Glacier Bay National Park

A Photo Diary of Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve

Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve covers 3.3 million acres of unspoiled Alaska wilderness. Majestic snowcapped mountains, and temperate rainforest flank the waterway stretching from the Inside Passage to the tidewater glaciers that the park is famously known for.

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To read my complete post about our Alaska Cruise, click here.

Most visitors to Glacier Bay experience the wildlife-filled landscape from the deck of a cruise ship or sailing vessel along with an on-board National Park Service naturalist to serve as an expert guide. Once we picked-up our park ranger, our Seabourn cruise followed a typical sailing route, passing by multiple glaciers and points of interest, and culminating at Majorie Glacier, Alaska’s most photographed and active glacial faces.

If you are lucky enough to be planning an Alaska cruise that includes Glacier Bay, this post will preview some of the spectacular scenery you can look forward to seeing first hand. Cruise ships typically spend an entire day in Glacier Bay and stop at the major tidewater glaciers to witness ice calving as the glaciers move forward.

The water and shoreline are full of wildlife including bears, mountain goats, sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, whales, bald eagles, and a variety of seabirds. Be sure to bring your binoculars and get out on deck!

One of the first land features to bring folks out on their verandahs is Gloomy Knob, just north of Tlingit Point on the east side of the bay. The rock lacks the thick vegetation seen elsewhere due to its high concentration of dolomite. Jáanwu, or mountain goats can often be seen along the ridges. Binoculars will help you get a better look!

Above photos: Gloomy Knob dotted with mountain goats

The first major tidewater glacier that can be seen coming into the northern inlets of Glacier Bay is Reid Glacier, named for Harry Fielding Reid, one of the first scientists who studied how glaciers move. Reid Glacier shares the same icefield as Lamplugh Glacier and Brady Glacier. The glacier is 11-miles long, but only the face of the glacier can be seen from the water.

Above photos: Reid Glacier

From this point on, the water and coastal landscape really start to look cold! The mountains are covered in snow and ice, and a few small icebergs can be seen floating on the water. We had heavy fog and clouds, so we missed out on views of the peaks of the Fairweater Mountains.

Our wildlife spotting really picked up here, as well. While whale watching tends to be best at the southern part of the bay, sea otters and harbor seals can be seen everywhere! They are playful, curious, and didn’t seem to mind our ship sailing through.

Above photos: Near Reid Inlet

Above photo: A small expedition vessel near John Hopkins Inlet

North of Reid Inlet, nature really starts to show off with the impressive Lamplugh Glacier. Descending from the Brady Icefield, Lamplugh is an 8-mile long glacier named after geologist George William Lamplugh. As our naturalist explained, the glacier has been susceptible to climate change, causing the receding of the glacier face at a rate of 50 – 100 feet per year.

Above photos: Lamplugh Glacier

From Lamplugh Glacier, we sailed north into the Tarr Inlet, the most northerly arm of Glacier Bay. Huge chuncks of ice floating on the water provided a respite for harbor seals and the sea otter population started to thin out a bit. The water here is a stunning shade of blue.

Above photos: Tarr Inlet

The highlight of Glacier Bay National Park is Margerie Glacier, the most photographed and active glacial faces in Alaska. It is a glimpse into the Ice Age for everyone who sees it. The scale of the glacier and surrounding mountains is something to experience in person.

We just happened to bear witness to some calving as we first approached Margerie Glacier, a dramatic event where huge chunks of snow and ice sheer from the face of the glacier and into the water as the glacier advances.

Above photos: Margerie Glacier

At the end of Tarr Inlet lies Grand Pacific Glacier, which, due to it’s recession, is no longer considered a tidewater glacier. Although it looks more like land than it does a glacier, it is 1.35 miles wide at the terminus, with an ice face ranging from 65-165 feet, and a length over 20 miles long.

Above photo: Grand Pacific Glacier

Above photos: The Seabourn Odyssey in Glacier Bay National Park

During our return voyage through Glacier Bay, we sailed through an area of rich marine wildlife and spotted numerous whales, birds, and sea lions. The narrow area between Drake, Francis, and Willoughby Islands and the mainland were amazing photo opportunities!

Above photos: Sea lions near Drake Island

Above photos: Humpback whales in Glacier Bay National Park

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