Discover one of America’s most beautiful national parks in this Glacier Bay itinerary including hiking, kayaking, and boat tour.
Sitting in the vast, remote wilderness of Alaska’s Inside Passage region, Glacier Bay national park is one of the most unique and most striking of America’s National Parks. It’s also one of the least travelled parks, but with its stunning scenery and plethora of wildlife, it shouldn’t be missed. Here’s the itinerary I followed on my trip to Glacier Bay in 2025.
Why Visit Glacier Bay
The park's titular bay contains massive tidewater glaciers that are in a constant state of “calving," breaking off into smaller fragments, leading to massive fields of miniature icebergs (or “bergy bits”, as they are humorously referred to). The bay contains over 1,00 of these icebergs, which makes for a memorable landscape.
The park is also home to a wide variety of wildlife, from humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, Steller sea lions, bald eagles, brown and black bears, mountain goats, and even the occasional moose. The whale population is particularly plentiful here, with it considered one of the best locations in Alaska for whale watching.
So, if I’ve sold you on why you should visit this fantastic park, then the next question is how to experience it in all its wonder. Well, for starters, Glacier Bay isn’t the easiest place to get to (it’s hometown of Gustavus has no roads connecting it to the mainland, so your only options are by boat or plane). As such, you’ll want to make sure you give yourself enough time to truly experience it, outside of the travel required to get there. I spent three full days in the park, and while you could easily spend much more there, that was enough time to see and hear the best of what it has to offer.
Tip: From June-August, Alaska Airlines runs daily flights from Juneau to Gustavo. Alaska Seaplanes, a regional airline, offers flights year-round. Otherwise, a ferry is available twice a week from Juneau through the Alaska Marine Highway System. If you're staying at Glacier Bay Lodge, transfer from the airport or ferry terminal is complementary.
Day 1: Getting to Know Glacier Bay and Gustavus
Morning – Explore Gustavus
Start your day in the town of Gustavus, the incredibly tiny town that sits right outside of the park and holds a small collection of lodging and dining, one of which is the Fireweed Gallery for coffee and pastries. Fireweed also has an art gallery and gift shop, so it’s an easy stop in to explore some local art and Alaskan themed gifts.
For a larger family or group looking to stay together, there are not a ton of house rental options in the area. Halibut House offered through VRBO, however, is a great option, with four bedrooms, washer/dryer, and excellent traveler reivews.
From here you can explore 4 Corners, which is ostensibly the “downtown” of Gustavus, though in reality it’s comprised of a couple restaurants and a gas station. Still, it is interesting to walk around a bit just how secluded Gustavus truly is. You will be many, many miles away from the sound of traffic or city life and will instead be amid a striking yet calm forested landscape for many miles in any direction.
If you’re interested in some obscure (and perhaps morbid) history, and don’t mind a bit of a walk (a quarter mile hike from Mountain View Road just 3 miles north of 4 Corners), check out the wreckage of a crashed C-47B plane that attempted land at Gustavus airport in 1957 and crashed due to snow and low visibility. With the remote location of Gustavus, the plane was never recovered, and so remains in its resting place, complete with a plaque dedicated to its military air crew.
Afternoon - Hiking in the park
Grab some lunch at the Red Rooster Café (the other restaurant at 4 Corners) before heading down the 9 miles of heavily forested road to the entrance of Glacier Bay National Park.
Entering the park properly, you’ll first be met with the Glacier Bay Visitor Center & Lodge. Inside you’ll find the lodge portion of the building on the first floor (featuring a cozy selection of couches by the fireplace) and the lodge restaurant seating. Upstairs are exhibits on the park’s history and ecology to peruse and now would be a great time to stop by the ranger’s desk to see if there are updates to local weather or wildlife sightings.
Tip: I found that the weather is especially tempestuous here, with the sun turning to rain and back again very quickly, so checking in at the ranger's desk for weather updates can be especially useful.
If you aren’t in a hurry, a short walk out the back of the center and down to the beach will take you to the Huna Tribal House, an impressive structure where you can learn about the Huna Tlingit people and their connections and history with the area. If you’re lucky (or plan ahead) you might even catch a demonstration of some arts and crafts.
From here, you have your first choice to make; how much hiking do you want to do? If you’re in the mood for a short, leisurely hike, hit up the Forest Loop Trail, an easy 1.1 mile loop that will walk through the mossy forest and meadows of the area’s coastal environment.
If you’ve got a bit more time and energy hit up Bartlett River Trail, a 4.5 mile out-and-back hike that will take you up a river coastline that ends at a tidal river view. This section of the hike is also your best opportunity to see some local wildlife while on land (though not your best bet for the trip as a whole; we’ll get to that tomorrow). This area is occasionally frequented by river otters, salmon, bald eagles, and the rare moose. This hike also features a fair number of rocks, roots, and mud after a rain, so prepare accordingly!
Evening – Beachside
Return to Glacier Bay Lodge for dinner. This dining room has a striking view of Bartlett Cove, with towering mountains in the distance, and has a variety of specials, focusing on seafood.
Check in to see if there is a Ranger Program in the evening, as these can be fun ways to learn more about the area (and get some context to what you saw hiking).
