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Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Gustavus, AK
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Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Bartlett Cove, 10 miles by road from Gustavus · Gustavus, AK

Why you should go…

No road leads to Glacier Bay. You arrive by plane, ferry, cruise ship or charter boat, and most independent travelers start at Bartlett Cove, the park headquarters 10 miles from Gustavus. A daily tour boat makes a nine-hour trip up the bay with a ranger narrating the way to the glaciers. Back at Bartlett Cove there are three hiking trails, sea kayaking and a walk-in campground. Rain is the norm here, so pack waterproof layers.

  • #national park
  • #tidewater glaciers
  • #boat tour
  • #sea kayaking
  • #whale watching

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, ordered by straight-line distance.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Iconic

    Mendenhall Glacier

    Under $25

    See the 13.6-mile glacier across Mendenhall Lake from the Forest Service visitor center, then walk the lakeshore to Nugget Falls.

    48 mi awayMore like this