Private Boating in Glacier Bay

 

Private boats moored in Bartlett Cove

Photo © Sean Neilson 2013

 

Glacier Bay is a popular destination for private boaters in the summer. From June 1 through August 31 private boaters are required to obtain a permit to enter park waters north of Point Gustavus and Point Carolus (find maps and charts here). Twenty-five permits are available per day with fifteen (15) as advance-notice permits and ten (10) as short-notice permits. This balances the protection of park resources with providing a range of rewarding experiential opportunities for visitors, consistent with Glacier Bay National Park’s purpose and values.

From May 1 through September 30, Vessels are required to contact the park via VHF radio at “KWM20 Bartlett Cove” (or by phone [phone]) prior to entering AND exiting Glacier Bay waters. Glacier Bay is defined as those waters north of a line drawn between Point Gustavus and Point Carolus, and west of a line extending north across Bartlett Cove from the fuel dock. You are required to call-in when passing this line when entering Glacier Bay AND when you are exiting. After hours vessel arrivals/departures still require a call in to KWM20. Your arrival/departure will be noted the following morning at start of business.

For example: If you are entering the park from Icy Strait with a plan to dock at the Bartlett Cove Public Use Dock, you are required to call the VIS when passing the line drawn between Point Gustavus and Point Carolus; then, you are required to call again when you cross the line drawn north from the Bartlett Cove Fuel Dock as you approach the main Public Use Dock. Finally, when departing, you must call the VIS again when you exit Bartlett Cove past the Fuel Dock, and when you exit Glacier Bay while passing Points Gustavus and Carolus.

For the 2025 permit season, some aspects of the current private vessel permitting system will change as detailed in a 2023 Marine Management Plan. Stay tuned as we work out implementation procedures and note that some mid-season adjustments may be required. These changes are intended to create opportunities for more people to enjoy Glacier Bay and reduce barriers to equal access without exceeding the seasonal private vessel daily quotas.

**ALERT: 2025 Season Changes**

Permits will be issued to a vessel, not a person, and will be non-transferable between vessels. At any one time, a private vessel may hold up to two permits, only one of which may be an advance-notice permit. A private vessel may not hold permits for more than fourteen (14) days in any twenty-one (21) day period.

Permit Lottery

The park is piloting a new lottery system to issue private boater permits, changing both when and how private boater permits are issued. Please consult the table below, read our FAQs, and contact the Visitor Information Station with any questions.

When to Apply:

ADVANCE NOTICE PERMITS	Lottery Opens 00:01 am Alaska time	Lottery Closes 11:59 pm Alaska time	Permit Issued
First Lottery	January 1	January 31	By February 15
Second Lottery	April 30	May 1	By May 15
Remaining Permits (if available)	After the second lottery, any remaining advance-notice permits will be issued on a first come, first served basis until 3 days before an entry date, at which time unused advance-notice permits will be incorporated into the short-notice lottery pool.
SHORT NOTICE PERMITS	Lottery Opens 00:01 am Alaska time	Lottery Closes 10:00 am Alaska time	Permit Issued
Rolling Lottery	3 calendar days prior to desired entry date	3 calendar days prior to desired entry date	By noon, 3 calendar days prior to entry date
Remaining Permits (if available)	After each lottery, any remaining short-notice permits will be issued on a first come, first served basis.

How to Apply

A permit to enter Glacier Bay is required from June 1st-August 31st only.

Download and fill all the fields in the Private Boater Permit application below. If all the fields are not completed, your application may be disqualified. Typed signatures are acceptable but note that your in-person signature acknowledging private vessel permit conditions will be required once annually when you complete your Boater Orientation at the Visitor Information Station.

Email your completed permit to ([e-mail]) anytime during the open lottery window.

