
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is not only a U.S. national park; it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is even listed in the Program on Man and the Biosphere. In fact, it is one of the best-preserved parks in the United States, and also for this reason one of the most difficult to access.
In addition, the National Park Service collaborates with Native American communities, particularly Hoonah and Yakutat Tlingit, to manage the park’s largest and rugged area.
The park is named after Glacier Bay, a long bay that branches out and stretches northward from Icy Strait to the Canadian border.
The vast glaciers that characterize this park surround Glacier Bay rise from the ocean to the summits of high mountains, most of which exceed 9,800 ft and in some cases reach between 13,000 and 16,000 ft. The highest peak is Mount Fairweather, on the border between the two states, which reaches 15,300 ft.
Oddly enough, until a couple of centuries ago Glacier Bay did not exist. In fact, explorer James Cook‘s records from 1778 describe this place as an immense and impenetrable expanse of ice hundreds of feet thick. Already a few years after Cook’s voyage, another explorer, George Vancouver, documented in 1794 that some of the ice had melted and a five-mile-long bay had appeared in its place.
The gradual melting of the ice led to the formation of a huge bay. Today ships can penetrate 65 miles inside Glacier Bay, but there are also longer branches that remain inaccessible to ships. Meanwhile, the mouth of the bay is now lined with forest, which can grow along the coast thanks to the warmer climate.
Although visitors to Glacier Bay National Park are quite numerous, it can hardly be considered among the most easily accessible parks in America. In fact, the impassable conditions mean that 80 percent of the tourists travel to this park on cruise ships.Nevertheless, there are also ways, perhaps more challenging but at the same time more fascinating, to reach the heart of the park and appreciate all its grandeur and pristine nature.
Hiking, mountain climbing, rafting, kayaking, fishing and birdwatching: the activities to choose from are numerous. Let’s take a look at how to get to the park and how best to explore it, while also reviewing the precautions to take when going to the more remote areas.
How to Get to the Glacier Bay National Park
The park is located in Southeast Alaska, in the Inside Passage, and is not accessible by car. In fact, the only road to the park is from Gustavus, a town that can only be reached by boat or small airplanes. Therefore, these are the two means of getting to Gustavus and, from there, to Glacier Bay National Park
- By airplane. This is the fastest way to get to Gustavus from Juneau International Airport. Flights are operated by Alaska Airlines and take only 30 to 40 minutes. The cost of tickets is usually about $100 to $110 each way.
- By ship. The cheaper way to travel there, however, is by ship. Tickets vary in price depending on the date, but the maximum cost is $50-60 each way. The Alaska Marine Highway System ferry runs only a few days a week, so it is good to inquire about the schedule beforehand. The duration is 4 hours and 30 minutes, but some trips last 5 hours and 45 minutes because they follow a different route.
Although the ferry trip is considerably longer in duration than the airplane trip, it is worthwhile at least to go by ship one way.
Indeed, it is a very scenic route that can enhance the experience of traveling to this area. My advice is to make the trip out there by ferry and the return trip by plane or vice versa, so that you can enjoy the beautiful views at least on one way and save time on the other, also depending on your itinerary.
Tickets and Hours
Admission to the park is completely free. However, keep in mind that most of the park is not easily accessible on your own, so you need to pay the cost of a guided tour or other services to visit it to get the full experience.
The park is open year-round, but in winter it is difficult to access and there is no transportation service. The visitor center– which is located on the second floor of Glacier Bay Lodge- is open during lodge hours. However, between May and September, rangers are at the park every day from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
How to Visit Glacier Bay National Park by Water?
The easiest way to visit this large bay is to travel by water. You can get here by cruise ship, or independently by plane or ferry and then book a guided tour on the small boats that reach the most beautiful parts of Glacier Bay, or even rent a kayak and paddle along the shores.
Cruises
The majority of tourists travel to Glacier Bay National Park aboard cruise ships. If you are planning a cruise to Alaska, be sure to choose one that also stops at Glacier Bay, because it is really worth it.
Usually, cruise ships that stop at Glacier Bay spend about 10 hours there, so there is plenty of time to visit this gem. Normally rangers come on board to give information to visitors.
