Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in southeastern Alaska may seem as remote as other Alaskan parks like Katmai and Lake Clark. But thanks to a family I met on the ferry ride to Juneau, I realized that spending a weekend in Glacier Bay National Park is actually a fairly easy – and totally incredible – addition to a trip to Juneau. Because I was working Friday morning and had to leave Juneau Sunday morning, I did the whole trip in less than 36 hours, but of course you could certainly make the most of a little extra time. Here’s what I would recommend.
How to Get to Glacier Bay National Park
From Juneau, you need to get to Gustavus, the small town that serves as the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. You have two options: ferry or plane. You can search Alaska Marine Highway ferry schedules here. As of August 2022, the ferry from Juneau to Gustavus runs from about 7am-1pm on Mondays and Thursdays and costs $60+. The return trip, also on Mondays and Thursdays, is from about 1pm-7pm. To fly, as of August 2022 you have two options: Alaska Seaplanes or Alaska Airlines. Alaska Seaplanes has up to 6 flights daily, $160 one way. Alaska Airlines has one flight each day in the late afternoons, starting around $110.
From Gustavus, you’ll need to go another 10 miles or so into the park. There are a couple of different taxi companies in Gustavus; I recommend booking ahead, especially since cell service may be limited in Gustavus and especially at the park.
Where to Stay
I spent the one night of my trip to Glacier Bay at the Bartlett Cove campground, which is walk-in only (no cars) and very close to the lodge and visitor center. To stay at the campground, you need to submit a permit application; note that reservations are not accepted, the campground is first-come, first-served. Be sure to review the details on the NPS website.
Your other option for staying in the park is the Glacier Bay Lodge. Or, there are various options in Gustavus.
Glacier Bay Boat Tour
With only a short time at Glacier Bay National Park, the best/only way to see the glaciers is to take the boat tour. Normally I’m not one to pay for expensive (in 2022, close to $250) tours, but in this case, if you’re able it may we’ll be worth it. Note that the weather can vary significantly, but if you get lucky with a clear day, the glacier views are unbelievable. Even with clouds, you may still be able to see some wildlife such as sea lions, otters, bears, goats, moose, and of course many, many birds.
Activities in Bartlett Cove
If you don’t take the boat tour, or have extra time, there are beautiful short hiking trails around Bartlett Cove. The Huna Tribal House is also well worth a visit, and there are a variety of programs to enjoy at the Tribal House and nearby visitor center.
36 Hours in Glacier Bay National Park
If you’re looking to balance time and cost, try flying one way from Juneau to Gustavus and taking the ferry the other way. Given the ferry schedules as of summer 2022, I would suggest flying in on a Saturday afternoon and taking the ferry back to Juneau on a Monday morning. Here’s a short suggested itinerary for a weekend in Glacier Bay.
Day 1
6pm – Arrive in Gustavus by plane. Take a taxi to the Bartlett Cove campground inside the park.
7pm – Cook dinner in the intertidal zone.
8pm – Enjoy the long Alaskan evening with a walk along the forest trail/beach trail loop.
Day 2
7am – Board the boat tour; you can sleep in a bit if you plan to bring coffee/breakfast. Lunch is provided on the tour.
4pm – If you have energy left after the boat tour, walk along the Tlingit Trail or explore the visitor center and Huna Tribal House. Or, just relax at the campground/beach.
7pm – After another dinner in the intertidal zone, catch an evening ranger or cultural program.
Day 3
6am – Take the taxi back to Gustavus in time to catch the 7am ferry to Juneau.
Google probably wants me to make sure you know that you can find other sample weekend 48-hour trip itineraries here, and other national park guides here. You can see all my Alaska posts, including a guide to taking the ferry to Alaska, here. And, I should probably re-state that this is a post about a weekend in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve. Happy walking!
