Glacier Bay became a National Monument on 25 Feb 1925, and was established as a national park and preserve on 02 Dec 1980. Still, you'll get the full National Park Service experience. As marine waters make up nearly one-fifth of the park, Glacier Bay is rich with marine life, including humpback whales, orcas, Stellar sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, and porpoises. #photography #photographersofinstagram #cruisetravels #cruiseshipcrew #cruiseshipphotographer#sailwithme #gloucestershirephotographer #traveltaggers #travelatsea The Alsek addition comprised the bulk of the preserve lands. If you want to experience the area more intimately and get closer than the large ships, consider a small ship cruise, like this itinerary from UnCruise which features 2 days in Glacier Bay National Park, or by sailboat with Alaska Adventure Sailing. 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Norwegian Cruise Line, Seabourn, Cunard Line, Crystal Cruises and Viking also have ships that visit the park, as do small-ship operators UnCruise Adventures, Alaskan Dream Cruises, Lindblad Expeditions and American Cruise Lines. Gustavus, AK. Glacier Bay National Park: The Complete Guide - TripSavvy Mendenhall Glacier | Juneau Glaciers & Glacier Tours The park offers more than 700 linear miles of shorelines, beaches and islands that are open to camping. Day 3: Day of departure. The St. Elias mountain range which is in the park has some of the highest peaks in North America, including Mount St. Elias, the second highest peak in North America at 18,008 feet (5,489m). Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve | U.S. Geological Survey - USGS.gov #curriecotravels #kimdunndestinations The mine was in operation until the 1960s, and then it was abandoned. The ice that calves from their faces is, on average, 200 years old. Campers can arrange for the park's tour boat to drop them off at one of several designated locations within the park and pick them up days later. Glacier Bay is a fabulous place to explore by boat. [19] Trips generally take six days and pass through Kluane National Park and Reserve in the Yukon and Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park in British Columbia. DM us and book your last minute now! Enjoy the sights of marine wildlife with whale watching from Seward in Kenai Fjords National Park. Something to consider: With us you will be flown by the highest time local pilot, 25 plus years experience. Park rangers and often a local Huna Tlingit cultural guide will board the vessel for the day to offer presentations and shipwide commentary over loudspeakers, lead kiddie activities and answer questions. Glacier National Park is an American national park located in northwestern Montana, on the Canada-United States border, adjacent to the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia.The park encompasses more than 1 million acres (4,000 km 2) and includes parts of two mountain ranges (sub-ranges of the Rocky Mountains), more than 130 named lakes, more than 1,000 different species of . National Park Service. If youre only cruising one way and, From magnificent bald eagles to tiny hummingbirds, nearly 500 species of birds can be found in Alaska. Glacier Bay (Alaska) cruise port schedule | CruiseMapper . Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. An administrative site was also developed outside the monument boundaries at the Forest Service ranger station at Indian Point on Auke Bay, closer to Juneau. The remains of the mine and the town are still there today and can be toured during your visit. The day tour on the park tour boat includes stops at two glaciers -- Margerie and Grand Pacific. [36], John Muir visited Glacier Bay in 1879, just prior to the 1880 establishment of Yosemite National Park, Muir's first great cause. #alaska #alaskalife #nature #anchorage #travel #travelalaska #alaskaphotography #alaska2022 #usa #wildlife #mountains #glacier #adventure #gloomyknob #sharingalaska #fishing #alaskalife #whittier #photography #explorealaska #ak #naturephotography #thealaskalife #glacierbaynationalpark #seaotter #alaskaadventure #southmarbleisland #glacierbay #hiking #princesscruises, THE BEST OF ALASKA AND THE YUKON. The Mendenhall is just one of the 38 major glaciers that flow from the Juneau Icefield, an expanse of interconnected glaciers that sits just behind the mountains next to Juneau. . Alaska is big! From there, we trained to Fairbanks! Glaciers / Glacial Features - Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve (U.S The Icefield covers more than 1,500 square miles and runs from the Taku River inlet east of town to Skagway, 90 miles northwest. However, the final bill contained a number of significant