This is page 2 of this article. To start at the beginning, click here.
1. Halibut Fishing
Try your luck at catching a famous Alaskan halibut! With a successful guide, you can experience the grueling process of trying to wrestle these fish into the boat.
What You Need to Know
Gustavus (the nearest town to Glacier Bay) is full of fishermen and guided fishing trips. That is the way of life for many of them. I recommend Forrest Braden at True North Sportfishing. He is a friend of mine and is extremely knowledgeable!
The seas can get a little rough, so be prepared for that, especially if you get sick easily. Also, Glacier Bay is usually rainy and overcast, so wear layers underneath a poncho or waterproof clothing and be ready to get wet.
Don’t forget to purchase an Alaska State Fishing License before you go, or check with your guide to see if they take care of that for you.
Getting Here
Located in Southeast Alaska, Gustavus is only reached by boat or plane and is most easily approached from Juneau. Check out a few different options: The Alaskan Marine Highway System (ferry),Alaska Seaplanes, Ward Air, and, for summer-only, Alaska Airlines.
Check with your fishing guide or lodging to see if they provide shuttle service to the dock, as many of them do.
2. Bartlett River Trail
Weave through old trees covered in moss and listen to the crystal clear warble of the birds as you hike along this gorgeous trail. In many cases, you will have the path to yourself — along with the bears and moose, that is!
What You Need to Know
Whenever hiking in Glacier Bay, I certainly recommend having bear spray somewhere that is quickly accessible. As is the case for most of the park, bears frequent the area. The Bartlett River is also a great place to see otters, moose, seals, and eagles. Watch your footing. The trail is usually slippery and wet.
The Bartlett River Trail ends when you exit the forest, and the landscape opens up to the river and a beautiful meadow beside it. A big rock sits next to the river and is a great place to rest and watch the wildlife or to enjoy a picnic lunch. You can continue along a small trail next to the river, but that area is not usually patrolled or maintained.
This trail is 4 miles round trip.
Getting Here
From Gustavus, take the Mountain View Road and then turn left onto the Park Road toward Bartlett Cove. As the road begins to curve around and head down towards the Park Headquarters, you will see a parking area on your right. This is the trailhead for the Bartlett River Trail. Click here for a map.
I recommend stopping at the Visitor Information Station near the dock (not to be confused with the Visitor Center inside the Lodge) to get information about the area. Glacier Bay is a place that most people are not familiar with, so it’s always good to talk to someone who can educate you and point you in the right direction!
3. The Intertidal Zone
Land that is exposed at one time of day can be completely immersed by feet of water within a few short hours! Take advantage of the low tide and discover some of the sea creatures of Glacier Bay by visiting the intertidal zone of Bartlett Cove.
What You Need to Know
The lower the tide, the better the viewing. Stop by the Visitor Information Station (VIS) down by the dock to check the tide schedule for the day. The VIS also has a fantastic guidebook detailing the creatures you may see in the intertidal zone.
Getting Here
From the VIS, head down to the beach and turn right. Walk along the shore until you see a narrow strip of land separating Bartlett Cove and the pond located in front of the Park Headquarters. This is the best and most accessible area to view the intertidal creatures.
4. Forest Loop Trail
The whole Bartlett Cove area was once covered by glaciers, but now the land is being forced to take on a whole new character! This trail is an excellent introduction to the rainforest of Glacier Bay and the unique landscape left behind after a glacial retreat.
What You Need to Know
Follow the boardwalk to a couple of viewing decks that overlook a peaceful pond. Sit and relax for a while on a wooden bench to take in the sights and sounds of the forest.
The beginning of the Forest Loop is on a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk. You can turn around and go back the way you came, or you can continue on a dirt trail that creates a one-mile loop.
This area is prime moose habitat, so be on the lookout, especially near the ponds.
Getting Here
Take a right as you head out of the VIS and follow the path toward the Glacier Bay Lodge. The boardwalk starts in the Lodge Parking Lot. If you decide to take the full loop, you will end up at the beach, and then you can loop back around to the VIS. Click here for a map.
5. Bartlett Cove Kayaking
The magic of Glacier Bay is best seen from the water! Ocean kayaking is a great way to discover marine life and increase your appreciation for the surrounding landscape.
