Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Location: Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Features: glaciers, cruise ship, hiking, camping, mountaineering, kayaking, rafting, fishing, and bird-watching, fjords, mountain peaks, inlets, streams

You can find this glacial park in the southeast part of Alaska, specifically in the areas of Hoonah-Angoon Census Area and Yakutat City and Borough. It has been expanded by 523,000 acres and now spans a total of 3,223,384 acres. In its 58,406 acres of public domain, it protects the Alsek River with its fish and wildlife habitats and at the same time allows sport hunting in the area. So it has been named both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. Two thirds of the park is designated as wilderness. Most common activities in the park are hiking, camping, mountaineering, kayaking, rafting, fishing, and bird-watching, sport fishing, hunting, cruising. Many visitors arrive on cruise ships. In addition, there are interpretative services aboard the ships and smaller excursion boats. Expect to encounter rainbow trout, black bears, mountain goats, wolves, wolverines, snowshoe hare, ptarmigans, waterfowls and a number of furbearers. It has over 1,000 glaciers. 7 of which are active tidewater glaciers – they break off icebergs into the sea. This is one of the sights to see in cruise ships or boat excursions. In addition, it also offers high peaks, fjords, land forms, bodies of water and a wet tundra. 

Top 3 Adventure Hacks

1) Hunting rules

Subsistence hunting is only allowed in the preserve and not in the park. Sport hunting and trapping are also allowed in the preserve. Permits and rules apply.

2) Bears ahead

Expect to see brown bears and avoid contact. Enjoy the view from a far! Careful not to startle them though

3) Open deck

Map out the prime viewing spots before your cruise tour. Take the seats in the opened decks and bring binoculars and take pictures!