Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, USA - map, photos and visitor information

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in southeast Alaska is a place to explore by water. A cruise visit, a stay at Bartlett Cove, and a multiday kayaking trip offer very different experiences. Decide how you will travel before choosing activities: the park is reached by plane or boat, with only a local road connection between Gustavus and Bartlett Cove.

Highlights of Glacier Bay

• Tidewater glaciers: seasonal boat trips travel up the bay to see ice meeting the sea.
• Bartlett Cove: the developed visitor area brings together rainforest walks, shoreline views, a campground, and the park visitor center.
• Xunaa Shuká Hít: the Huna Ancestors' House connects a visit with the living culture of the Huna Lingít.
• Wildlife from the water: summer feeding grounds attract humpback whales, while the shoreline and forests support bears and other land animals.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Prepare for rain, tides, and bears

Waterproof footwear, rain protection, warm layers, a hat, and gloves are practical essentials in this cool, wet environment. Mud, wet boardwalks, roots, and rocks can make short walks slippery. Check tide predictions before shoreline travel or kayaking.

Both black and brown bears live here. Make noise while hiking, travel together, and store food, garbage, and scented items as directed. Bear-resistant containers are required in non-forested areas and can be borrowed at the Visitor Information Station. Do not drink untreated backcountry water. NPS advises against eating local mussels and clams because of paralytic shellfish poisoning.

Protect the shore and wildlife

Follow food-storage instructions even while moving gear between the dock and campground. Keep wildlife viewing distant and obey boating restrictions designed to protect whales.

Pets are not allowed on trails or in the backcountry. Permitted locations include the public dock, the beach between the public and administrative docks, and areas within 100 feet of developed-area roads or parking unless posted otherwise. Keep pets restrained, attended, and clean up their waste.

Book transport and arrange permits

Reserve lodging, tours, and any kayak services directly with the operator. Bartlett Cove Campground uses first-come, first-served sites rather than advance reservations. A permit and orientation are required; camping permits for Bartlett Cove and the wilderness are required from May 1 through September 30.

Private boaters need a permit to enter the regulated Glacier Bay waters from June 1 through August 31. Boaters must complete an annual orientation. From May 1 through September 30, vessels must contact the park before entering and exiting Glacier Bay waters. The park introduced a new online permit system for 2026, so use the current private-boating instructions rather than older booking advice.

Getting to Gustavus and Bartlett Cove

Glacier Bay lies west of Juneau. Fly or take an available Alaska Marine Highway ferry to Gustavus, then arrange local transport to Bartlett Cove, about 10 miles away by road. Summer airline service and year-round small-aircraft options have different schedules. Confirm each connection rather than assuming a ferry, flight, and tour boat will operate on the same day.

Large cruise visits and locally departing day tours are different arrangements. If you arrive independently, arrange a taxi or accommodation transfer from the airport or ferry dock. The official maps collection includes the park overview and resources for boaters and campers.

Nearby parks on an onward itinerary

These regional options require an air or sea connection from Gustavus before the road portion. Neither is a direct drive from Bartlett Cove.

• Point Bridget State Park: after traveling to Juneau, reach this park along Glacier Highway at milepost 38.5.
• Chilkat State Park: after traveling to Haines, follow Mud Bay Road south toward the turn for Chilkat State Park Road.

Boat trips and walks from Bartlett Cove

The summer day tour leaves Bartlett Cove for a full day on the bay with an NPS naturalist aboard. Book with Glacier Bay Lodge & Tours and allow for weather when planning flights around the trip. Authorized tour vessels also visit as part of longer southeast Alaska itineraries.

For time on land, choose from these routes in the Bartlett Cove trail guide:

• Forest Trail: a 1-mile loop through forest and beach environments, with dirt, gravel, and boardwalk surfaces.
• Bartlett River Trail: a 4-mile round trip to the estuary through spruce and hemlock forest.
• Tlingit Trail: about half a mile one way along the forested shore, with cultural interpretation and the Huna Tribal House.

Tribal House visiting hours depend on tribal use and staffing. A kayaking trip beyond Bartlett Cove needs a separate plan for equipment, weather, tides, camping permits, and any boat drop-off. It is not simply an extension of a short shoreline walk.

Facilities and accessibility

Glacier Bay Lodge provides seasonal lodging and dining, with the park visitor center upstairs. Gustavus has additional accommodations and groceries. Bartlett Cove has a public dock, parking areas, and a walk-in campground about a quarter mile south of the dock.

The campground has food caches, toilets, and a warming shelter. Water and trash containers are outside the Visitor Information Station. Wheelbarrows help move equipment from the parking area or dock. There are no RV sites or hookups in the park, and sleeping in vehicles in parking areas or along the road is prohibited.

The lodge has ramp access, and an elevator reaches the visitor center. Part of the Forest Trail boardwalk is accessible, but other paths can have roots, rocks, or gravel. The dock ramp becomes much steeper as the tide falls. Review the park's accessibility details and discuss vessel boarding with your operator.

About Glacier Bay

A homeland and a changing landscape

Glacier Bay is a Lingít homeland with a human history that long predates federal protection. Ecologist William S. Cooper began studying plant succession here in 1916 and helped build support for preservation. The area became a national monument in 1925 and a national park and preserve in 1980. The Huna Tribal House reflects an ongoing cultural relationship with this place.

Life between forest and sea

Salmon returning to spawn carry nutrients through the ecosystem. Humpback whales use the bay's feeding grounds in summer, while bears and moose occupy land habitats. Glacial retreat creates new ground where plant communities develop over time, so the forested lower bay and recently exposed upper-bay landscapes support different stages of that process.

Contact the park

For general questions, call 907-697-2230 or use the email contact options on the official contact page. Contact the Visitor Information Station at 907-697-2627 for camping and private-boating questions. Mail goes to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, PO Box 140, Gustavus, AK 99826.