What You Need to Know
Get ready to experience life on the ocean! I have had some incredible encounters with marine wildlife from my kayak, such as feeling the spray from a humpback whale, being followed by a seal, and watching harbor porpoises swim underneath me.
Bartlett Cove is a great place to start if you are not very experienced or if you don’t have enough time to enter the backcountry. Check with the VIS before you leave to learn the tide schedule and to check the wind and wave forecast. Always wear a life jacket, prepare for the weather, and be sure to let someone know where you are.
If you need to rent a kayak, check out Glacier Bay Sea Kayaks. They are located right next to the VIS at Bartlett Cove and also offer guided tours.
Getting Here
As you walk out of the VIS, take a right and walk on the trail just a few paces to find Glacier Bay Sea Kayaks on the left.
Click NEXT to see stops 6-10 (including where to actually find the GLACIERS)!
Do you have any clothing recommendations for visiting Glacier Bay (kayaking and hiking)? I’ve read that I shouldn’t bring down jackets because of the humidity. What about shoes? Do you have any favorites? I assume they should be waterproof. Thank you!
Wear synthetic/quick-dry material {no cotton} and bring lots of layers. The weather changes fast, but it often “mists” even if it’s not full-on raining. So definitely some good rain gear. We always wore gore-tex rain gear and xtratuf boots as park rangers. For hiking, I would often just wear my waterproof Merrell hiking boots. You’ll want some good warm layers as well…the summer temps often hover around 50-60 degrees. I hope that helps!
Love your writing! We just left the Tetons and we’re planning a trip back to Alaska… we were all over up north in our RV two summers ago. Is there a way to bring and park the RV in Glacier Bay area (I know we can’t drive there)? We live full time with our dogs and can’t just leave them behind for a few days. Thanks!
The campground in the park is tent-only, but you may be able to find something in Gustavus. The Alaskan Marine Highway {ferry} now stops in Gustavus, so take a look at that for getting your vehicle over there. Good luck!
Hi, I was wondering how long it took you to kayak until you could actually see the glacier?
If leaving from Bartlett Cove, you’ve got to go a long way to see any glaciers. Most people take the boat to one of the drop-off locations further up-bay to start closer to the glaciers. That’s what I would do!
Your personal accounts of these parks are so beautiful and helpful! I have the opportunity to spend my summer working in one of the National Parks, but I have yet to choose which one. What would you recommend between Denali and Glacier Bay? What would be your top three parks be to live in for the summer if you had to choose? Trying to get some expert advice here before I make anything final. Thanks so much for your input!
I just emailed you :)
Great Stuff! We just spent 4 weeks exploring Alaska and it was Amazing! So many adventures to list a few off the top of my head that we loved… Our new favorite city is Juneau Alaska. We did it all from Hiking, Glacier Ice Climbing, Ice Caving, Gold Panning, Heli-hiking, to Cruising. One huge one was wild bear viewing and camping in Lake Clark NP. It is a worlds top 100 travel adventure and an experience of a lifetime.
Sounds amazing!! I love Juneau…the whole Southeast Alaska area is incredible! Lake Clark is still on my to-do list. I’m hoping to get up there for a good amount of time so that I can explore all of the Alaska parks. Thank you for sharing your adventures!
Sounds amazing. I am heading to Juneau in 2 weeks & was wondering about camping in the area ? Is it safe to camp solo ? Too cold ? Any favorite campground with people around ? Bears ? Any favorite hikes ? Also how many days are enough in Juneau ? I have 8 days total & trying to figure out what is the best way to split it up to both see & do some hikes & activities . Thinking may be 4 days in Juneau & 2 nights in Glacier Bay ? & pehaps an overnight trip to Haines — is that too much to pack in 8 days ? Is Is 3 days in GB NP too much ? Is it scrary to camp @ the camp ground in the park ? Bears ??
Thank you so much for any help or tips ?
I actually didn’t spend a lot of time in Juneau…did the main touristy things. It’s a cool city though! 2 nights in Glacier Bay would probably be enough, depending on what you want to do. You’ll definitely want to try your hand at kayaking and you’ll want to take the Bay Cruise to see all of the glaciers. The campground in the park has food storage areas to keep the bears away from the campsites, but you’ll definitely want to bring bear spray!
