{"id":"nps-glba","slug":"glacier-bay-national-park-and-preserve","name":"Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve","designation":"National Park & Preserve","category":"national-park","categoryLabel":"National Park","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"GLBA","designation":"National Park & Preserve","sourceId":"nps-glba"}],"states":["AK"],"stateNames":["Alaska"],"location":{"lat":58.80086718,"lon":-136.8407579},"bbox":[-138.5863,58.1595,-135.3168,59.4831],"acres":{"value":3274040,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":{"date":"1925-02-26","designation":null,"name":null,"text":"Proclaimed Glacier Bay National Monument Feb. 26, 1925","authority":{"type":"presidential-proclamation","signedBy":"Calvin Coolidge","administration":"Calvin Coolidge","citation":null},"reviewed":true},"established":{"date":"1980-12-02","designation":"National Park & Preserve","name":null,"text":"Established as a national park and national preserve Dec. 2, 1980","authority":{"type":"unspecified","signedBy":null,"administration":"Jimmy Carter","citation":null},"reviewed":true},"administrations":["Calvin Coolidge","Jimmy Carter"],"designationHistory":[{"date":"1925-02-26","action":"established","designation":null,"name":null,"indexText":"Proclaimed Glacier Bay National Monument Feb. 26, 1925","authority":{"type":"presidential-proclamation","signedBy":"Calvin Coolidge","administration":"Calvin Coolidge","citation":null},"note":null,"sources":[{"name":"The National Parks: Index 2012–2016 (National Park Service), PDF page 20","url":"https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/upload/npindex2012-2016.pdf"},{"name":"American Presidency Project: Proclamation 1733, Feb. 26, 1925","url":"https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/proclamation-1733-setting-aside-the-glacier-bay-national-monument-alaska"},{"name":"NPS History: National Monument Proclamations under the Antiquities Act (archived)","url":"https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090109132510/http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/hisnps/NPSHistory/monuments.htm"}],"research":"nps-index-2012-2016","reviewed":true,"review":{"verdict":"confirmed","note":"Proclamation 1733, Coolidge.","by":"HistorianPanel accuracy review, batch 1","date":"2026-11-09"}},{"date":"1980-12-02","action":"established","designation":null,"name":null,"indexText":"Established as a national park and national preserve Dec. 2, 1980","authority":{"type":"unspecified","signedBy":null,"administration":"Jimmy Carter","citation":null},"note":null,"sources":[{"name":"The National Parks: Index 2012–2016 (National Park Service), PDF page 20","url":"https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/upload/npindex2012-2016.pdf"},{"name":"American Presidency Project: Carter remarks signing ANILCA, Dec. 2, 1980","url":"https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/remarks-signing-into-law-the-alaska-national-interest-lands-conservation-act"}],"research":"nps-index-2012-2016","reviewed":true,"review":{"verdict":"confirmed","note":"ANILCA, Carter.","by":"HistorianPanel accuracy review, batch 1","date":"2026-11-09"}}],"summary":"Covering 3.3 million acres of rugged mountains, dynamic glaciers, temperate rainforest, wild coastlines and deep sheltered fjords, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is known as Homeland to the Huna and Yakutat Lingít, and is a highlight of Alaska's Inside Passage. From sea to summit, Glacier Bay offers limitless opportunities for adventure and inspiration.","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[],"trTypes":[],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/glba/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=59.4831&b_tl_lng=-138.5863&b_br_lat=58.1595&b_br_lng=-135.3168","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=Glacier%20Bay%20National%20Park%20%26%20Preserve","directions":"http://www.nps.gov/glba/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"cover":{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C791618-1DD8-B71B-0B113FBF2EC1D614.jpg","title":"Cruising Glacier Bay","alt":"Cruising Glacier