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Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve

The marine wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve includes tidewater glaciers, snow-capped mountain ranges, ocean coastlines, deep fjords, and freshwater rivers and lakes. This diverse land and seascape hosts a mosaic of plant communities and a variety of marine and terrestrial wildlife and presents many opportunities for adventuring and learning about this unique and powerful place.

The Basics

Hours:

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is open year-around. Services in winter are extremely limited.

Visitor Center

Open daily from late May to early September. Exhibits open 24-hours, information desk 12:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

The Glacier Bay Visitor Center is located on the second floor of the Glacier Bay Lodge in Bartlett Cove. It has an information desk, an Alaska Natural History Association book store, and an auditorium. Exhibits that explore the park's natural and cultural history are available in the Visitor Center.

Throughout the summer, park rangers present evening programs, show educational videos in the Visitor Center auditorium and lead walks on the Forest Loop Trail. Kids should ask a ranger about how to become a Junior Ranger.

Visitor Information Station for Boaters and Campers

In May open Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. During June, July and August open Monday - Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. In September open Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Visitor Information Station is located at the head of the public-use dock in Bartlett Cove. It offers information, permits and orientations for campers and recreational boaters in the park. Maps and nautical charts are available. Facilities include public rest rooms, potable water, trash and recycling containers.

Glacier Bay Preserve Office and Visitor Center

Located in Yakutat is open daily from May to September.

Address:

1 Park Road
PO Box 140
Gustavus, AK 99726

Phone:

907-692-5494

Fax:

907-692-5400

Map

Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, Alaska Map

Click here for a full-sized map of Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve

Directions

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, near the Southeast Alaska gateway communities of Juneau, Haines, Skagway, Gustavus, and Yakutat, can be reached only by boat or plane. Park headquarters and Glacier Bay Lodge are at Bartlett Cove, 10 miles by road from the small town of Gustavus and 65 miles by air or water from Juneau. It is an additional 55 miles by water from Bartlett Cove to the tidewater glaciers.

Air
Alaska Airlines provides daily jet service between Juneau and Gustavus during the summer visitor season. Juneau has daily jet service from Anchorage and Seattle. Several air taxi companies provide daily small-plane flights year-round between Juneau and Gustavus.

Boat
Many tour vessels and large cruise ships schedule a day in Glacier Bay in their Southeast Alaska itineraries. A daily boat tour based in the park conducts trips from Bartlett Cove to the tidewater glaciers. There are also commercial charters. Private boaters may obtain permits and reservations to bring their own boats to Glacier Bay.

Climate

Summer temperatures average 50 to 60° F (10 to 15° C). Winter temperatures rarely drop into the single digits, with average nighttime lows of 25 to 40° F (-2 to 5° C). Rain is the norm in southeast Alaska. April, May and June are usually the driest months of the year. September and October tend to be the wettest.

Link to our Juneau Weather coverage for more information.

Link to our Sitka Weather coverage for more information.

Link to our Skagway/Haines Weather coverage for more information.

Link to our Yakutat Weather coverage for more information.

Fees

No entry fees.

Reservations

Reservations are required for private boaters, rafting, and for many visitor services.

Things To Do

Activities in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve are as diverse as the park and preserve itself. Whether you have a few hours or a lifetime, whether your idea of adventure is a ranger-led walk or a bivouac in a snow cave, there is plenty to do here! This page is intended to help you plan your visit by providing a broad overview of visitor activities, with links to more detailed information for each of them.

In Yakutat and Gustavus/Bartlett Cove, the National Park Service provides exhibits, programs, and trails. Bartlett Cove also has a campground. Rangers also board cruise ships and tour vessels to present information about Glacier Bay and answer questions. Learn more about what to do in and near Yakutat, Gustavus, and Bartlett Cove.

As its name implies, Glacier Bay National Park is largely water. Whether on a cruise ship with thousands of other passengers or in a single kayak, most visitors experience Glacier Bay from a boat. Learn more about cruise ships, tour vessels, charter boats, and bringing your own boat to Glacier Bay.

Glacier Bay is above all a wilderness park and saves its greatest rewards for those who are willing to sweat a bit and sleep on the ground. Learn more about camping, hiking, backpacking, kayaking, rafting, and mountaineering.

Glacier Bay National Preserve, northwest of the park, is managed differently than the park. Hunting, trapping, and commercial fishing are allowed here. Learn more about Dry Bay, the Alsek River, the gateway community of Yakutat, and hunting, fishing, and rafting, and mountaineering in the preserve.

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