 

2025 Glacier Bay Private Boater Permit Download

---

Click here to download the 2025 Glacier Bay Private Boater Permit (1.25 MB PDF file). Please do not submit without signing at the bottom of page 1 of the permit. Submit your completed application to [e-mail]

---

 

Required Annual Boater Orientation

An orientation is required by all boat operators entering Glacier Bay. Your permit is not valid until all operators have undergone an annual orientation. Orientations are offered in-person at the Visitor Information Station in Bartlett Cove daily at 9 am, 12 noon, and 4 pm, from May 1 through August 31.

When Will I Hear Back?

Applicants will be notified and permits will be issued after the lottery (see table above).

If your vessel is issued a permit, [e-mail] will send you an email with the following information:

• Your permit number

• The date range permitted

• Permit confirmation instructions

• Communications required upon arrival

• Annual Boater Orientation and in-person signature requirements

• Website links to Glacier Bay National Park regulations and Glacier Bay press releases on any current Whale Waters speed limits to reduce disturbance and collision risk to humpback whales and other marine wildlife.

If your date range choices are unavailable and your vessel is not issued a permit, [e-mail] will send you an email with information about applying again in the next open lottery.

 

After You Get a Permit

• Save the email confirmation with your permit number and read all of the conditions and information provided.
• Mark a reminder on your calendar to confirm your permit with the Visitor Information Station any time before 5:00pm AK time the day before the start of the permit. Permits not confirmed will be cancelled and made available for reissue.
• Just before your entry date, visit our website to ensure you are current on the Glacier Bay boating regulations and check for press releases on any current whale waters speed or course restrictions.
• Plan to attend a Boater Orientation at the Visitor Information Station immediately after arriving in Bartlett Cove at the beginning of your first trip of the season. You will be required to provide an in-person signature on a noncommercial use affidavit and to acknowledge private vessel permit conditions.
• If you are local, consider completing your annual Boater Orientation at the Visitor Information Station early in the season. Orientations will be offered beginning May 1st

Logistics and Other Information

Glacier Bay and the surrounding area has limited cell phone coverage. Please plan ahead to contact the Visitor Information Station with your arrival confirmation.

Please refer to our list of authorized concessionaires as an alternative to operating your own vessel in Glacier Bay.

Conditional Transit Permit

For private boaters who want to transit directly between Bartlett Cove and Icy Strait between June 1st and August 31st, a Conditional Transit Permit may be requested when the vessel is ready to transit. This permit may not be reserved in advance. Availability is not guaranteed and depends on availability within the daily private vessel quota and seasonal-use day quota.
Permit limitations include:

• Only available during Visitor Information Station operating hours to vessels ready to transit

• Only one way per day per vessel

• Only one Conditional Transit Permit in use at any one time

• Only owner-occupied private vessels for recreational purposes

To check availability, you can request a transit permit when you are 30 minutes or less travel time away from the park boundary by contacting the Visitor Information Station by marine band radio (KWM20 Bartlett Cove), by telephone [phone]), or in person at the Visitor Information Station at Bartlett Cove.

FAQs

Who is able to submit a lottery application if the vessel has more than one owner or operator and the lottery only accepts one application per vessel?

• If more than one application is submitted to the same lottery for the same vessel, only the application with the earliest date/time stamp will be entered in the lottery.

When do I need a permit to bring my private vessel into Glacier Bay?

• June 1st-August 31st.

Where do I need a private boater permit in the park?

• Entering Glacier Bay across the imaginary line between Point Gustavus and Point Carolus.
• Entering Glacier Bay from Bartlett Cove past the imaginary line extending from the fuel dock across to Lester Island.
• Find maps on this page.

If I come into Bartlett Cove on a Conditional Transit Permit, can I leave the park (go back out to Icy Strait) on the same day?

• The Conditional Transit Permit can only be used one way per vessel per day. To leave the park on the same day, you would need to have a regular private vessel permit (short-notice or advance-notice). If one was not available, you would need to wait until the next day to request a Conditional Transit Permit to leave the park.

 

Contacting the Visitor Information Station

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

Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [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

Find current operating hours on the park's Basic Information page. Phone and email lines are monitored year-round.

* Jump to top of page *