exemptions, and the Newmont claim has never been resolved, although no mining activity has been proposed since the 1970s. The monument was administered locally from 1953 onwards. President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the area around Glacier Bay a national monument under the Antiquities Act on February 26, 1925. Three lodges and one outfitter can provide transportation and services for fishing and hunting small game and waterfowl. This small town is surrounded by the national park and has an airport and ferry port. Typically hunted species in the preserve include black bears, mountain goats, wolves, wolverines, snowshoe hare, ptarmigans, waterfowls and a number of furbearers. ALASKA NATIONAL PARKS - Royal Caribbean Cruises Orcas live in the waters surrounding coastal Alaska including outside Seward, near Kodiak, in Whittier's Prince William Sound, in Glacier Bay, Icy Strait and Alaska's Inside Passage. AK Back in Gustavus, there are a handful of small inns, guest houses and bed and breakfasts such as the 14-room Bear Track Inn (from $435 per person, per day, including meals and ground transportation) and the five-room and five-cabin Glacier Bay Country Inn ($350 per person, per day, including meals and ground transportation). In 1993, the UN added Glacier Bay and Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park in British Columbia to the first bi-national designation to be recognized as an international World Heritage site (it previously included Kluane National Park and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park). Today Im showcasing the largest national park in the United States: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park! Mountains rise right from its tidewater up to three vertical miles. At the foot of the main dock is the National Park Service Visitor Information Station, where you can obtain backcountry permits, seek out information, or purchase a variety of books or topographic maps. The dramatic variety of plant communities ranges from barren terrain just recovering from glacial retreat to lush temperate rain forest. At the same time the Army built an airfield at Gustavus, which offered flat terrain and good weather. Don't underestimate travel times. Glacier Bay Lodge, the Park Visitor Center, Visitor Information Station, exhibits, Park Headquarters, several trails, a public dock, kayak rentals, and walk-in campground provide a variety of services surrounded by the Alaskan wilderness. The Monarch No. Bartlett Cove, AK * Distances and travel times are calculated to Glacier Bay Lodge Visitor Center. The oldest rocks in this sequence are the Late Silurian Willoughby limestone and the youngest being the Middle Devonian Black Cap limestone. . Whether you're a private boater or thinking about a cruise, explore options here. [44], No Park Service personnel were assigned to the monument until 1949, when a seasonal ranger was stationed at Bartlett Cove. American ecologist William S. Cooper, also famous for his professional botanical artwork, led efforts to preserve Glacier Bay National Park as both a place for research and for sightseeing. A glacier is born high in the mountains, where the only precipitation that falls is snow, and the snow that falls does not melt away each year. We offer three lenghts of tours going further into Glacier Bay, on our flightseeing tours. Joseph Whidbey, master of the Discovery during the 179195 Vancouver expedition, found Icy Strait, at the south end of Glacier Bay, choked with ice in 1794. As the name suggests, Glacier Bay is a park that is all about glaciers. I know I will return again but so very fortunate to experience such a glorious trip!! Today, glaciers still cover 27 percent of the park. About 9 miles away and connected to Bartlett Cove by road is the small town ofGustavus. Glacier Bay has length of nearly 80 km (50 mi) and is noted for the unique display of 16 active glaciers descending from the ice-draped St Elias Mountain Range (to the east) and Fairweather Mountain Range (to the west). Glacier Bay Flightseeing - Mountain Flying Service Investigators looked at a nunatak outcrop in the icefield and found highly mineralized rock. [38][40], The Ecological Society established a committee to promote the designation of Glacier Bay as a national monument at the urging of Cooper, forwarding copies of their resolutions to President Calvin Coolidge, the National Park Service, the Smithsonian and the governor of Alaska. The lowest point in Glacier Bay National Park is the Gulf of Alaska which is 0 feet (0 m) in elevation. Again, if you're arriving by cruise ship, you'll be eating on board your vessel. Our programs are fun, informative, and free! #alaska #alaskalife #alaskaphotography #hoonah #icystraitpoint #sceniccruising #scenic #cruising #scenery #unrealscenes #nationalpark #lake #landscape_lovers #nature #natureshots #glacierbay #landscapephotography #landscape #naturephotography #discoverusa #discoveralaska #exploretheglobe #doyoutravel #travelphotography #explorenature #nikon #nikonphotography, Seasons Greetings from Glacier Bay! Most towns are 2-4 hours apart, but the scenery is part of the journey. Together with Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve and the Tatshenshini-Alsek Park in British Columbia, this 24-million-acre wilderness is a World Heritage Site and the world's largest internationally protected area. If you're arriving at Glacier Bay on a cruise, you don't have to worry about a place to stay. The LeRoy Mine was the largest though, discovered in 1938 by Gustavus founder and resident A.L. To the east of Glacier Bay the Takhinsha Mountains and the Chilkat Range form a peninsula bounded by the Lynn Canal on the east, with the park's eastern boundary with Tongass National Forest running along the ridgeline. Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek . As noted above, a large percentage of Glacier Bay's visitors arrive by cruise ship. Find the right card for you. This glacial retreat has exposed a resilient land that hosts a. [42], During World War II the U.S. Army appropriated an area around Excursion Inlet to be used as a logistics base for transferring materiel from barges transiting the Inside Passage to seagoing vessels, logging the area for pilings to be used in piers. Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. But the bottom line is that, even at mid-summer, you should be prepared for any sort of weather. Learn how to get the most out of your day. #alaska #alaskalife #nature #anchorage #travel #travelalaska #alaskaphotography #alaska2022 #usa #wildlife #mountains #glacier #adventure #gloomyknob #sharingalaska #fishing #alaskalife #whittier #photography #explorealaska #ak #naturephotography #thealaskalife #glacierbaynationalpark #puffin #alaskaadventure #crownprincess #glacierbay #majesticprincess #princesscruises, Wall of ice. Alaska National Parks: Which Ones You Should Visit (And Why!) National Park Service. Map of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. The spruce and hemlock forests, for instance, began to emerge from the land 300 years ago; as the plant material decomposed over time, it formed a fertile base for new plants to thrive despite the post-glacial conditions. Orcas live in the waters surrounding coastal Alaska, including outside Seward, near Kodiak, in Whittier's Prince William Sound, in Glacier Bay, Icy Strait, and Alaska's Inside Passage. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Covering 3.3 million acres of rugged mountains, dynamic glaciers, temperate rainforest, wild coastlines and deep sheltered fjords, Glacier Bay National Park is a highlight of Alaska's Inside Passage and part of a 25-million acre World Heritage Siteone of the worlds largest international protected areas. #alaska #visitalaska #thelastfrontier #travelalaska #vacationplanning #traveldestination #whalewatching #alaskawhalewatching #alaskanmarinelife, Alaska National Parks Week, Day 3 Glaciers, mountains, wildlife, history, homeland, adventure, challenge, wilderness, research.and more! From the summit to sea, Glacier Bay's wildness is remote, dynamic and intact. For more information, visit theGlacier Bay National Park website. Which one is right for you? A visit to Glacier Bay is one of the iconic experiences of a trip to Alaska, and something you should try to do at least once in your life -- if only to see the giant calving glaciers. [20], Glacier Bay National Park preserves nearly 600,000 acres (2428.1km2) of federally protected marine ecosystems in Alaska (including submerged lands) against which other less-protected marine ecosystems can be compared. Spirit Walker Expeditions is a locally guide-owned and operated company with over 35 years of experience leading sea kayaking trips throughout For Alaska's day-to-day weather, its best to plan for a bit of everything. Glacier Bay National Park - Margerie Glacier, Johns Hopkins Glacier Be sure to pack good rain gear, waterproof boots, wool or fleece layers and even a warm hat and gloves. This proposal took advantage of 1936 legislation that permitted mineral exploitation in the monument, which had been confined to small prospectors until this time. Several air taxi companies provide small-plane flights year-round from several southeast Alaska towns to Gustavus. 