Three can’t-miss things to do in Glacier Bay National Park

National park rangers are on board our ships in Alaska, providing expert insights and guided tours of the stunning natural landscapes.

At this massive national park, the possibilities for exploring the Alaskan wilderness are endless. Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and abundant wildlife. Spanning over 3.3 million acres, the park is home to towering glaciers, lush rainforests and a rich marine ecosystem, offering visitors the chance to experience one of the most untouched natural environments in the world. Whether you’re witnessing the calving of massive glaciers or spotting humpback whales, every moment in Glacier Bay is sure to create memories you won't soon forget. Here are three amazing things to do in Glacier Bay National Park.

1. Photograph the spectacular scenery

Caption: A couple photographing the breathtaking glaciers of Glacier Bay National Park.
A couple photographing the breathtaking glaciers of Glacier Bay National Park

When the sun breaks through the clouds over the cold bay, light streams down and hits the glacial fields, turning them an unearthly shade of blue. Jagged peaks rise above the glacial fields, providing a shadowy contrast for the shining glaciers. The views will take your breath away. But it doesn't stop there. When you're in Glacier Bay, you'll have a 360-degree view of pure wonder. Make sure to bring a camera (with a polarized lens cover) — you won't want to miss the amazing shots of Alaska's most beautiful coastal range. If you bring a zoom lens, try to bring a tripod so your pictures come out nice and clear. Even without fancy equipment, photographing the mesmerizing scenery is one of the best things to do in Glacier Bay National Park.

2. Discover a variety of wildlife

Caption: A couple photographing the breathtaking glaciers of Glacier Bay National Park.
A whale breaching in Glacier Bay National Park with an eagle soaring gracefully above

Glacier Bay, one of 23 Alaskan national parks and part of a 25 million–acre UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to 3.3 million acres of rugged coastal mountains, hundreds of glaciers, temperate rain forest, and fjords. It provides an amazing view of one of the last truly wild places on earth. Keep a close eye on the treetops for bald eagle nests and along creek mouths, where you can often spy bears as they're catching fish. You might also see otters splashing around and harbor seals lazily sunning themselves on icebergs at the base of the fjords. National park rangers on board cruises to Alaska can offer insights about these amazing animals and help you spot some of the more rare wildlife, such as mountain goats grazing precariously among the mountains.

3. Marvel at the Glaciers

Caption: A couple photographing the breathtaking glaciers of Glacier Bay National Park.
Experience the immense Margerie Glacier up close, marveling at its towering ice cliffs and the thunderous sounds of calving ice

 

While standing on the deck of your Alaskan cruise ship, as you peer out at the expanse of rock and ice, let the profound silence overcome you. Then listen for the long, snapping creak and crack — the sound a glacier makes when it calves, casting off chunks of ice into the waters below. Calving is a phenomenon that occurs in tidewater glaciers during the glaciers' cycle of advancing and receding. When a glacier does not touch the water, calving will not occur. Glaciers are a great opportunity to look at geology in motion and to see the unique wildlife and vegetation that thrive off new land exposed following glacial activity.

With so much natural beauty surrounding you, there are endless opportunities to interact with this unique National Park. Our shore excursions allow you to experience Glacier Bay with ease and focus on the scenery, we’ll handle the details.

Interested in seeing Glacier Bay for yourself? Learn more about our Alaska cruises, which all feature at least one unforgettable glacier viewing opportunity, and see why Princess is the #1 Alaska cruise line.

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