Glacier Bay by Boat

As its name implies, much of Glacier Bay National Park is water. Most of the land within the park is mountainous, covered with dense rain forest or alder thickets, and without roads or trails. While a few hardy travelers hike, raft, or climb the mountains, the vast majority of visitors travel by salt water. Glacier Bay is a natural waterway from Alaska's Inside Passage to the tidewater glaciers that are the park's main attraction. Its numerous branches, inlets, lagoons, islands, and passages offer virtually limitless opportunities for exploration.

 

Daily Tour Boat and Camper Drop-Off in Glacier Bay

Each summer, the Glacier Bay Lodge operates a daily tour through Glacier Bay, along with a camper drop-off service. A Park Ranger Naturalist will guide the tour each day in the Bay! Junior Rangers will be sworn in, scenery and wildlife will awe passengers, and a day of adventure will leave you with unforgettable experiences. In addition, the "Day Boat" as it is colloquially named, operates a camper drop-off service, which offers campers and their kayaks (as needed) a drop-off at two locations in Glacier Bay.

 

Private Vessels

Glacier Bay is a fabulous place to explore with your boat. Sailboats, yachts, cabin cruisers, and skiffs have wild expanses and sheltered coves to explore and enjoy. A private vessel must not have any paid crew, otherwise, it is considered a commercial vessel and managed differently by the park. To plan a visit by boat, please see our detailed boater information. If you want to travel by water under your own power, see kayaking in Glacier Bay.

 

Cruise Ships

For over 100 years, most visitors to Glacier Bay enjoy the amazing landscape of Glacier Bay from the deck of large cruise ships. These visitors do not go ashore in the park; instead National Park Service naturalists board the ship to share their knowledge about the park and its wildlife during a day-long cruise in the bay. Typically two ships per day travel up the West Arm to spend 4 or more hours in the glacier areas. Passengers witness glaciers, mountains, and a surprising amount of wildlife in the heart of a very wild place. It is an amazing and memorable experience. Learn more about cruise ships in Glacier Bay.

 

Tour Vessels

The next most popular activity is to see the bay on a tour vessel. These smaller boats carry 50-150 passengers. Most operate like small cruise ships and visit Glacier Bay as part of a longer Alaskan itinerary. There is one daily tour boat that departs from Glacier Bay Lodge in Bartlett Cove during the summer months. Learn more about tour vessels in Glacier Bay.

 

Charter Boats

For a personalized trip in the bay, charter vessels can generally take up to six passengers and are rented to a single group, usually for custom multi-day trips. See a list of authorized charter operators in Glacier Bay on our Area Visitor Services Listing page.

 

See Also:

• Glacier Bay Boating Regulations
• See Plan Your Visit to get oriented.
• Visiting Gustavus/Glacier Bay on the Alaska State Ferry.
• The Area Visitor Services Directory is a listing of businesses that provide lodging, transportation, tours, and other useful services in and near Glacier Bay.