Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Overview

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, as its name suggests, is a land carved by the dramatic force of glaciers. Spanning 3.3 million acres, the park is home to a dynamic landscape of shifting glaciers, rugged coastlines, wild mountains, temperate rainforests, and sheltered fjords. This remote park is a highlight of Alaska's Inside Passage and a part of a 25-million acre World Heritage Site, one of the world's largest international protected areas. Visitors will be impressed by the vast and untouched landscape. From sea to summit, Glacier Bay offers limitless opportunities for inspiration and adventure.

To learn more about Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, visit www.nps.gov.

Local Info

Visitor Centers:
Visitor center hours and amenities vary by season. For more information and to see current hours of operation, visit the park's website.

• Glacier Bay National Park Visitor Center: Open daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Exhibits open 24-hours. Desk open 11 am to 8 pm.
• Visitor Information Station: Open 8 am to 5 pm, May. Open 7 am to 8 pm, June through August. Open 8 am to 5 pm, September.

Visiting Tips

Glacier Bay National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Services in winter are extremely limited. The bay has a maritime climate with mild winters and cool, moist summers. Visitors are encouraged to bring rain gear as the area can receive steady precipitation. April, May, and June are the driest months, while September and October are the wettest. Weather conditions are more severe in the mountain regions, and visitors should come prepared for colder temperatures and snow.

Fees & Passes:
There is no entrance fee for Glacier Bay National Park. For more information on free permits required for boating or camping, click here.

• Purchase an annual pass for all national parks sites, $80

Camping & Lodging

Camping:
Glacier Bay maintains a free hike-in campground with 25 sites at Bartlett Cove. The campground is primitive and is only accessible on foot. Visitors must register for a site at the Visitor Information Station near the public dock. Visitors also have the option to be dropped off in the backcountry by the park's concession-operated tour boat. For more information on camping in the park, click here.

Lodging:
Glacier Bay Lodge, located at Bartlett Cove, is the only lodging within the park. It is open from mid-May through early September. Reservations can be made online or by calling (866) 761-6634.

Food & Drink

The Fairweather Dining Room, located within Glacier Bay Lodge, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from mid-May through early September. This is the only restaurant located within the park. The nearby town of Gustavus offers other dining options, a grocery store, gas station, and a supply store.

Outfitters, Tours, & Shuttles

Guided Tours:
Glacier Bay offers a variety of ranger-led programs that vary by season. All programs, unless otherwise specified, are free and open to the public. To learn more about these ranger-led programs and to see the current events calendar, click here.

Additionally, visitors looking to explore Glacier Bay itself can choose from a variety of concession-operated tour boats, cruise ships, and charter boats. For more information, visit the park's website.

REI Adventures:
REI offers over 30 national park trips led by expert guides capable of taking you off the beaten path to discover hidden gems that many visitors never see.

Check out REI Adventures' national park offerings here.

Other Activities

While many visitors will enjoy exploring the remote regions of the park on foot, many more will take to the water to explore the magnificent bay area in sea kayaks, sailboats, skiffs, and cruise ships. Sea kayaking is a great way to explore the bay on your own or with a guide. Visitors can also choose to go rafting on the Tatshenshini and Alsek rivers or mountaineering in the Fairweather Range if seeking more adventurous ways to explore the park.

Maps & Guidebooks

To download a variety of free brochures to help plan your visit, click here.