The Details
Massive tidewater glaciers calve into an Alaska fjord where ice is retreating to reveal brand-new land.
STATE
AK
ESTABLISHED
1980
AREA
3.2M acres
ECOSYSTEM
Glacier
When To Visit
Best Time To Visit
MONTH BY MONTHBEST TIME TO GO
June–August: the longest days and the best chance for boat tours and kayaking; May and September have fewer visitors.
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WEATHER
CROWDS
Weather: greatokaytough — heat, cold, snow, monsoon or closures
Crowds: quietmoderatebusy
CROWDS
Cruise-ship season (May–September) brings the most people; the lodge and tours are closed in winter.
WEATHER
Rain is common year-round and it is often cloudy. Winters are dark and cold with limited services.
General patterns — conditions vary by year. Check current NPS alerts and road status before you go.
How Far
Park Entrances
SET YOUR LOCATIONEvery entrance is a different drive. Enter your ZIP to compare:
Bartlett Cove (Gustavus)
Nearest Airports
ESTIMATED DRIVE TO THE PARKGST
DIRECTIONS →GustavusNEAREST
≈ 8 mi · ~10 min drive to Bartlett Cove (Gustavus)
JNU
DIRECTIONS →Juneau Intl
≈ 59 mi · ~1.2 hr drive to Bartlett Cove (Gustavus)
Distances are rough estimates to the closest entrance. Check road and ferry conditions before you go.
What To Do
Top Things To Do
◆Take a day boat tour to see tidewater glaciers
◆Kayak near Bartlett Cove
◆Watch for humpback whales, sea otters and puffins
◆Hike the Bartlett River Trail
Where To Stay
Camping
Campgrounds inside the park are booked through Recreation.gov, and many fill months ahead.
FIND CAMPSITES ON RECREATION.GOV ↗Lodging & Nearby Towns
Cool Facts & Figures
By The Numbers
#6
LARGEST OF 64
#43
OLDEST OF 64
3,223,384
ACRES
46
YEARS PROTECTED
◆When Captain Vancouver arrived in 1794, Glacier Bay was only a small dent in a huge ice field.
◆The park is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Wrangell–St. Elias and neighboring Canadian parks.
Links
Plan Your Visit
OFFICIAL & TRUSTED SITESREADY TO GO?
Plan a trip to
Glacier Bay
Glacier Bay