Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Guide

Amazing sport fishing opportunities are available in the bay at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. With diverse fish habitats ranging from freshwater streams, to coasts, rivers, and lakes, there are more than enough spots in the park for visitors and campers to partake in the uniquely satisfying fishing experience in the park. Both the saltwater and freshwater in the park host fish varieties. Halibut, salmon, coho, and Chinook are the commonly caught fish in the saltwater, while trout, cutthroat, and Dolly Varden char are the popular freshwater catches.

Kayaking is a popular way of exploring the wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. The perfect place to begin the kayaking adventure on the park’s waters is Bartlett Cove. Kayak rentals are available in the park, so you don't need to bring one wit you to enjoy the activity. Note that a mandatory orientation program holds at the Bartlett Cove Visitor Information Station in the park for all who wish to paddle their kayak on the waters. Guided kayak trips are also available in the park, including overnight kayak trips.

The shorelines and forests within Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve offer great hiking opportunities for campers and visitors who love to stretch their legs. Most of the easy trails in the park begin at Bartlett Cove and provide hikers with good views and wonderful discoveries of the park’s wonders. With more than five different hiking trails that add up to over 13 miles, hikers have so much to see and explore on foot at the park. Besides, rangers also guide campers along some of the trails in the park.

Sport hunting and subsistence hunting opportunities are available at Glacier Bay National Preserve for campers who enjoy such pursuits. Note that only the preserve is open to hunting, and not the park. All who wish to hunt or trap in the preserve must have all the required permits and licenses and obey the state regulations guiding such hunting activities.

Brown bears are common in the preserve, and so all hunters are required to avoid conflicts with them. Black bear, moose, wolverine, and wolves are among the wildlife that call the preserve home.

Ever wondered what the Glacier Bay mountains look like from above? Then you should visit Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve and engage in the flightseeing opportunities available in the park. The tremendous expanse and beauty of the mountains, water and ice, when viewed from above is just breathtaking. You get to fly over jagged mountains, spectacular waters, winding glaciers, and wild shorelines and engage in various tours where you can choose your trips and itineraries.

More than 280 bird species have been recorded in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, making the park a great place to enjoy bird watching. The reason for the abundance and high diversity of birds in the park is that the park features many breeding habitats with plenty of food resources and little or no predators. So, birds usually have a field day in the park. Be sure to watch out for seabirds, songbirds, shorebirds, and land birds in the park.

Birds are usually available in the park all year round, with different species occupying different parts of the park during distinct seasons.