Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, United States

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Travel Guide

Today in the United States: Confederate Memorial Day (10 May)

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National park

Facts and practical information

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, located in the magnificent Alaska region of the United States, is a mesmerizing destination that offers an unparalleled natural beauty and an abundance of adventure for nature enthusiasts. Spanning over 3.3 million acres, this national park is a true haven for those seeking an authentic wilderness experience.

The main highlight of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is, of course, its breathtaking glaciers. These massive icy formations are remnants of the last Ice Age, and witnessing their grandeur up close is an awe-inspiring experience. Visitors can embark on a boat tour or kayak through the bay, marveling at the towering walls of ice and the occasional calving, where chunks of ice dramatically break off into the water below.

Beyond the glaciers, the park is home to a diverse range of wildlife. From humpback whales breaching in the bay to brown bears foraging along the shoreline, there are countless opportunities to observe and appreciate the incredible flora and fauna that call this park home. Birdwatchers will also be delighted by the variety of avian species, including bald eagles and puffins.

For the more adventurous travelers, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve offers a multitude of activities to satisfy their adrenaline cravings. Hiking enthusiasts can explore the park's numerous trails, which lead to stunning viewpoints and hidden lakes. Mountaineers can challenge themselves by climbing some of the park's majestic peaks, while kayakers can navigate the pristine waters, immersing themselves in the serenity of the surroundings.

Camping in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is an experience like no other. With several designated campgrounds and backcountry camping opportunities, visitors can truly connect with nature and spend nights under the starry Alaskan sky. The peacefulness and remoteness of the park provide a perfect opportunity to disconnect from the outside world and find solace in the tranquility of the wilderness.

Alternative names: Area: 5130.13 mi²Visitors per year: 597.9 thous.Elevation: 4629 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 58°50'1"N, 136°58'59"W

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AlaskaUnited States

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Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Top Attractions

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Attractions - What to See and Explore

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Johns Hopkins Glacier, Cape Spencer Light, Margerie Glacier, Abyss Lake. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

Nature • Natural attraction • Natural feature
Johns Hopkins Glacier
Johns Hopkins Glacier is a 12-mile long glacier located in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in the U.S. state of Alaska.
Lighthouse • Vernacular architecture
Cape Spencer Light
The Cape Spencer Light is a lighthouse in Alaska, United States, next to the entrance to Cross Sound and Icy Strait. The light is still an active aid to navigation.
Nature • Natural attraction • Natural feature
Margerie Glacier
Margerie Glacier is a 21 mi long tidewater glacier in Glacier Bay, Alaska, United States within the boundaries of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.

