Sea Kayaking In Glacier Bay

Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve encompasses 3.3 million acres of rugged mountains, deep fjords, awe-inspiring glaciers, and lush temperate rainforests. As the name suggests, Glacier Bay is made up of several different glaciers, including the Grand Pacific Glacier, Margerie Glacier, and Lamplugh Glacier. This incredible national park is also a designated wilderness, one of the world’s largest internationally recognized biosphere reserves, a thriving marine park, a homeland to the Tlinglit Natives, and a world heritage site.

Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve offers unparalleled opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, and one of our favorite summer activities, sea kayaking. Sea kayaking allows you to venture through Alaska’s Inside Passage and explore one of the last remaining pieces of pristine and undisturbed wilderness on the planet. Kayak trips often start from Bartlett Cove. You can visit the Visitor Information Center there for such things as weather reports, and route information. A popular kayaking route is through the Beardslee Islands, where you might see puffins, humpback whales, mountain goats, river otters, brown bears, coyotes, moose, and more. You’ll get fantastic views of the Fairweather Mountain Range along the way too.

If you prefer to explore with a tour group, we recommend Alaska Mountain Guides. For over 25 years, Alaska Mountain Guides has served Southeast Alaska with the finest kayaking rentals and guide services in the region. They offer a variety of short and long trips for adventurers of all interests and skill levels. For a multi-day adventure, consider Glacier Bay East Arm, an epic 8 day journey that many consider the paddling experience of a lifetime. If you want to get up close and personal with the whales, the Whales of Point Adolphus & Icy Strait is the perfect tour for you. Glacier Bay is considered one of the best whale watching destinations in the world. Whales congregate here each summer to feed before heading south for the winter. On your journey, you will likely see humpback whales, steller sea lions, harbor seals, porpoise, and possibly even orcas. With its calm waters and stunning scenery, you can even take children along with you. For shorter journeys, we recommend the Fjords of the Inside Passage or Wilderness Kayak Adventure Tour day trips.

Sea kayaking is an inspiring and active adventure anyone can enjoy. It is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the magnificent beauty of the Alaskan wilderness while learning about the nature that surrounds you and making memories you’ll never forget.

Planning a trip to Alaska’s Glacier Bay this summer? Book a stay at the Silverbow Inn Hotel & Suites, the only boutique bed & breakfast in Downtown Juneau, and the perfect basecamp for Glacier Bay excursions.