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Glacier Bay National Park Map

by Aakash singh

The following content on Glacier Bay National Park is licenced from National Geographic's Guide to National Parks of the United States (9th Edition).

WHEN JOHN MUIR CAME INTO GLACIER BAY for the first time, in 1879, “sunshine streamed through the luminous fringes of the clouds and fell on the green waters of the fiord, the glittering bergs, the crystal bluffs of the vast glacier, the intensely white, far-spreading fields of ice . . . making a picture of icy wildness unspeakably pure and sublime.” Glacier Bay National Park retains that magic, offering everything you want to see in Alaska, viewable in a single day.


Established December 2, 1980
3,280,198 Acres
Glacier Bay National Park Map

George Vancouver, a British naval officer, sailed this way in 1794 to map the region. There was no bay then, just a 5-mile inlet; all around were mountains and glaciers.

Glacier Bay National Park Map

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Before Vancouver’s explorations, local Tlingit people, who had called the area home for centuries, were forced to flee 20 miles south when the glaciers suddenly advanced.

Since Vancouver’s time, the ice has retreated some 60 miles, leaving a deep glacial fjord now populated by plants and animals. Today, only seven glaciers remain, five of which flow to the Gulf of Alaska.

How to Visit

Most people see Glacier Bay from the deck of a ship. Many cruise companies have itineraries that include the bay, and a park concessioner runs a day boat. Some craft go all the way up to the West Arm.

The eastern arm, Muir Inlet, is the domain of small private boats and kayaks. The only developed hiking trail starts at Bartlett Cove, near park headquarters. But you can hike just about anywhere you’d like in the park. The only limits: ice and impassable thickets of alder.

Useful Information

How to get there

In summer, Alaska Airlines (alaskaair .com) offers daily flights between Juneau and Gustavus, the closest airport to the park (9 miles away); a number of small carriers fly floatplanes and single-engine craft, including Alaska Seaplanes (alaskaseaplanes.com). The Alaska Marine Highway (dot.state.ak .us/amhs), the state’s ferry system, runs boats between Juneau and Gustavus twice a week in summer. Private boat and charter planes are the only way to access the park off-season.

When to go

Open year-round. The park is most visited mid-May to mid-Sept. Most services close down the rest of the year

Visitor Centers

Glacier Bay Visitor Center and Headquarters are located in Bartlett Cove. For private boat and camping permits, contact the Visitor Information Center (open May through Sept.; 907-697- 2627), across from the dock.

Headquarters

P.O. Box 140 Gustavus, AK 99826 nps.gov/glba 907-697-2230

Camping

The only campground (33 sites) in the national park is in Bartlett Cove, about a quarter mile from headquarters. For backcountry camping, widely available throughout the park, a free permit is required May through Sept., as is attendance at an orientation session, which includes information on dealing with tides and bears. Bear-proof food containers are required. The entire park is bear country (remember, bears can swim).

Lodging

Concessionaire-operated Glacier Bay Lodge (visitglacierbay.com; 888-229- 8687), open late May to early Sept., is in Bartlett Cove. Nine miles from the park, the town of Gustavus (gustavusak.com) has a wide variety of accommodations.

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About the Guide

 National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the United States 9th Edition
Bask in the spectacular beauty, thrilling terrain, and quiet peacefulness of the country’s finest state parks, hand- picked by park directors and National Geographic editors. This fully updated fifth edition includes 750 additional off- the-beaten track destinations. Beautifully written descriptions tell the stories of the parks, from their wildlife, natural features, and history to their most popular current activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, water sports, and rock climbing. Vivid images inspire your next getaway, while detailed information–including 32 detailed maps highlighting sites, trails, campgrounds, and more– helps you plan your next excursion. From free to low-cost, from Florida to Alaska, from the six-acre lao Valley to the 204,000-acre Baxter, use this essential guide to plan a day visit or a weekend escape.
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