After that, you’ll almost certainly be yearning to visit the beach, after seeing the view from the Lodge dining room. The sun sets directly over the mountains on the far side of Bartlett Cove and creates a truly astonishing view as it does so. Relax, reflect, enjoy the sunset, and maybe retire early to get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow is going to be an early one.
Day 2: Glacier Bay Boat Tour
Morning / Afternoon - The Tour
Grab a quick early breakfast at the lodge and prepare for the signature experience of Glacier Bay, the Glacier Bay Day Boat Tour. The boat departs at 7:30am and loads at the Bartlett Cove docks right next to the lodge so it’s a quick walk down.
This tour will take you deep into the titular Glacier Bay over the course of 7 to 8 hours, where you will see the vast majority of what the park has to offer. The first views will be of the towering peaks of the surrounding mountains, some up to 15,000 feet high, and the lush forests that surround them. As you venture farther in you will see massive tidewater glaciers like the Margerie and Grand Pacific glaciers and the fields of mini-glaciers floating in the water all around them, some the size of a small dog and some the size of a school bus. If you’re lucky, you might witness the calving itself, hearing the thunderous crack and watching as chunks of ice fall off the glaciers to join the field of ice.
You’ll also witness the best views of the wildlife of the park on this tour. The tour goes out of its way to visit the spots in the bay where the steller sea lions are lounging on their rocky islands after a long night of hunting. The sheer number of these sea lions in one place was shocking to me, and makes for some amazing photos. While traveling you may also see some of the many whales, river otters, puffins, bald eagles, and large variety of sea birds that call the area home. As the boat travels close to shore also keep your eyes along the shoreline for possible sightings of mountain goats or bears.
The tour provides a good amount of ranger narration, providing history of the park, the bay, and the animals within it. In between, the ranger will hold programs on the lower level for kids to keep them entertained when there aren’t active sights to see. Lunch is provided, and snacks and drinks are also available for purchase.
Evening - Wind Down
You’ll return to Bartlett Cove mid-afternoon, where you can relax with a hot drink at the lodge (after having been out on the icy water all day, a hot cocoa next to the lodge fireplace is immensely satisfying).
From there, you can go into Gustavus for dinner; the Glacier Bay Country Inn has a fine dining restaurant featuring local game and seafood. While there, perhaps take a short stroll through the nearby wildflower meadows, to view the area’s bright blue & purple Nootka Lupine or large white Cow Parsnip flowers (don’t tough the latter though, as it contains a chemical that can cause a burning rash).
Day 3: Kayaking Trip
Morning / Afternoon - Back on the Water
The focus today is getting a closer look at what you experienced on the boat tour yesterday, and there are a few ways to do that. The best method is to book a kayaking excursion that will take you out into the bay; there are many options available including a half-day guided paddle to Beardslee Islands or one of the coves surrounding the bay, but I’d recommend the Spirit Walker Whales Kayaking Trip. They offer multi-day trips, but the half-day trip will take you out into the bay to kayak amongst sea lions, otters, and of course whales. This trip can offer a much more intimate experience with the wildlife, while not covering quite as much territory.
If you’re looking for an unguided experience, Kayaks can be rented at Bartlett Cove when the weather is good. If you’re not a kayaker at all, then perhaps a flightseeing tour would be up your alley, taking in an aerial view of Glacier Bay and glacier views not achievable by boat.
Whatever your preference, you’ll likely return early in the afternoon, where you can grab lunch in Gustavus (Fireweed Gallery or Red Rooster).
Evening - One Last Sunset
You can grab dinner at your favorite spot from an earlier day, and spend one last relaxing evening exploring Gustavus Beach for birds and beachcombing, renting a bike to explore local roads and meadows, or watching one last sunset over Bartlett Cove, enjoying the often pink sunset skies and calm, pristine waters of the evening.
Tips for Visiting Glacier Bay National Park
Book Early - Gustavus is a tiny town and Glacier Bay is a sought after destination, and consequently both lodging and activities book quickly. This is especially true of the Glacier Bay Day Boat Tour, which has limited seats daily, so getting your tickets as early as possible is key. Note that Glacier Bay Lodge often offers deals on packages that include both lodging and the tour.
Watch the Skies - Weather shifts quickly in Glacier Bay, and while it's not often enough to cancel plans, it can make for an uncomfortable day if you’re not prepared. Pack waterproof layers and jackets, and be prepared to remove and put them back on at a moment's notice.
Early Birds - Wildlife is most active early in the day, and Glacier Bay has a lot of wildlife to view. So if you want to experience the wild fully, rise with them!
Bring the Long Lens - Glacier Bay is also a massive place, with vast stretches of water, so if viewing animals is a goal, bring the glass to do so. If you’re a photographer that means a telephoto lens (400 to 600mm is good), and if you’re not, then a good set of binoculars will serve you well. Olly has a great guide to camera gear for recommendations including telephoto lenses.
Take it Easy - Glacier Bay is a remote, isolated wilderness, and part of its appeal is the quiet, slow pace of the area. So don’t overbook yourself and make sure you’ve left plenty of free time to just exist in this stunning land.