5 minutes, 49 seconds Enjoy the sights and sounds of a tour boat trip in Glacier Bay National Park on a rare sunny day! Russian fur traders also probably visited the region in the mid-18th century. For Adventurers Custom Journeys Vacations Adventure Cruises Inside Passage Cruises Browse all Driving Tours Rail & Road Guided Bus Vacations Browse all Bus Tours Custom & Private Bus Tours Lodge Stays Characterized by high mountains, icefields and . Juneau is a 30 minute flight to Gustavus and a 4.5 hour ferry ride. Specifically, most visitors come to view one of the park's nine giant tidewater glaciers, which flow down from the mountains to the water. In many cases, this is driven by the fact that the properties operate on a semi-all-inclusive basis with all meals and transportation from the airport included in the base price. Dubbed Baranof Wind and operated by park concessionaire Aramark, the tour boat departs from Bartlett Cove, which is just inside the park boundary and the home to the park's visitor center. Birds that nest in this park include the bald eagle, golden eagle, five species of woodpecker, two species of hummingbird, raven, four species of falcon, six species of hawk, osprey, and ten species of owl. For those staying at Glacier Bay Lodge, the in-house restaurant, the Fairweather Dining Room, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner for both lodge guests and outsiders. There are a number of beloved areas in Glacier National Park. Glacier National Park was established in 1910, covers about one million acres of land, and contains 25 "active" glaciers that move due to thawing and melting. Preglacial forests are found east of Goose Cove and on the east side of Muir Inlet. The CanadaUS border approaches to within 15 miles (24km) of the ocean in the St. Elias Mountains at Mount Fairweather, the park's tallest peak at 15,300 feet (4,700m), transitioning to the Fairweather Range from there southwards. In 1932, Glacier Bay National Park became part of the worlds first international peace park, meant to celebrate peaceful relations between the United States and Canada. [11][12], The region experiences tectonic activity with frequent earthquakes. #alaska #glacierbay #glacierbaynationalpark #hollandamerica #koningsdam #alaskancruise #travel #travelphotography #internationaltravel #glacier #cruise, Whale watching in Alaska sure is fun and exciting, not to mention accessible too. Harbor seals in Glacier Bay National Park give birth to their young on icebergs to stay safe from orca predators, while seabirds like tufted puffins and rare Kittlitzs murrelet birds build their nests near glaciers. This picture is on the return trip from the whale watch. The rural community has a dozen lodges, inns, and bed and breakfasts, a handful of restaurants, and outfitters and charter captains who arrange whale watching excursions, fishing trips, mountaineering expeditions, and guided kayaking tours. Bartlett Coveis the park headquarters and includes a lodge and restaurant, a campground, kayak rentals, and the tour boat dock. Most visitors head down these trails on their own, but for those looking for interpretation, park rangers based at Bartlett Cove offer guided hikes, too. The 3.3-million-acre park is a must-stop for every cruise ship sailing through theInside Passage. Glacier Bay National Park has a single lodge, the Glacier Bay Lodge, located near the edge of the park along Bartlett Cove. Jean-Franois de Galaup, comte de Laprouse was the first European to explore the Alaskan coast on foot in the region of Glacier Bay in 1786, arriving in Lituya Bay and making contact with the Tlingit. A large number of 2021 cruises to Alaska already have been canceled. The number of ships that may arrive each day is limited by regulation. Two hundred years ago, it was primarily a single large "beach". . . Here are 10 impressive facts about Glacier Bay National Park. The town is so small that its dining establishments generally are tied to its lodging outlets. Glacier Bay offers unexcelled opportunities to study earth's most fundamental geologic processes. Because of Glacier Bays protection status, scientists are able to study how plant life returns to the land as glaciers retreat. The chief distinction between park and preserve lands is that sport hunting by non-residents is permitted in accordance with Alaskan game regulations in the preserve, but prohibited in the park. Big cruise ships in Glacier Bay never dock, and nobody gets off them. The Wildlife Rely on the Glaciers for Survival. Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. [37] Russians were chiefly concerned with the area until the 1880s, when Americans were drawn to Alaska and the Klondike by the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890s. Dont look back! Towns & Cities Near Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve