Glacier Bay National Park

Glacier Bay is located 60 mi. north-west of Juneau. It is an inlet between two promontories where 16 glaciers reach down to the sea. There are cruises to the bay which consist of day trips and longer or if you prefer, in the course of which whales are sometimes seen. Flights to the area are also available.

The area that is now Glacier Bay was once a huge glacier in the mid 1800's. Ice was everywhere, and in some areas it was thousands of feet thick.

Picture - Calving glacier in Glacier Bay National Park.

Picture - Margerie Glacier at Glacier Bay National Park.

Picture - Detail of the ice from Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park.

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Glacier Bay National Park Map

Important Information:

Official site: www.nps.gov/glba/

Address: 1 Park Road, Box 140, Gustavus, AK 99826, United States

Entrance fee: FREE

Useful tips: Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is open year-around, but services in winter are extremely limited. Reservations are required for private boating, camping, rafting, and for many other visitor services.

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As the climate has evolved so has the glacier and visitors today can see the effects on the surrounding environment. Glacier Bay is a major feeding ground for humpback whales, Minke, and killer whales. Other sea life includes Dall's porpoises, harbor seals, sea otters, and sea lions. Land animals are also frequently sighted and these include moose, bear, wolves, coyotes, mountain goats and marmots.

Thousands of sea birds also visit Glacier Bay. They come here to feed and breed and thousands of them nest on the steep hillsides and rocky shorelines. Geese, sea ducks, bald eagles, arctic terns, nesting songbirds, and jaegers have been observed.

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