Experience the grandeur of Glacier Bay National Park by sea kayak. Paddle between icebergs and watch glaciers calve into the ocean. Observe a myriad of wildlife. Camp, kayak, and hike in a dynamic and beautiful World Heritage Site. Join SEAK Expeditions in partnership with Spirit Walker Expeditions for a wilderness sea kayaking adventure in the deep-water fjords of the West Arm of Glacier Bay National Park. Just 250 years ago, this area was covered by a sheet of ice 4,000 feet thick. Today, we can paddle, camp and hike through one of the most dynamic and stunning parks in Alaska. While the massive river of ice that created the bay has receded, we’re still surrounded by ancient ice: glaciers hang in the valleys above us, icebergs float past, and the park’s famous tidewater glaciers calve thunderously into the sea. On this trip, we will travel through the heart of Glacier Bay by sea kayak, camp on its pristine shores and immerse ourselves in the beauty and wonder of this quintessential Alaskan kayaking destination. 

Sea kayaking, hiking, glacier viewing, photography, wildlife observation.

Experience the grandeur of Glacier Bay National Park by sea kayak. Paddle between icebergs and watch glaciers calve into the ocean. Observe a myriad of wildlife. Camp, kayak, and hike in a dynamic and beautiful World Heritage Site.

Our itinerary is not set in stone for this trip, we will use the winds and the tides and our groups experience level to determine our course. On Day 1 we will depart Bartlett Cove aboard the Glacier Bay day tour boat with our kayaks and all our gear for the next 5 days. Along the way to our drop off point we will visit South Marble Island to see an array of sea birds, including puffins, along with Stellar Sea Lions. From there we head to the Margerie glacier and/or into John’s Hopkins Inlet before arriving at our drop off point in Blue Mouse Cove around 1 pm (we will also stop for interesting wildlife sightings along the way.)

Over the next 5 days and 4 nights we will spend time exploring the tide water glaciers and inlets of Glacier Bays West Arm. Depending on the conditions we can explore the areas around our drop off point in Scidmore Bay then head North and West to Reid Inlet and the Lampugh Glacier where great opportunities for hiking in the evening or on a rest day await. From there continuing Northwest we can enter the John Hopkins Inlet home to the John Hopkins Glacier, one of the true tidewater glaciers in Glacier Bay, an experience that is becoming more and more rare to experience as these glaciers recede from the sea. Depending on our time line we can head further north into Tarr Inlet or Maybe over to Rendu Inlet but we will need to keep an eye on the weather and our progress to make it to our pick up point on time. On day 5 the Glacier Bay day tour boat will pick us up around 11:30 am and will usher us back to Gustavus and civilization, where a hot shower awaits