Your Travel Guide to Whale Watching in Glacier Bay, Alaska
Glacier Bay is the largest national park in Southeast Alaska, a World Heritage Site, and a Humpback Whale Sanctuary with some of the strongest protections in the world. Here’s a bit more information about Glacier Bay and how to take a whale watching trip during your visit.
About Glacier Bay.
Gustavus, Alaska, is the city from which most Glacier Bay tours depart. It’s surrounded on three sides by the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve and on the fourth side by the water. Gustavus is just 50 miles from Juneau, and there are daily flights and air taxis that take visitors from Juneau to Gustavus and back.
There are also a variety of lodging options in Gustavus itself for those who would prefer to stay closer to the park. If you’d like to stay within the National Park itself, your one and only lodging option is the National Park Glacier Bay Lodge, operated by Aramark.
Many cruise ships also make a stop at Glacier Bay National Park, with more than 90% of the park’s visitors arriving via cruise ship. If an Alaska cruise is in your future, make sure to check whether your itinerary includes a stop at the park.
Whale Populations Around Glacier Bay.
Nearly one-fifth of the Glacier Bay National Park is made up of marine water, which means that the park is teeming with marine life. From Glacier Bay, you’re likely to see humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, and porpoises.
Since humpback whales are incredibly well protected in Glacier Bay, you’re likely to see many examples if you visit during the summer feeding period. Glacier Bay is also one of the most common areas for studying humpback whales, and much of what we know about these creatures today has been observed in the Glacier Bay population.
There are a number of land animals in Glacier Bay as well. You might see bears, moose, wolves, deer, mountain goats, and bald eagles during your visit.
How to Book a Whale watching Tour in Glacier Bay
One of the best ways to get information about seeing wildlife in Glacier Bay is to talk to the park rangers in the National Park area. They’ll be able to guide you in the right direction no matter what you’re hoping to see on your visit. There are also a number of whale watching tours that depart off the Gustavus dock.
If you have any questions about a specific tour operator, please reach out to me here.
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
John Muir
Whale Watching Tips.
In Glacier Bay, one of the most important tips to remember while whale watching is to look for other animals, as well. If you’re only looking for whales, you might miss out on sighting other animals like bears and eagles.
Make sure to also dress warmly and consider bringing binoculars to help you spot wildlife from a distance. When in doubt, check with the park rangers or your tour guides for more information. I hope you have a wonderful visit!
If you have questions, ask the crew (and check out my interview with Captain Andrew for whale & orca photography tips and tricks)! They love to share about the local whale populations and would be happy to help make your experience better.