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Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve – an Introduction
The Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve of Alaska is one of the becharming destinations in the tourist map of the world. This U.S national park is one of the treasured possessions of the continent. The marine life of this USA nation park is very interesting and takes the heart of the travelers to a great extent. There are ample fascinating elements in the park and they are constituted by the snow capped mountain ranges, the tidewater glaciers, the steep coastlines of the oceans, the deep fjords and the innumerable freshwater lakes and rivers. The Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve also encompasses a wide range of plant and animal family. They attribute the natural splendor of the national park in U.S with a unique charm. The diverse range of marine and wild life species offers the individuals visiting the place an exciting opportunity to fulfill their desire to be adventurer.
Visiting Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
The best time to visit the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is during the later part of May to the mid of September. Most of the sunshine can be experienced during the month of May and June. The summer season offers long days with low temperature. It is rainy and windy during September. The best thing to do in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is visiting the glaciers. One can also enjoy a ride in the cruise ship, tour boats and even in sea kayak. The cruise generally travels along the southeastern Alaska. One can also go camping in one of the sites up the bay. You will either be picked up on a later dater or you can also paddle back to Barlett Cove. Hiking in one of the trails around Barlett Cove is also a good option. One can also go for Rafting and Kayaking.
Camping: It is possible to go camping in one or two sites up the bay. It is indeed a very adventurous option to indulge in. One should be very strong both in health and mind to pursue the activity.
Guided Tours: There are different forms of guided tours of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. They include fishing trip, trip to Barlett Cove and the wilderness adventure in the region. The best way to explore the park is to join one of the Ranger driven trips in which the rangers board cruise ships and tour vessels and offer valuable information on each and every aspect.
Opening Hours
Visitor Center:
Open everyday from late May through early September. The Exhibit is open round the clock. The Alaska Geographic bookstore and the Information desk is open from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily.
Visitor Information Station for Boaters and Campers:
During May, the VIS is open from Monday - Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m and during June, July and August it is open Monday - Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. During the month of September the station remains open as usual Monday - Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is open round the year but the facilities and services are very limited during winter.
How to Reach
Air: A visit to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve during summer can be planned on easy terms, as the Alaska Airlines offer jet service on daily basis by means of a Boeing 737 flying from Seattle enroute to Juneau and then reaching Gustavus, a town in proximity. The Gustavus airport is just 10 miles away on road from Barlett Cove. The headquarter of the park is located here. There are also air taxi services plying from Juneau to Gustavus connecting Haines, Skagway and other towns in the south eastern part of Alaska. If your intention is to visit the Dry Bay at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve then jet services can be availed from Yakutat. It is a nice transportation option linking the Park with Seattle and Anchorage.
Road: There is no direct road route to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. The only road stretches for about 10 miles connecting the Berlett Cove and the town of Gustavus. One can rent a car from Gustavus to traverse the distance.
Water: There are ferry services that operate during summer season. They run on Friday and Sundays between Juneau and Glacier Bay National Park. A catamaran leaves from Barlett Cove at 4:00pm and reaches the Auke Bay at 7:00 pm. It departs from their again at 7:30pm and reaches Barlett Cove at 10:30pm. There are several cruise liners from the cities in the west coast, which pay a visit to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. This cruise operates many a time during the week. There are also charter boat services available.
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