Spectacular Glacier Bay

If Disneyland is the “happiest place on earth,” then many people would also say that Glacier Bay is the “most beautiful place on earth”—or at least it is in the World’s Top Ten! If you check most travelers’ “bucket list,” Glacier Bay will always be there somewhere! It is truly a MUST SEE up close and personal.

Why is this rather remote spot in our great big world so often visited, and how did it become so famous? I’ve visited Glacier Bay dozens of times as an Alaskan naturalist, and peoples’ responses are always the same. The Bay is awe-inspiriting; it is historic; it is mystical; it is spiritual; it is magical; it is beyond words. But, how did it become so well-known?

Personally, I believe that the name itself—Glacier Bay—is part of its charm. The name itself is romantic and glamorous. Actually, there are other places in Alaska such as College Fjord and Hubbard Glacier that rival the beauty of Glacier Bay, but no Alaskan glacial area attracts more attention than Glacier Bay.

Undoubtedly, though, one of the reasons for the popularity of this particular Bay is the historic visits of the famed naturalist Mr. John Muir. Both Captain Cook in 1778 and Captain George Vancouver in 1794 noticed a “tongue of ice” extending into Icy Strait at the entrance to what we now call Glacier Bay. John Muir was intrigued by the journals of these famous captains.

Consequently, John Muir’s 1879 visit to Alaska was the catalyst that brought Glacier Bay worldwide attention. At that time, the ice had retreated approximately four miles, and this retreat created an inlet which today we call Glacier Bay. As a naturalist, Muir was intrigued, and began to explore the Bay. Muir led six more expeditions to Alaska; the rest—as they say—is history. To reach Marjorie and Grand Pacific Glaciers (the present terminus of the Bay), you must sail approximately 80 miles from the mouth of the inlet at Icy Strait.

Entering present day Glacier Bay, you sail into a virtual icy wilderness of limitless beauty that will leave you speechless and remain with you for the rest of your days! On a typical cruise ship visit to the Bay, you will see several glaciers (Lamplugh, Reid, Johns Hopkins, and Grand Pacific), but the high point of any glacier visit culminates with the spectacular Marjorie Glacier.

When salt water of the sea meets the ice of a glacier, ultimately a section will break away and calve. Basically, the glacier is giving birth to an ice birth. Just like lightning and thunder, if you’re fortunate, you will see the ice calve away, followed by the unmistakable sound of “white thunder.” Witnessing a “calving” is unpredictable, but "if" you see one, it too becomes a lifelong memory!

The entire Bay is a nature lover’s delight. If you crave purity and fresh air, this is definitely the place for you. Within the waters of the Bay are hundreds of varieties of fish. It is also common to see humpback whales either entering or leaving the bay. Indian Rock rookery is a haul out for Stellar sea lions, and it can be seen on the south side of the Bay near its entrance. And, of course, the Bay is filled with a plethora wild flowers in the summer time.

Annually, thousands of people from around the world visit Glacier Bay on large cruise ships. This is a wonderful way to see the park; yet, smaller ships also cruise the Bay as well. Smaller boats are more expensive than the large cruise ships, but their size and flexibility allows them to stop for animal viewings and spend more time closer to the face of the glaciers.

Many adventurers choose to spend more time in the park in order to camp, kayak or visit areas where cruise ships cannot go. Glacier Bay Nat’l Park Lodge and other hotels are located in nearby Gustavus, a tiny community that is only open to tourists from April through Sept. Alaska Airlines flies directly into Gustavus. There, you can choose a hotel for a lengthier stay or take a day boat trip into the park.

Regardless of whether you visit Glacier Bay on a cruise ship, in a tiny kayak, or whether you visit in early spring, fall, or a gorgeous Alaska summer, it will stay with you for the rest of your days. Once you hear the “white thunder” of a glacial calving, you will be hooked on glaciers and their might. A visit to “this” Bay is a must and a memory that you will take with you for your lifetime.