Overview
Glacier Bay is where the world still looks like it is in the middle of being invented. Picture a staggering 3.3 million acres of icy wilderness carved by glaciers, sprinkled with ghost stories, and wrapped in Tlingit heritage. It is a land where the mountains keep secrets, the sea lions gossip on the icebergs, and the glaciers themselves groan and crack like grumpy old storytellers. Located ten miles northwest of Gustavus and sixty-five miles west of Juneau, Glacier Bay became a national park in 1980, but its stories reach back thousands of years. Here the Tlingit people carved their history into rock, left markers on trails, and raised clan houses that whisper still when the wind hits just right. So pack your layers, waterproof boots, and a camera that can handle a little sea spray. Glacier Bay is not about staying tidy or predictable; it is about chasing whales through fjords, touching 2,000-year-old petroglyphs, and hearing the crash of Margerie Glacier as if the earth itself just slammed a door.
Top Attractions (Ice, Art & Ancestors)
Margerie Glacier
The star of the fjord, a tidewater glacier famous for its spectacular ice calving—like nature throwing boulders into the ocean.
Muir Glacier Petroglyphs
Ancient Tlingit carvings of whales and ravens that make you feel like you have stumbled into a thousand-year-old comic strip.
Hoonah Tlingit Cultural Site
Replica clan houses and authentic artifacts—part museum, part spiritual theater.
Bartlett Cove Trail Art
Colorful rock markers lining the coastal trails—modern Tlingit artists leaving breadcrumbs of stories and symbols.
Lamplugh Glacier Trail
A coastal trek where you might trip over glacial erratics and kick a 10-million-year-old fossil.
Ranger Cabin at Bartlett Cove
A quirky 1920s outpost that still holds rusty harpoons, trapper tools, and the scent of secrets.
Unique Stories & Facts (Petroglyphs, Phantoms & Fossils)
- Ancient Comic Strips: Two-thousand-year-old rock carvings at Muir Glacier tell Tlingit tales of whales and ravens.
- Modern Breadcrumbs: In the 2020s, Bartlett Cove bloomed with Tlingit-inspired markers, turning hikes into cultural treasure hunts.
- Whaler's Ghost: A century-old harpoon, a relic of whaling days, is hidden inside a Bartlett Cove cabin where some say ghostly whalers still pace the shore.
- Glacier's Souvenir: You might spot a ten-million-year-old marine shell fossil tucked in the stone at Lamplugh Glacier.
- Haunted Halls: Guests at the Glacier Bay Lodge, built in the 1960s, whisper of phantom figures wandering the dining hall after hours.
Best Travel Seasons
Spring
Cool (30-50°F), perfect for spotting petroglyphs and hiking trails before the summer crowds arrive.
Summer
Mild (50-65°F) and the busiest season. Glaciers calve dramatically, and ranger tours fill fast—book early.
Fall
Chilly (40-55°F), but auroras shimmer and the trails quiet down to postcard perfection.
Winter
Cold (20-40°F). Snow locks the park in silence, and quirky ice vistas make it feel like a frozen art gallery.
Lodging Options (Fjord Views & Forest Floors)
Luxury: Glacier Bay Lodge
Coastal elegance inside the park at Bartlett Cove with fjord views, from $250 a night.
Mid-Range: Gustavus Inn
Ten miles from the park, this inn is rustic and charming with hearty meals, from $150 a night.
Budget: Bear Track Inn
Simple and affordable stays in Gustavus, starting at $100 a night.
Camping: Bartlett Cove
Free forested sites inside the park. First come, first served, permit required.
Dining (Halibut, Harpoons & Reindeer Chili)
Glacier Bay Lodge Dining
Grilled halibut and salmon chowder with fjord views. The official taste of Alaskan wilderness luxury.
Gustavus Inn Dining Room
Serving up reindeer chili and farm-to-table Alaskan fare that is rustic and hearty.
Fireweed Coffee (Gustavus)
A quirky café where salmon sandwiches and strong coffee fuel your fjord wanderings.
The Fisherman’s Daughter (Hoonah)
Waterfront crab cakes with a side of Tlingit pride.
Become a Pathfinder
See something we missed? Spot a detail that doesn’t add up? That’s where you come in. Pathfinders don’t just read the journey — they help write it. Correct the facts, fill in the gaps, and blaze new trails for fellow travelers.
Does it cost anything? Ha! Nope. In fact, we pay you. Even better, you can write off your travel on your taxes (check your local laws). We’ll even help you fill out the forms.
Talk about a no-brainer. You’re a money-making, tax-break-taking, pathfinding machine.
Travel Tips
- What to Pack: Bring layers, sturdy boots, waterproof gear, and snacks that don’t freeze solid. Book your boat tours ahead of time.
- Safety: Keep your distance from bears, don’t underestimate currents when kayaking, and always keep extra dry socks.
- Accessibility: There are no roads into the park. Access is by boat or plane from Gustavus. You can arrange park tours or hop an air taxi.
Listen to Our Podcast Episode!
“Ice & Ancestors: Dane D. Blaze in Glacier Bay”
Your Glacier Bay Offbeat Guide!
Ready to explore a world still being invented? This guide is your ticket to Glacier Bay's calving glaciers, ancient petroglyphs, and Tlingit heritage.
Ebook Coming Soon!What's Your Glacier Bay Vibe?
Answer to find your perfect offbeat adventure!
Wander to Muir Glacier to find 2,000-year-old rock carvings, or trek the Lamplugh Trail to hunt for 10-million-year-old fossils.
Step into the Hoonah Tlingit Cultural Site to see replica clan houses, or explore the Bartlett Cove ranger cabin where ghosts of whalers may still rattle a rusty harpoon.
Visit in the fall to catch the northern lights blazing over the fjords, or cruise to Margerie Glacier and wait for the thunderous calving that makes you believe ice can roar.