Bay","credit":"NPS / T. VandenBerg","license":"Public domain (U.S. government work)","licenseUrl":null,"filePage":"https://www.nps.gov/glba/index.htm","tier":1,"source":"National Park Service"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C791618-1DD8-B71B-0B113FBF2EC1D614.jpg","title":"Cruising Glacier Bay","alt":"Cruising Glacier Bay","credit":"NPS / T. VandenBerg","license":"Public domain (U.S. government work)","licenseUrl":null,"filePage":"https://www.nps.gov/glba/index.htm","source":"National Park Service","cover":true},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C790BBF-1DD8-B71B-0B0AE92D0B9C24EB.jpg","title":"Iceberg on the shore","alt":"Icebergs, calved from tidewater glaciers are a common sight in Glacier Bay National Park.","caption":"Icebergs, calved from tidewater glaciers are a common sight in Glacier Bay National Park.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C790D9C-1DD8-B71B-0B4327321DED12AE.jpg","title":"Pan ice in Tarr Inlet","alt":"Pan ice in Tarr Inlet","caption":"Glacier Bay offers a rare glimpse into the Ice Age","credit":"NPS Photo / B. Whitehead","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C790F92-1DD8-B71B-0BDF3774E82CB555.jpg","title":"Beachcombing Brown Bear","alt":"Beachcombing Brown Bear","caption":"Brown bears frequently forage along the shoreline of Glacier Bay","credit":"NPS Photo / C. Behnke","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C79135D-1DD8-B71B-0BDF788A6D50B7A9.jpg","title":"Sheltered waters of Glacier Bay","alt":"Sheltered waters of Glacier Bay","caption":"Glacier Bay is a paradise for wilderness aficionados.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7A0EE5-1DD8-B71B-0BADF220CB5F20BE.jpg","title":"Camping in the Glacier Bay backcountry","alt":"Camping in the Glacier Bay backcountry","caption":"Glacier Bay provides endless possibilities for wilderness camping.","credit":"NPS photo","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Arts and Culture","Cultural Demonstrations","Auto and ATV","ATV Off-Roading","Boating","Motorized Boating","Boat Tour","Camping","Backcountry Camping","Canoe or Kayak Camping","Car or Front Country Camping","Climbing","Mountain Climbing","Fishing","Food","Flying","Guided Tours","Boat Tour","Hiking","Front-Country Hiking","Hunting and Gathering","Hunting","Paddling","Kayaking","Whitewater Rafting","Junior Ranger Program","Wildlife Watching","Birdwatching","Park Film","Shopping","Bookstore and Park Store"],"topics":["Architecture and Building","Colonization and Settlement","Explorers and Expeditions","Maritime","Ancient Seas","Animals","Birds","Fish","Climate Change","Coasts, Islands and Atolls","Forests and Woodlands","Rainforest","Geology","Glaciers","Mountains","Natural Sounds","Oceans","Whales","Wilderness"],"fees":[],"passes":[],"hours":[{"name":"Glacier Bay Operating Hours and Seasons","description":"There are no entrance gates at Glacier Bay National Park, so we are technically open 24-hours a day; however,  services may be extremely limited depending on the time of your visit.\nThe main visitor season is from late-May through early-September with the peak being the month of July. Check the VISITOR CENTERS tab below to see hours for specific facilities, and read the exceptions that detail seasonal changes in hours.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"All Day","monday":"All Day","thursday":"All Day","sunday":"All Day","tuesday":"All Day","friday":"All Day","saturday":"All Day"},"exceptions":[]},{"name":"Glacier Bay Visitor Center Desk Hours","description":"Located on the second floor of Glacier Bay Lodge in Bartlett Cove, 10 miles from Gustavus.\nStaffed daily in summer with park rangers. Stop by for exhibits, park information, trip planning, bookstore, reading area, hydrophone kiosk, interpretive programs, park films, brochures, and much more.