NPS Illustration / C. Campbell SuperintendentJoni Seay (Acting)Established
Size
Park Designated Wilderness: 2,656,200 acres Biosphere Reserve: 3,455,300 acres This consists of both Glacier Bay and Admiralty Island, including a marine corridor connecting the two. World Heritage Site (UNESCO): 24,313,000 acres This includes Glacier Bay, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Kluane National Park (Canada), and Tatshenshini-Alsek Park (Canada), making it one of the world’s largest protected areas. Base Budget$5,752,744 (Fiscal Year 2024)StaffingPermanent: 68Seasonal & Term: 53 AccessMost visitors arrive to Glacier Bay via cruise ships and tour boats, over 90% of which never step foot on land in the park. The only road in the National Park connects the park headquarters and frontcountry area in Bartlett Cove to the small community of Gustavus (About 10 miles apart). Gustavus has an airport and is served by Alaska Airlines in summer and small planes all year round. The Alaska Marine Highway provides scheduled ferry service between Juneau and Gustavus.Learn more about accessing Glacier Bay National Park and get directions here.
NPS Illustration / C. Campbell Visitation2024 marked the second consecutive record-breaking visitation year for Glacier Bay. The number of marine vessels per day is limited in the summer months. Maximum number of vessels allowed each day include two cruise ships, three tour vessels, six charter vessels, and 25 private vessels.
Trails
LodgingGlacier Bay Lodge: 48 rooms (13,748 guests in 2024)Bartlett Cove Campground: 33 campsites Dry Bay, Glacier Bay National Preserve: One public use cabin There are many lodging options in the community of Gustavus, AK. In the National Preserve at Dry Bay, there are three commercial lodges in operation. Find more info on where to stay in the park here.HomelandGlacier Bay is the Ancestral Homeland of the Huna and Yakutat Lingít since time immemorial, time before memory. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve management is committed to working in collaboration with Lingít tribes to promote co-stewardship of this special place.ClimateGlacier Bay is at the northern end of the largest temperate rainforest in the world, the Tongass. Summer temperatures: 50º to 60º F; Winter 20º to 30º F, with extremes of -10º F. Some form of precipitation occurs on average 228 days per year. Annual precipitation is 70-80 inches (including an annual snowfall of 14 feet). A warming climate has increased precipitation over the past decade.High in the Fairweather Mountains, over 100 feet of snow may fall annually- making it one of the world’s snowiest places. Recently, evidence of a receding snow line along the range has become apparent. Marine Waters & CoastlinesTotal Marine Waters: 607,100 acres (largest marine area managed by NPS)Coastline (including the outside coast): 1180 statute miles (approx.) Coastline of Glacier Bay proper, excluding all islands: 560 statute miles Coastline of Glacier Bay proper, including all islands: 760 statute miles 
Oceans & TidesDeepest Point in Glacier Bay: 1,427 feet below sea levelTides are mixed semi-diurnal: Differing high and low tides, twice daily (two high/two low every day of differing heights). Tidal fluctuation: Maximum tidal change will be about 22.5 feet from high to low (11/6/2025: 18.6 foot high, -3.9 foot low). GlaciersAbout 250 years ago a single, large tidewater glacier covered all of Glacier Bay. By 1750 the glacier began to retreat and has now retreated 60 miles to the head of the bay. Learn more about Glaciers in the park here.Currently glaciers cover about 1,571 square miles or 30.6 percent of the park. At last count there were 1,059 glaciers in the park. There are 62 named glaciers, seven of which are active tidewater glaciers that calve icebergs into the sea. Most large glaciers in the park originate between elevations from 8,000 to 15,000 feet. The Brady (200+ square miles), Grand Pacific, and Carroll glaciers cover areas in excess of 100 square miles each. In general, tidewater and terrestrial glaciers in the park have been thinning and receding for decades.
Significant Mountain PeaksMount Fairweather (tallest mountain in Glacier Bay): 15,300 feetMount Quincy Adams: 13,650 feet Mount Crillon: 12,726 feet Lituya Mountain: 11,750 feet Mount La Perouse: 10,728 feet Mount Bertha: 10,204 feet Learn more about Glacier Bay's mountaineering history here.EarthquakesMajor earthquakes in the last 150 years (Date/Richter scale reading):1899 / 8.2, 1927 / 7.3, 1958 / 7.8, 2014 / 6.0, 2017 / 6.3 Wildlife & FloraFish: 329 speciesBirds: 247 species Mammals: 12 marine, 34 terrestrial species Amphibians: 1 species (Boreal toad) Reptiles: 1 species (Leatherback sea turtle) Vascular Plants: 594 individual taxa documented Source: irma.nps.gov (The Integrated Resource Management Applications (IRMA) Portal) |
Last updated: September 30, 2025