Private Boating in Glacier Bay

 

Private boats moored in Bartlett Cove

Photo © Sean Neilson 2013

 

Imagine waking to the sound of a whale blow! You fix your coffee and sit on the back deck while your boat gently rocks, looking out over the magnificent expanse of water and mountains. Suddenly, up pops a curious harbor seal only a few yards away! These are only a couple of the common occurrences while visiting Glacier Bay National Park on your own boat.

---

Vessel use in Glacier Bay is regulated by the National Park Service to protect park wildlife and other resources while providing a range of recreational opportunities to park visitors. Detailed boater regulations are available here.

• Between May 1 and September 30, motorized vessels are required to notify KWM20 Bartlett Cove before "entering" the Bay. Entering the Bay means crossing the imaginary line between Point Gustavus and Point Carolus and again when crossing the imaginary line extending across Bartlett Cove from the fuel dock.
• Between June 1 and August 31, all motorized vessels are required to obtain a permit before entering the Bay. Permits are issued to the operators of vessels and are free but limited in availability. Vessels entering without a permit may be denied access to the bay, asked to leave, and issued a citation. A permit is required before navigating to Bartlett Cove through the entrance of Glacier Bay.
• Between June 1 and August 31, all boat operators operating in the Bay are required to have confirmation of a yearly boater orientation with the Visitor Information Station before activating a permit.

 

Step 1: When to Apply for a Permit

Park regulations allow 25 private vessels to obtain permits to travel inside Glacier Bay each day (June 1 through August 31). Thirteen permits are designated as advance notice permits, while the remaining 12 permits are designated as short notice permits. All permits have a maximum duration of 7-day (6-night) for a single operator. An operator may hold up to two permits at any time but may not exceed 14 use days in a 21 day period. Applications for advanced and short notice permits are accepted starting at 0700 AKDT on the day an entry date becomes available. Permits recieved before that time will be considered early. Applications may only include one permit request. Applications including more than one permit request will be considered incomplete.

• Advance notice permits may be issued to boaters starting at 0700 AKDT, 60 days in advance of the anticipated entry date. Check our Advance Notice Date Reference Guide to determine the earliest day to apply. Advance applications are strongly advised, particularly from June 20 through July 20. You may reserve up to 7 consecutive days, counting the first day of your permit (7-day/6-night maximum). It may be difficult to receive a permit during the peak of the summer season. If you are denied an advanced notice permit, you may try to apply for a short notice permit. Remember that advanced notice permits must be confirmed within 48 hours of arrival. If an arrival has not been confirmed with the Visitor Information Station before 1000 on the day a permit is set to start, the permit will be be automatically canceled.

• Short notice permits may be issued to boaters starting at 0700 AKDT, 48 hours in advance of the requested entry date. You may reserve up to 7 consecutive days, counting the first day of your permit (7-day/6-night maximum).

  ---

 

2023 Glacier Bay Boater Permit Application

• Boater Application: Complete this boater application (upcoming) and email it back to us at [e-mail] (please rename the file using your vessel name ex. Sea_Lark) no earlier than 0700 AKDT, 60 days out from an application's start date. Only one application may be processed per email. Emails that contain more than one application will be marked at incomplete. Applications are accepted between April 2 and August 31st during the permit year.

 

---

Advance Notice Permit Guide

Please refer to the Advance Notice Date Reference Guide for help deciding your application date. Remember that advanced notice permits become available starting at 0700 AKDT, 60 days out from the starting day of their permit request and may not request more than 7 days (6 nights).

---

 

Step 2: How to Apply for a Permit

Applications are processed by the Visitor Information Station (VIS) in Bartlett Cove. The VIS will be in operation from 0700 to 1900 from May 28 thru August 31. For the remainder of May and September, the VIS will operate from 0800 to 1700. Processing permits begins starting at 0700 on a first come, first served basis and applications received before 0700 on the day an entry date becomes available will not receive preference. Only one application is allowed per permit request. The permit that you will be issued, advance notice or short notice, will depend on a permit's availability and the timeframe in which we receive an application. This is done in order to allow the best possible access into the bay for all visitors.

Vessel operators may apply for permits by email, phone, fax, VHF radio, USPS mail, or in person at the Bartlett Cove Visitor Information Station (VIS) (a permit is required prior to traveling to Bartlett Cove by boat).

When your application is submitted to the VIS, it is reviewed by staff and processed into the boater permit system. Applications are handled in the order in which they are received. The VIS will begin accepting permits starting at 0700 each day (for permits within 60 days of arrival date, and again within 48 hours). The VIS will be open May 1 to September 30. May 28 - September 5, the VIS will be open from 0700-1900. For the remainder of May and September, the VIS will be open from 0800-1700. If you are applying for permits from April 2 to April 30, you may experience a delay in the processing of your permit. Permits will be processed on a first come, first served basis.

Step 3: Receiving your Permit

After an application has been processed, a response will be sent to the applicant. We reply to all applications that are received; if you do not receive a response, please call the Visitor Information Station at [phone].

Permits are issued to the vessel operator, and an operator may hold up to 2 permits at any given time. Each permit may be issued for up to 7 days and 6 nights, for a maximum of 14 days out of each 21 day period. Permits are valid at 00:01 on the first day and end at 23:59 on the last day of the permit. Boaters are required to exit the park before the permit expires. If you are in need additional days, please contact the VIS upon your arrival for permit availability.

To ensure that permits do not go unused, permit holders must confirm their permit with the VIS within 48 hours before arrival. If a permit has not been confirmed by 10:00 AM on the day the permit begins, it will be canceled. In addition, if the VIS does not receive confirmation of a vessel's arrival into the park by 10:00 AM the day after a permit is set to start, the permit will also be canceled. In both cases, canceled permits will be made available to the public.

 

NPS Photo

Step 4: Prepare for your Trip - Required Orientation

• All vessel opperators that will be operating inside the Bay between June 1 and August 31 are required to complete a yearly boater orientation. This may be done online or in person at the VIS. 2022 boater orientation times will be 9 AM and 4 PM from May 28 - September 5. For the remainder of May and September orientaitons will be at 9 AM and 2 PM. If you have completed your orientation in advance, please send an Orientation Signature Confirmation to [e-mail]. Signatures will be required for all vesel operators.

Step 5: What to Do Once You're Here

• Between May 1 and September 30, all boaters are required to call in to "KWM20 Bartlett Cove" on VHF channel 12 or 16 immediately upon entering the bay. Boaters will then be instructed on entrance proceedures, closures and restriction. Please call the VIS at [phone] for more information.
• Familiarize yourself with the park's boater regulations. This includes whale waters regulations, as well as restrictions due to other wildlife.
• Please note that pets are not allowed on land anywhere in Glacier Bay, except on-leash in the Bartlett Cove developed area.

 

Contacting the Visitor Information Station

To submit completed applications, or to request additional information, contact the Visitor Information Station by email, phone, fax, VHF radio, or USPS mail.

Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
VHF marine radio: KWM20 BARTLETT COVE on channel 12 or 16
Mailing address:
Visitor Information Station
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
PO Box 140
Gustavus, AK 99826

The Visitor Information Station is open May 1 through September 30 from 8 am to 5 pm.