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"11:00AM - 5:30PM","monday":"11:00AM - 5:30PM","thursday":"11:00AM - 5:30PM","sunday":"11:00AM - 5:30PM","tuesday":"11:00AM - 5:30PM","friday":"11:00AM - 5:30PM","saturday":"11:00AM - 5:30PM"},"exceptions":[{"name":"Closed for Winter Season","start":"2026-09-06","end":"2027-05-22","hours":{"wednesday":"Closed","monday":"Closed","thursday":"Closed","sunday":"Closed","tuesday":"Closed","friday":"Closed","saturday":"Closed"}}]},{"name":"Visitor Information Station (VIS) Hours","description":"Located near the head of the public-use dock in Bartlett Cove, 10 miles from Gustavus. The \"VIS\" provides trip planning information, boating and camping permits, and offers boater/camper orientation sessions for visitors heading into the wild backcountry of Glacier Bay. Stop by and meet a park ranger.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"7:00AM - 5:00PM","monday":"7:00AM - 5:00PM","thursday":"7:00AM - 5:00PM","sunday":"7:00AM - 5:00PM","tuesday":"7:00AM - 5:00PM","friday":"7:00AM - 5:00PM","saturday":"7:00AM - 5:00PM"},"exceptions":[{"name":"Closed for Winter","start":"2026-10-01","end":"2027-04-30","hours":{"wednesday":"Closed","monday":"Closed","thursday":"Closed","sunday":"Closed","tuesday":"Closed","friday":"Closed","saturday":"Closed"}}]}],"directions":"Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve lies west of Juneau, Alaska, and can only be reached by plane or boat. The only road in the area merely connects the small town of Gustavus and its airfield to park headquarters at Bartlett Cove (10 miles). Alaska Airlines provides daily jet service from Juneau to Gustavus in the summer months. Year-round scheduled air service is also provided by a variety of small air taxis and charters. The Alaska Marine Highway ferries also provide regular service from Juneau.","weatherInfo":"Summer temperatures average 50° to 60° F (10° to 15° C). Rain is the norm in lush southeast Alaska. It is best to be prepared to enjoy the park in any kind of weather, especially rain. Suggested clothing includes waterproof boots, rain gear, a hat, gloves, wool or pile layers or a warm coat. Good rain gear is essential here. April, May and June are usually the driest months of the year. September and October tend to be the wettest.","contacts":{"phone":"9076972230","email":"glba_administration@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[{"name":"Glacier Bay National Park Visitor Center","description":"OPEN on the second floor of Glacier Bay Lodge in Bartlett Cove, 10 miles from Gustavus. Staffed daily in summer with park rangers. Stop by for exhibits, park information, trip planning, bookstore, reading area, hydrophone kiosk, interpretive programs, park films, brochures, and much more.","url":"http://www.nps.gov/glba/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm","lat":58.4547,"lon":-135.8827},{"name":"Visitor Information Station - Backcountry Office","description":"Located near the head of the public-use dock in Bartlett Cove, 10 miles from Gustavus. The \"VIS\" provides trip planning information, boating and camping permits, and offers boater/camper orientation sessions for visitors heading into the wild backcountry of Glacier Bay. Stop by and meet a park ranger. Open annually between May and September.","url":"http://www.nps.gov/glba/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm","lat":58.45432067340542,"lon":-135.88515642953357}],"campgrounds":[{"name":"Bartlett Cove Campground","description":"The National Park Service maintains a free walk-in campground in Bartlett Cove. The campground features bear-proof food caches, a fire-pit and warming shelter (with firewood provided) located in a very scenic setting along the shore, 1/4 mile south of the Bartlett Cove dock. Stays are limited to 14 days","url":"","reservationUrl":null,"sites":33}],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"klondike-gold-rush-national-historical-park","km":127},{"slug":"admiralty-island-national-monument","km":194},{"slug":"sitka-national-historical-park","km":215}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=glba"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"reviewed","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.613Z","alerts":[],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/glacier-bay-national-park-and-preserve/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/glacier-bay-national-park-and-preserve.geojson"}