5 ABSOLUTE Best Hikes in Glacier Bay National Park for 2022

Post Summary: Best Hikes in Glacier Bay National Park

Glacier Bay National Park covers an impressive 3.3 million acres of land and is known for its scenic landscapes. With rugged mountains, beautiful glaciers, temperate rainforests, and wild coastlines, it offers a lot for tourists. The national park is a highlight of Alaska’s Inside Passage and is part of a 25 million-acre world heritage site. That means it’s located within one of the world’s largest international protected areas. Running from Alaska’s untamed coastline to its highest peak – Mount Fairweather; Glacier Bay boasts stunning landscapes, plenty of wildlife spotting opportunities, and course great hikes!

If you’re planning to head to Alaska, or are simply looking for a U.S national park to tick off from your list – Glacier Bay is a must-visit. This article is going to go through the 5 BEST hikes in Glacier Bay National Park including everything you need to know. Many of the trails aren’t maintained here, but there are a few trails that are. These offer breathtaking scenery and the chance to see some of Alaska’s incredible wildlife! The hikes in this list have been split up into moderate and easy, to make it simple for you to decide which ones you want to attempt. So let’s get into the best hikes in Glacier Bay National Park, and why they need to be on your hiking bucket list.

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Quick Guide to Best Glacier Bay Hikes

Things to Know about Hiking in Glacier Bay National Park

• Make sure you come well prepared for hiking in Glacier Bay National Park. If you are choosing to hike the unmaintained trails, it’s important to rememer that due to the parks isolated location, help could be hours or days away if you find yourself in trouble. For this reason make sure you pack plenty of warm clothing, food and other essentials.
• Glacier Bay National Park is ‘bear country’ and is estimated to be home to at least 1,000 bears. Both Black Bears and Grizzly Bears can be found within the park.
  • Make sure you carry a bear spray with you and are ‘bear aware’ whilst hiking along these trails.
  • Hike in groups if possible, creating a lot of noise and carrying any food and scented items in bear resistant food containers.
• When it comes to hiking on the the trails in Glacier Bay, there is NO cell service. Tell someone the trail you are hiking, when you expect to be back and your cars location and license plate number.

Best Hikes in Glacier Bay National Park

Moderate Hikes in Glacier Bay

Point Gustavus

• Distance: 6.2 miles / 10 km one way (12.4 miles / 20.1 km round trip)
• Elevation Gain: 387 feet (118m)
• Estimated Time: 7-10 hours
• Type of Trail: Out and back
• Trailhead Location: Bartlett Cove Visitor Information Centre
• Map: All Trails

The Point Gustavus Trail heads along the shoreline from Bartlett Cove until a sandy beach emerges at the end of the route. This beach offers scenic views of Glacier Bay in one direction, and the Icy Strait in the other so as you can imagine the views are epic. This is the famous Point Gustavus, and although the trail is unsigned and unmarked, it’s still relatively easy to follow. Point Gustavus is the entrance point of the national park and is located near one of the most popular whale watching areas in the world for humpbacks. Not only do you have a great chance of spotting these magnificent creatures, but sea otters, bald eagles, and even bears can be seen along this trail. Although a long hike, the Point Gustavus Trail is probably the best hiking route in all of Glacier Bay National Park. With its spectacular scenery and wildlife spotting opportunities this trail depicts the true wilderness of Alaska.

Easy Glacier Bay Hikes

Bartlett Cove Forest Loop Trail

• Distance: 1.1 miles / 1.8 km round trip
• Elevation Gain: 111 feet (34m)
• Estimated Time: 30 minutes
• Type of Trail: Loop
• Trailhead Location: Glacier Bay Lodge
• Map: All Trails

The Bartlett Cove Forest Loop Trail is an easy trail that starts and ends at Glacier Bay Lodge. It offers the best of both worlds as it takes you through a temperate forest and the beach area of Bartlett Cove. The surface of the trail varies between dirt, gravel, and boardwalk and is almost entirely flat. This makes it the perfect trail for families and individuals with lower fitness levels. Whilst hiking the trail make sure you head to one of the viewing platforms. The views here are spectacular so give yourself a little extra time for this hike to enjoy the scenery. If you’re interested in learning more about the area, you can head out on a guided walk with a ranger.