Have a great time!
Ash
Hi, I LOVE your blog posts, I remember you saying that you were hoping to get to Banff at some point, and I highly recommend it if you haven’t yet made that happen.
Anyways, I was just wondering about the kayaking you recommended. We are planning on visiting and own a canoe, I don’t know if we could use that or if it would make a difference. I would like to ask you what your take on the safety rating of doing that though with so many whales in the area? Is there a lot of people that do it safely or has there been people that have had boats overturned by whales? I can’t imagine having a 100ft whale directly underneath a 12 foot canoe and what we would do if it were to overturn us.
Thank you, and I can’t wait to read more about your adventures. Be sure to check out my blog to see what we cover on our one month roadtrip through Canada, Alaska, and the west coast.
Bri Engle
It’s really not much of a problem, although it is a scary thought to have a huge whale right under you! The thing about kayaking in Glacier Bay is that it often rains/is cold, so you’ll probably want a kayak with a skirt instead of an open canoe if you plan on being on the water for an extended amount of time. Sounds like a great road trip! Safe travels!
Nice article
I know its not technically Glacier Bay, but I would add Mendenhall and the ice caves to this list; this would really help your viewers out.
Many people call it the most beautiful thing they have ever seen.
Thank you for the suggestion! I was lucky enough to visit Mendenhall when I was in the area and when I write a post about other activities in the near vicinity, I will be sure to include it!
I love it! Great article. And, yes, I will take a little of the blame for your #1 phobia of fishing. I just hope Jackson will be a little more open to playing with fish parts.
Thanks! I’m sure he will have to be between you and John taking him fishing :)
Hi there! I’ll be performing on a Cruise out in Alaska from April – August. I’m from the UK originally. We have no dangerous animals over here, other than ourselves haha. Should I be overly concerned about bears? Because I currently am.
Other than this, how do you recommend I get the most out of my time visiting? I’ll be frequenting Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay and Whittier.
Thanks very much!
Very cool! And yes, Alaska has a lot of wild animals, so you’ll definitely want to be prepared for that :) I would definitely invest in some bear spray while you’re there, and try to travel in groups of 2 or 3 when you’re out exploring!
OMG that’s an enormous fish you caught! It looks gorgeous there :)
I had never seen a fish that big…it was a ton of fun. You should plan a trip out there!
What a delight to read!
Monday I’m heading into the Beardslees with my brand new Ashli’s!
Thank You for remembering!
How fun! You guys will have a great time….just wish I was there with you!
I LOVE your “can’t miss” posts. While I’m not getting to Alaska anytime soon, I will be taking the family to Yellowstone this fall. Hopefully I’ll see a post for that. :)
Angee, you will be seeing a Yellowstone post very very soon!!!
I just discovered your blog and I love it!
Having only seen Glacier Bay from the deck of a cruise ship, I would love to return and have a more “thorough” experience.
What is the best place to stay and base out of? Gustavus?
Thanks
Hi Bill, I’m so glad you stopped by! Glacier Bay is beautiful from the cruise ship, but it is definitely worth another visit. Gustavus has many lodging options, and often times the lodges will shuttle you the 10 miles to Bartlett Cove. The only hotel in Bartlett Cove is the Glacier Bay Lodge, which provides you the best location but may be a little more pricey. Either way you really can’t go wrong!
Hi Ash,
Is it feasible to visit Glacier Bay on day-trips from Gustavus? I’m not keen on taking a cruise, but I’m not sure if I’m up to Alaska backpacking either. From Bartlett Cove, is there much to see within a day’s paddle? Also, how do visitors staying in Gustavus travel the 10 miles to Bartlett Cove? Thanks for your help!
Hi Abby,
Many people stay in Gustavus to visit Glacier Bay….it’s only about 10 miles from Bartlett Cove. Many lodging options have shuttles that will take you into the park, or you can also rent a car or catch a taxi. If you kayak from Bartlett Cove, you could explore part of the Beardslee Islands (gorgeous) in a day no problem. Even kayaking around the cove is great, as there are usually whales right there for you to see. Visiting Glacier Bay without a cruise is an amazing adventure — you’ll love it!!!