Glacier Bay Trail & Visitor Guide
Glacier Bay · United States · 3.3 million acres (about 5,200 square miles) in southeast Alaska
Why Visit Glacier Bay
Glacier Bay National Park protects 3.3 million acres of southeast Alaska where tidewater glaciers descend from the Fairweather Mountains directly into the sea. When Captain George Vancouver sailed through in 1794, the bay was almost entirely covered by ice. Today the glaciers have retreated over 65 miles, revealing a landscape in active ecological succession — bare rock gives way to moss, then shrubs, then spruce forest over decades.
Free Glacier Bay Audio Guide with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free, self-guided Glacier Bay audio guide. It narrates trails, viewpoints, geology, and wildlife as you explore — Margerie Glacier, Bartlett Cove, Tlingit Trail, plus quieter spots like Beardslee Islands and Point Gustavus. No guide, no schedule, works offline.
explore by interest
Signature Trails
- Forest Loop Trail1.0 mile loop · Easy
Spruce-hemlock forest and shoreline near Bartlett Cove; starts at the Glacier Bay Lodge
- Bartlett River Trail4 miles round trip · Easy to moderate
Forest and intertidal lagoon at the Bartlett River estuary; bird and bear sightings
- Bartlett Lake Trail6 miles round trip · Moderate
Freshwater lake through old-growth forest; least-used of the Bartlett Cove trails
- Tlingit Trail (Huna Tribal House shoreline walk)About 1 mile round trip · Easy
Beach walk past the Xunaa Shuka Hit tribal house and totem poles along Bartlett Cove
Must-See in Glacier Bay
- •Margerie Glacier — a 250-foot-tall tidewater glacier that actively calves icebergs into the bay
- •Bartlett Cove — the park's only developed area with rainforest trails and a visitor center
- •Tlingit Trail — a 1-mile forest walk through Sitka spruce rainforest from the lodge to the beach
- •Whale watching — humpback whales feed in the bay from June through September
Best Viewpoints
- •Margerie Glacier at the head of Tarr Inlet, the tidewater glacier cruise ships approach
- •Lamplugh Glacier in the West Arm
- •Johns Hopkins Inlet and Glacier (closed to vessels in early summer for seal pupping)
- •Bartlett Cove shoreline at the lodge and dock
- •Gloomy Knob, a limestone cliff where mountain goats are spotted from boats
Quieter Corners of Glacier Bay
- •Beardslee Islands — a sheltered archipelago ideal for kayaking among harbor seals and sea otters
- •Point Gustavus — a 6-mile beach walk from Bartlett Cove to the mouth of the bay with views of glaciers and the Fairweather Range
Wildlife You May See
Entrance Fee
No entrance fee. Cruise ships and tour vessels pay concession/use fees, and private boaters need a vessel permit June 1 to August 31.
Getting There
No roads connect to the park. Fly Alaska Airlines or a regional carrier into Gustavus (GST), then drive about 10 miles to Bartlett Cove. Alaska Marine Highway ferries and charter boats also serve Gustavus. Most visitors see the park only from a cruise ship that does not land. The daily tour boat from Bartlett Cove runs into the glaciers in summer.
Where to Stay
Glacier Bay Lodge at Bartlett Cove (the only in-park lodging, open roughly late May to early September). Bartlett Cove Campground is free but requires a backcountry-orientation permit at the visitor center. Inns, B&Bs and lodges are in Gustavus, about 10 miles away.
Best Time
June through August is the operating season for the lodge, tour boat, and visitor services. May and September are quieter with fewer cruise ships but reduced services and cooler, wetter weather. Rain is common at any time; pack waterproof layers.
Safety
Cold-water marine hazards are the top risk: water temperatures stay near 40 to 50 F year-round, so hypothermia is a danger for kayakers and small-boat users who capsize. Carry a drysuit, file a float plan, and watch for calving glaciers and the waves they generate. Bears are present throughout; store food in provided caches and carry bear spray on trails.
Scenic Drives
- •No park roads exist; the only road is the roughly 10-mile route between Gustavus and Bartlett Cove. The park is experienced by boat, kayak, or air.
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