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Bartlett Lake Trail

• Distance: 2.95 miles / 4.75 km one way (5.9 miles / 9.5 km round trip)
• Elevation Gain: 465 feet (142m)
• Estimated Time: 7-8 hours
• Type of Trail: Out and back
• Trailhead Location: 1/2 mile up the road from Glacier Bay Lodge
• Map: All Trails

To reach the trailhead for the Bartlett Lake Trail, you need to first begin hiking along the Bartlett River Trail. After about 1/4 of a mile, there is a signpost that will take you in the direction of the lake trail. It’s important to be cautious when hiking along this trail as it’s less maintained compared to other hikes in the park, and it’s easy to lose the route. However, that means it’s also the perfect trail to take if you are looking for a bit of solitude and to take in the beauty of Glacier Bay National Park in peace. Aside from its stunning views, the hike is also known as a great place to spot wildlife including red squirrels, moose, and even a bald eagle if you’re extremely lucky! Bears are also known to frequent this trail so make sure you are ‘bear aware’ and carry a bear spray with you.

Bartlett River Trail

• Distance: 3.4 miles / 5.55 km one way (6.8 miles / 11.1 km round trip)
• Elevation Gain: 875 feet (267m)
• Estimated Time: 7-8 hours
• Type of Trail: Out and back
• Trailhead Location: 1/2 mile up the road from Glacier Bay Lodge
• Map: All Trails

The trailhead for the Bartlett River Trail is located about 1/2 mile up the road from Glacier Bay Lodge. The trail winds along an intertidal lagoon, and then through a forest before ending at the Bartlett River estuary. This is the perfect trail if you are a nature lover, and looking to spot some wildlife. Coyotes, moose, bear, and river otters are all found along this trail so make sure you have your camera ready! There is also plenty of birdlife, as well as migrating salmon in the summer which attracts harbor seals. If you don’t have much time in the National Park, but want to see some wildlife then this hike is a great choice.

Tlingit Trail

• Distance: 0.55 mile / 0.9 km one way (1.1 miles / 1.8 km round trip)
• Elevation Gain: 65 feet (20m)
• Estimated Time: 30 minutes
• Type of Trail: Out and back
• Trailhead Location: Glacier Bay Lodge
• Map: All Trails

The Tlingit trail starts at the front of Glacier Bay Lodge and heads along the forested shoreline edge. As you head along the trail you will get awesome views of Bartlett Cove, and you’ll be able to see a full whale skeleton located on the beach. You’ll also get to spot a Tlingit canoe and learn about Tlingit culture at the Huna Tribal House. The majority of the hike is relatively flat apart from some steeper sections, and the gravel trail is around 5 feet wide. This makes the hike accessible for wheelchairs, mobility equipment, and strollers although assistance may be needed at the steepest areas of the trail. There are also benches and picnic tables located along the route.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Glacier Bay Trails?

Can you hike at Glacier Bay National Park?

If you’re heading to Alaska, then hiking in Glacier Bay National Park is a must! With incredible scenery, and the chance to see many of Alaska’s wonderful wildlife species, this national park is a great place to take on some trails.

There are a variety of trails in Glacier Bay that differ in length, elevation, and difficulty so it’s easy to find something for everyone. However, a lot of the trails are unmaintained and difficult to follow, so should only be attempted if you’re an experienced hiker or are confident in your ability.

The only developed area in the national park is Bartlett Cove, and from here there are several easy trails that you can take.

If you are planning to head out into the backcountry, it’s important to know that there are no maintained trails in that area. However, with beautiful beaches and scenic alpine meadows, it’s a great place to hike.

How many miles of trails are in Glacier Bay National Park?

Glacier Bay National Park has about 22 miles of trail. Like most Alaska National Parks, there is minimal development in the park which means that there are very few maintained trails within the park. The only developed trails are located near Bartlett Cove.

Outside of Bartlett Cove all hiking is off-trail and you are pretty much welcome to hike anywhere that isn’t under a closure. Some areas of the park have seasonal closures for wildlife protection.

Final Thoughts on Day Hiking in the Glacier Bay.

We hope this article has encouraged you to try some of the beautiful trails Glacier Bay National Park has to offer, so you can experience the mesmerizing scenery for yourself. Which is your favorite hike in Glacier Bay National Park? If it isn’t on this list, then leave a comment below to inspire other hikers or join us in talking about all things National Parks in our National Park Trip Planning Community.

More Information for your trip to Alaska

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