Glacier Bay National Park

Glacier Bay National Park is located in southeast Alaska. It encompasses 3.3 million acres of mountains, glaciers, rainforest, coastline, and fjords. It’s part of one of the world’s largest international protected areas, and offers solitude and a wildness not found in many places.

Glacier Bay’s weather is influenced by the ocean currents. Surprisingly, this means mild winters (in Alaska!) and cool, wet summers. During the summer, highs are usually between 50-60 ° F, and in the winter it’s unusual for temperatures to dip into the single digits. Winter nighttime lows often range from 25-40 ° F. Bartlett Cover gets about 70 inches of rain a year, so pack for some wet weather! April, May, and June are the driest months of the year, and September and October are usually the wettest.

While those weather conditions are at sea level, if you travel up to the mountains you’re going to face more severe weather with much colder temperatures and snow. Be sure to bring plenty of layers and moisture-wicking clothing to keep you dry.

Travel to and around Glacier Bay National Park is more limited than many national parks, and towns are few and far between. However, the small hamlet of Gustavus is just outside the park, and towns like Haines, Skagway, and Juneau are a short plane or ferry ride away. You may want to set aside time to explore each of them on your trip.

If you’re looking for things to do inside the park, Glacier Bay has scheduled events as well. Most of the events take place during the summer months, but you can find the full calendar here. There are also plenty of activities you can do on your own, including hiking, fishing, kayaking, and flightseeing (exploring the park by small plane).