AMERICA’S WIDE-OPEN WONDERS

Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve

Glaciers & marine wildlife
Alaska
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve · NPS / T. VandenBerg · Photo credits
A PLACE TO REMEMBER

Make room for the wonder.

Glacier Bay’s icy landscapes are best understood from the water. A boat-based visit from the Gustavus area or a cruise itinerary offers a changing panorama of mountains, inlets and glacier country.

Cruising Glacier Bay
Passengers line the deck to enjoy the icy scene at Margerie Glacier
NPS / T. VandenBerg · Photography credit
Icebergs, calved from tidewater glaciers are a common sight in Glacier Bay National Park.
Icebergs, calved from tidewater glaciers are a common sight in Glacier Bay National Park.
NPS Photo · Photography credit
BUILD YOUR OWN PARK DAY

Places to consider

  • 01Bartlett Cove
  • 02Glacier Bay boat trips
  • 03Forest and shoreline walks

Choose the stops that suit your time and your party. These are ideas for exploring, rather than a fixed itinerary or a promise that every road, trail or facility will be open.

Before you set out

Choose transport and lodging together. Weather and marine conditions influence routes and wildlife viewing; confirm the details of your specific boat trip.

Give the day room

Allow time for the approach, parking and breaks. Pick walks for the least mobile members of your party, and leave space for weather or a change of plans.

Bring your group

Confirm vehicle access, drop-off and parking with the park. Check any guided tours, transport and accessibility arrangements before fixing the rest of the itinerary.

Official park visitor guide ↗Current conditions ↗

Check the official NPS guide for current access, fees, passes, reservations and permits. Gateway names identify useful surrounding communities or access areas, not exact entrance directions. Photographs may show earlier seasons or conditions.