Glacier Bay

 National Park

Alaska

Where ice meets wilderness — explore a living landscape carved by glaciers and time.
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Where to Stay

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Where to Eat

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Experiences

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History & Culture

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Official Website

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Where is Glacier Bay?

Located in southeastern Alaska near the town of Gustavus, Glacier Bay National Park lies within the vast wilderness of the Inside Passage, accessible primarily by boat or plane from Juneau.
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 Learn More about
Glacier Bay

 Learn More about
Glacier Bay

Learn a bit about Glacier Bay National Park through these fun and interesting facts

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Origin

Established as a national monument in 1925 and later designated a national park in 1980 to protect its vast glaciers and marine ecosystems.

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Origin

Established as a national monument in 1925 and later designated a national park in 1980 to protect its vast glaciers and marine ecosystems.

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Topography

The park features more than 1,000 glaciers, with several active tidewater glaciers that flow directly into the ocean — including Margerie and Johns Hopkins Glaciers.

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Topography

The park features more than 1,000 glaciers, with several active tidewater glaciers that flow directly into the ocean — including Margerie and Johns Hopkins Glaciers.

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Wildlife

Glacier Bay is home to humpback whales, sea lions, harbor seals, bald eagles, and brown bears, as well as over 200 species of birds.

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Wildlife

Glacier Bay is home to humpback whales, sea lions, harbor seals, bald eagles, and brown bears, as well as over 200 species of birds.

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Unique Feature

The bay itself didn’t exist 250 years ago — it was completely covered by ice that has since retreated more than 65 miles.

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Unique Feature

The bay itself didn’t exist 250 years ago — it was completely covered by ice that has since retreated more than 65 miles.

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Cultural Significance

The Huna Tlingit people have ancestral ties to Glacier Bay, and their village of Xunaa Shuká Hít (“Huna Ancestors’ House”) stands as a cultural hub within the park.

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Cultural Significance

The Huna Tlingit people have ancestral ties to Glacier Bay, and their village of Xunaa Shuká Hít (“Huna Ancestors’ House”) stands as a cultural hub within the park.

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Visitor Access

Most travelers visit by cruise ship, but small tour boats, kayaks, and chartered flights offer more intimate ways to explore the park.

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Visitor Access

Most travelers visit by cruise ship, but small tour boats, kayaks, and chartered flights offer more intimate ways to explore the park.

A baby seal in Glacier Bay National Park

Welcome to

Glacier Bay National Park

Glacier Bay National Park is one of Alaska’s most breathtaking treasures, a place where ancient ice and untamed wilderness merge into a stunning display of natural power. The park encompasses over 3 million acres of towering mountains, deep fjords, temperate rainforests, and, of course, massive tidewater glaciers that crash dramatically into the sea. It’s a landscape that feels alive — constantly shifting and reshaping itself as the glaciers advance and retreat.

Visitors come here not just for the scenery, but for the profound sense of isolation and awe that Glacier Bay inspires. Cruising through its icy waters, you can watch seals resting on floating icebergs, hear the thunder of calving glaciers, and spot humpback whales feeding in the bay’s rich waters. Each turn offers a new spectacle, a reminder of nature’s raw and ongoing transformation.

The park also holds deep cultural meaning — for thousands of years, it has been home to the Tlingit people, who have long lived in harmony with the land and sea. Their stories of resilience and respect for the glaciers still echo through this frozen wilderness.

Whether you come by small ship, kayak, or floatplane, Glacier Bay offers one of the most unforgettable experiences in all of Alaska — a journey through time, nature, and the enduring spirit of the wild.

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