Most people think of Alaska as this frozen, static postcard. Honestly, it’s anything but that. When you start looking at pictures of things people do in Glacier Bay, you realize the park is less of a museum and more of a moving, breathing playground. It’s loud. It’s wet. It’s also surprisingly green in spots you wouldn't expect.
I’ve spent a lot of time looking at how travelers actually spend their hours in this 3.3-million-acre wilderness. It isn't just standing on a deck with a camera, though there's plenty of that. It’s about the grit of a kayak paddle hitting icy water and the weirdly satisfying sound of "bergy seltzer"—that’s the hissing noise 10,000-year-old air bubbles make as they escape melting ice.
The View from the Rail: What 95% of Visitors Experience
Let’s be real: most people see Glacier Bay from a cruise ship. In 2024, over 600,000 people visited the park, and the vast majority never actually set foot on dry land. But don't let the "lazy" reputation fool you. The pictures coming off those decks are intense.
When a ship pulls up to Margerie Glacier, the atmosphere changes. You’ll see photos of hundreds of people lined up at the bow, breath held, waiting for a "calving" event. That’s when a chunk of ice the size of a suburban house shears off and slams into the sea. The photos capture the splash, but they can't capture the delay—the way the sound hits your chest three seconds after the ice hits the water.
Rangers actually board these big ships via pilot boats. You’ll see them in the ship’s lounges, surrounded by kids earning Junior Ranger badges or adults squinting through binoculars. It’s a strange mix of high-end luxury and raw, jagged nature.
Small Boats and the "Close-Up" Shot
If you want the photos that make your friends jealous, you get off the mega-ship. The day-tour catamarans out of Bartlett Cove get much closer to the shoreline.
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This is where you get the "bear on the beach" shot. Coastal brown bears spend a lot of time flipping over rocks to find barnacles and crabs. Because the boat is lower to the water, your photos aren't looking down from ten stories up; you’re looking across. It feels personal. It feels a bit sketchy, in the best way possible.
Kayaking the "Iceberg Slalom"
Sea kayaking is probably the most "hardcore" thing people do here. If you look at pictures of kayakers in Glacier Bay, you'll notice they often look tiny. Like, microscopic. That’s because they are.
Paddling through the West Arm or Muir Inlet puts you right in the middle of the "iceberg slalom." These aren't the giant bergs that sink Titanics; they're "growlers" and "bergy bits." They look like blue glass floating in a grey soup.
- Pro tip: Don’t get too close. Those "small" chunks of ice can flip without warning.
- The Shot: A silhouette of a kayak against the glowing blue face of the Lamplugh Glacier.
Most kayakers use the camper drop-off service. A boat literally dumps you and your gear on a remote beach and leaves. For the next three to seven days, your "activities" consist of checking tide tables (which can swing 25 feet!), hiding your food from bears in heavy canisters, and trying to keep your socks dry. It's grueling. It's also the only way to hear the park when the engines stop.
Hiking Where Trails Don't Exist
Glacier Bay is weird because it has almost no trails.
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Seriously.
If you look at a map of Bartlett Cove, you’ll find the Forest Loop and the Bartlett River Trail. They’re beautiful, mossy, and feel like a fairy tale. But once you leave that tiny "developed" area, you’re hiking on "glacial till"—basically a mix of silt, rocks, and mud left behind by retreating ice.
The "Tlingit Trail" and Cultural Context
One of the most meaningful things people do is visit the Huna Tribal House (Xunaa Shuká Hít). It’s right there in Bartlett Cove. You’ll see photos of the massive totem poles, but the real story is about the Huna Lingít people. They were driven out by the "Little Ice Age" glacier 250 years ago.
Today, you can see pictures of tribal members harvesting gull eggs or carving traditional canoes. It’s a reminder that this isn't just a "park." It’s a homeland.
Wildlife: It’s Not Just About the Big Stuff
Everyone wants the whale tail. And yeah, humpback whales are everywhere in the lower bay near Point Adolphus. You’ll see the "bubble-net feeding" photos where ten whales burst through the surface at once. It’s chaotic and loud.
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But the "hidden" pictures of things people do often involve the smaller stuff:
- Birding: Hardcore birders come here for the Marbled Murrelet or the Tufted Puffin.
- Mountain Goats: Look up. No, higher. Those white dots on the 3,000-foot cliffs? Those are goats.
- Sea Otters: They often float in "rafts" of dozens or hundreds. They look like they're just chilling, but they're actually a huge success story—they only returned to the bay in the last few decades.
Practical Realities of Getting the Shot
If you’re planning to go, understand that the weather is a character in your story. Southeast Alaska gets about 80 inches of rain a year. Most of your pictures will be "moody." Lots of grey, lots of mist, lots of "why is it so cold in July?"
You need layers. Synthetic stuff, not cotton. If you wear jeans and they get wet, they stay wet until you fly back to Juneau.
What to pack for the best photos:
- Binoculars: Use them more than your camera.
- A dry bag: Even if you're on a big ship, the mist is real.
- Patience: The glaciers move at their own pace.
How to Plan Your Own Trip
If you want to be the person in these pictures, start with the logistics. You can't drive to Glacier Bay. You fly or take a ferry into Gustavus, then take a van to Bartlett Cove.
Most people book their "Glacier Bay Day Tour" months in advance. If you’re a kayaker, you need a permit and a mandatory orientation at the Visitor Information Station. They’ll teach you how to not get eaten by a bear and how to not get stranded by a 20-foot tide.
Basically, don't just look at the pictures. Go be the tiny speck in the kayak. It’s much better in person.
Your Next Steps
- Check the NPS website for current ferry schedules and permit requirements.
- Look into "small ship" cruises if you want to avoid the 3,000-passenger crowds but still want a warm bed.
- Download a tide app specifically for the Glacier Bay area—it’s non-negotiable for beach safety.