This website provides details and lists the companies that operate cruises stopping at Glacier Bay. There are, for example, 7-day cruises that usually depart from Vancouver and make stops at major locations in Southeast Alaska, and in some cases Glacier Bay as well.
Guided Boat Tours
The typical way to visit Glacier Bay is to join a guided tour. First of all, keep in mind that the tours leave in the morning, so it will be necessary to arrive in Gustavus the previous day and stay overnight in the town or at the Glacier Bay Lodge.
Throughout the summer there are daily tours departing from Bartlett Cove. The duration is about 8 hours and during this time you explore the cove, where you will spot numerous wildlife (don’t forget to bring your binoculars!). In fact, on South Marble Island, several species of birds such as cormorants, gulls and puffins nest on the islet, as well as being a place where it is easy to encounter populous colonies of sea lions.
As you approach the coast, you can spot large mammals such as bears, moose, wolves and mountain goats from the boat. In the early afternoon, you will approach the glaciers, where you can see ice breaking off from the glaciers. The sight of the huge ice fragments loudly plummet into the water is an indescribable experience.
These tours cost about $262 ($137 for children ages 3 to 12) and include lunch and drinks. Departure is usually at 7:15 a.m. and return at 3:30 p.m. Details of the tours and how to book are on this website.
Kayak
To get to places beyond where ships can go, the only solution is to go by kayak. The easiest location to depart from is from Bartlett Cove, but it is also possible to book transportation on the boat that does the tours, so you can start kayaking directly upstream.
In addition, there are also guided kayak tours, which allow you to discover the most picturesque places with the help of an experienced guide. These tours can last several days, and there are various options available.
Tours to Bartlett Cove
Although most of the park is inaccessible on foot, Bartlett Cove has trails that cross through the forests that are perfect for hiking. Here is a list of trails that are easily completed in a day:
- Tlingit Trail. Since it is only 1.1 miles long and practically flat, the Tlingit Trail is an easy trail suitable for everyone. It starts at the Glacier Bay Marina and continues along the scenic coastline eastward until it rejoins the paved road.
- Forest Loop Trail. Like the previous trail, the Forest Loop Trail is 1.1 miles long with minimal elevation gain (only 118 ft). The trail passes both the Glacier Bay Lodge and the marina and runs through the area behind the harbor and leads to a couple of scenic spots.
- Bartlett River Trail. This trail is about 4 miles long round trip with 492 ft of elevation gain. So, it is not a very demanding hike. It passes through a fir forest and follows the shoreline of a lagoon, ending near the Bartlett River estuary. Waterfowl can be spotted along this trail, as well as other animals such as moose, bears and coyotes.
- Bartlett Lake Trail. Although parallel to the previous trail, the Bartlett Lake Trail is longer and takes you all the way to Bartlett Lake. It is 8.5 miles round trip and has 935 ft of elevation gain. You should plan to spend a day in order to finish it. In fact, although it does not have major elevation gain, it is a somewhat challenging trail.
Ranger Programs
If you visit Glacier Bay, I highly recommend that you participate in the programs offered by the rangers. During the summer, usually from late May to early September, rangers plan activities such as trivia about the park or lead short walks to discover places that are tucked away.
Ranger activities, updated year by year, are posted on this website.
Scenic Flights
A somewhat more expensive way yet certainly fascinating way to explore the park is to fly over it. Small planes and seaplanes offer unique views of the park’s glaciers, bay, and high mountains.
The park’s website lists companies that offer flightseeing services with their contact information. Many depart from Gustavus or Juneau, but there are also scenic flights that depart from Haines or Yakutat.
Where to Stay in Glacier Bay National Park
For those visiting the park, the most convenient place to stay overnight is at the Glacier Bay Lodge. Overnighting gives you easier access to boat tours, hiking or kayaking. A more spartan alternative is to camp at Bartlett Cove Campground.
The nearest town to the park is Gustavus, where you can also arrive either by boat or plane. There are some accommodations here, for example, the Glacier Bay Country Inn or the Blue Heron B&B.
Most likely, before and/or after visiting the park you will make a stop in Juneau. Alaska’s capital city has a wide selection of places to stay overnight. Two good options here in Juneau are Alaska’s Capital Inn and the Juneau Hotel. Additionally, closer to the harbor where the ferry to Glacier Bay departs, I recommend the Biker’s Bungalow.