Nature • Natural attraction • Lake
Abyss Lake
Abyss Lake is a lake in southeastern Alaska. Lying on the eastern side of the Brady Glacier, it receives meltwater from it, which in turn flows into the Dundas River, Dundas Bay, Cross Sound and thence into the Pacific.
Nature • Natural attraction • Natural feature
Muir Glacier
Muir Glacier is a glacier in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is currently about 0.7 km wide at the terminus.
Nature • Natural attraction • Natural feature
Brady Glacier
Brady Glacier is a 24-mile-long glacier located in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in the U.S. state of Alaska. It begins at 58°40′N 136°47′W and trends south to Taylor Bay, 46 miles northwest of Hoonah. It was named by the U.S.
Nature • Natural attraction • Mountain
Mount Crillon
Mount Crillon is a high peak of the Fairweather Range, the southernmost part of the Saint Elias Mountains. It lies southeast of Mount Fairweather, in the promontory between the Gulf of Alaska and Glacier Bay. It is included in Glacier Bay National Park.
Nature • Natural attraction • Natural feature
Lamplugh Glacier
Lamplugh Glacier is an 8-mile-long glacier located in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in the U.S. state of Alaska. It leads north to its 1961 terminus in Johns Hopkins Inlet, 1.4 miles west of Ptarmigan Creek and 76 miles northwest of Hoonah.
Nature • Natural attraction • Natural feature
Reid Glacier
Reid Glacier is an 11-mile-long glacier in the U.S. state of Alaska. It trends north to Reid Inlet in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, two miles south of Glacier Bay and 72 miles northwest of Hoonah.
Nature • Natural attraction • Mountain
Mount Orville
Mount Orville is a high peak of the Fairweather Range, the southernmost part of the Saint Elias Mountains. It is included in Glacier Bay National Park. The peak is the lower of a pair of peaks, Mounts Wilbur and Orville, named after the Wright Brothers.
Nature • Natural attraction • Natural feature
Fairweather Glacier
Fairweather Glacier is a 19-mile-long glacier in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in the U.S. state of Alaska. It begins on the west slope of Mount Salisbury and continues west to its 1961 terminus 0.2 miles east of Cape Fairweather, 100 miles northwest of Hoonah.
Nature • Natural attraction • Natural feature
Riggs Glacier
Riggs Glacier is a glacier in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in the U.S. state of Alaska. It begins on the southern slope of the Takhinsha Mountains, 6 km southeast of Mount Harris and flows south-southeast to the head of Muir Inlet, 69 km southwest of Skagway.
Nature • Natural attraction • Mountain
Chilkat Range
The Chilkat Range is a mountain range in Haines Borough and the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area in the U.S. state of Alaska, west of the city of Juneau.
Nature • Natural attraction • Mountain
Mount Root
Mount Root, also named Boundary Peak 165, is a mountain in Alaska and British Columbia, located on the Canada–United States border, and part of the Fairweather Range of the Saint Elias Mountains.
Nature • Natural attraction • Mountain
Lituya Mountain
Lituya Mountain is a peak in the Fairweather Range of Alaska, United States, south of Mount Fairweather. Its eastern slopes feed a branch of the Johns Hopkins Glacier, which flows into Glacier Bay.
Nature • Natural attraction • Mountain
Mount Salisbury
Mount Salisbury is a peak in the Fairweather Range of Alaska, 6 miles southeast of Mount Fairweather. Its east slopes feed one of the northern branches of the Johns Hopkins Glacier, which flows into Glacier Bay.
Nature • Natural attraction • Natural feature
Lituya Glacier
Lituya Glacier is a tidewater glacier in the U.S. state of Alaska. Located at 58°43′25″N 137°29′33″W inside Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, its source is in the Fairweather Range and it feeds into Lituya Bay on the gulf coast of Southeast Alaska.
Nature • Natural attraction • Natural feature
Aurora Glacier
Aurora Glacier is a 4-mile long glacier in the U.S. state of Alaska. It heads east of July Fourth Mountain and trends northwest to an icefield between the heads of Reid and Brady Glaciers in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, 61 miles northwest of Hoonah.
Nature • Natural attraction • Mountain
Mount Wilbur
Mount Wilbur is a high peak of the Fairweather Range, the southernmost part of the Saint Elias Mountains. It lies approximately 14 miles southeast of Mount Fairweather and 8 miles northwest of Mount Crillon. It is included in Glacier Bay National Park.

Day trips

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Mount Fairweather, Mount Abdallah (Glacier Bay National Park), Mount Bertha (Glacier Bay National Park).

20 milesW
Nature, Natural attraction, Mountain
Mount Fairweather
Mount Fairweather, is the highest mountain in the Canadian province of British Columbia, with an elevation of 4,671 metres. It is located 20 km east of the Pacific Ocean on the border of Alaska, United States and western British Columbia, Canada.
13 milesNE
Mountain
Mount Abdallah, Glacier Bay National Park
Mount Abdallah is a prominent 6,210-foot mountain summit located in the Alsek Ranges of the Saint Elias Mountains, in southeast Alaska.
10 milesS
Mountain
Mount Bertha, Glacier Bay National Park
Mount Bertha is a 10,204-foot glaciated mountain summit located in the Fairweather Range of the Saint Elias Mountains, in southeast Alaska, United States. The peak is situated in Glacier Bay National Park, 5.5 mi east-northeast of Mount Crillon which is the nearest higher peak...
4.2 miSW
Mountain
Mount Abbe, Glacier Bay National Park
Mount Abbe is an 8200+ feet double summit mountain located in the Fairweather Range of the Saint Elias Mountains, in southeast Alaska. The peak is situated near the terminus of the Johns Hopkins Glacier, within Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, 100 mi northwest of Juneau, and 8.2 mi northeast of Mount Orville.
20 milesE
Mountain
Mount Merriam, Glacier Bay National Park
Mount Merriam is a prominent 5,083-foot mountain summit located in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, in the Alsek Ranges of the Saint Elias Mountains, in southeast Alaska. The mountain is situated 75 mi northwest of Juneau, 3.1 mi south of Mount Wordie, 3.5 mi north ...