Guided Trips - Glacier Bay Sea Kayaks

Prior to arriving in Gustavus, each member of your party will need to watch two NPS Backcountry Camper Orientation videos which will review Leave No Trace camping techniques and bear country camping methods. These two videos may also be found on our NPS Permits page.

If you don’t see trip dates that work with your schedule, please give us a call for custom dates.

Secluded Beardslee Islands

Trip Dates	May 8-11, 2025
Trip Length	4 days, 3 nights
Difficulty Level	Appropriate for all levels
Price	$ 940/person*

*Does not include 3% sales tax or guide gratuities.

Trip Description

The Beardslee Islands are located in the lower bay of Glacier Bay National Park, roughly 60 miles away from the nearest tide water glacier. Access to the Beardslee Islands is through the Bartlett River’s high tide dependent corridor located at the end of Bartlett Cove.

Closed to motorized vessels, these nearby wilderness waters offer a unique opportunity for quiet and solitude amongst a teaming array of wildlife that includes humpback whales, sea otters, harbor seals, harbor porpoise, moose, black bears, brown bears and, of course, a variety of birds.

This trip as well as the Wildlife Quest trip has the itinerary best suited for a citizen science trip. The timing of this trip is set to coincide with spring migration and ebird’s Global Big Day on May 10, 2025.

Trip Details

You will need to arrive by early afternoon on the day prior to the trip departure in order to attend the pre-trip meeting with your GBSK guide(s) at 5 PM at the NPS Visitor Information Station in Bartlett Cove to discuss trip logistics, review your equipment, pack your food and answer any questions you may have.

Day 1 Organize gear and begin loading the kayaks for an early morning departure with the high tide. Paddle at a leisurely pace to get acquainted with the kayaks. Find a camp spot. Relax and talk about how we may optimize our bird data collection.

Day 2 & 3 Explore the shores and coves, weaving in and out of secluded islands.

Day 4 After an early breakfast, we will pack up camp, load the kayaks and paddle in a few more coves in search of more wildlife and birds. We will slowly make our way back to meet the mid-day high tide as it ebbs back into Bartlett Cove. After we arrive back into Bartlett Cove we will de-outfit and say our farewells.

In the Shadow of Glaciers: The John Muir Tour

Trip Dates	June 3-10, 2025
Trip Length	8 days, 7 nights
Difficulty Level	Experienced kayakers only. Advanced level.
Price	$ 2,260/person*

>*Does not include 3% sales tax or guide gratuities.

Trip Description

The John Muir Tour – In 1879, John Muir did not have the luxury of engines and propellers to reach his fabled ice mountains. And while we’re not hardy (or crazy) enough to paddle in October like he did, this adventure will get you closer to Muir’s paddle strokes than ever before.

Departing from Bartlett Cove through the Beardslee Cut, you and your guide will weave through the wildlife rich Beardslee Islands and up the east side of the lower bay. After pausing at the mouth of the East Arm where the fabled Muir Glacier stood in 1879, we’ll wrap around the southern tip of Tlingit Point and follow the route of Muir’s expedition. When possible, we’ll investigate notable sites from the trip, including Tidal Inlet and a circumnavigation of Russell Island which was just emerging from the Grand Pacific Glacier when Muir laid eyes on it.

No Glacier Bay adventure would be complete without partaking in some of Muir’s “glacier gospel.” We’ll be sure to leave time to paddle near the Lamplugh and Reid glaciers. The trip concludes with a pick up by the park tour boat and a return ride back to Bartlett Cove.

Trip Details

Paddling Itinerary and campsites – subject to change due to weather, bears, and guide’s discretion.

Day 1 Our trip begins with an early morning in Bartlett Cove organizing and packing our kayaks before paddling through the Bartlett River Cut with the high tide into the Beardslee Islands. We’ll weave through this labyrinth of islands looking for black bears, moose, seals, sea lions, sea otters, and whales before camping near the north end of the archipelago.

Day 2 We continue north past the Beardslee Islands and into the lower bay, passing through what has become a favorite spot for humpbacks. We’ll paddle along the east side, following the shadow of the Beartrack Mountains and through the emerald green waters of Spokane and South Sandy Cove.

Day 3 Our trip reaches the mouth of the East Arm on day three where, in 1879, the Muir Glacier stood as one of the unofficial wonders of the world. We’ll make camp nearby that evening.

Day 4 Leaving the lower bay behind, we’ll make our way west and north, wrapping around Tlingit Point and traversing a seldom traveled stretch of shoreline toward the geographically miraculous Tidal Inlet, a narrow fjord with spectacular steep mountains on each side. With luck the weather will be better than it was for Muir and his companions in October of 1879, when sleet, fog, and a growing ice sheet threatened to scuttle the journey.

Day 5 We’ll continue up the West Arm passing the mountain goat haven Gloomy Knob. Nearby are a couple of salmon streams and a great spot for to observe brown bears fishing. Ahead is Russell Island. Covered in alder and young spruce today, it was just emerging from the ice when Muir laid eyes on it. We’ll stop at the southern tip, as close to the spot where Muir landed as possible. We’ll take time to explore the terrain and perhaps a little bush whacking through the trees if we feel like it.

Day 6 The north end of Russell Island offers one of our favorite vistas in the park, looking north up Tarr Inlet towards Margerie Glacier and west to Lamplugh Glacier and John Hopkins Inlet. We’ll cross the West Arm and stop near the face of Lamplugh before heading south, pausing for wildlife when necessary. Our day concludes at Reid Inlet and its namesake glacier. If time allows we’ll explore the ruins of the Ibach cabin, the relic of a homesteading couple from the early 20th century.

Day 7 Our last full day will take us south and we’ll camp somewhere near the pickup site and savor our final evening in the bay.

Day 8 We’ll paddle to the pick up point in plenty of time for the early afternoon arrival of the tour boat. Cruising down the bay, we’ll arrive back to Bartlett Cove by 3:30 PM where we will de-outfit and say our farewells.

Marine Mammal Adventure

Trip Dates	June 21-24, 2025
Trip Length	4 days, 3 nights
Difficulty Level	Appropriate for all levels
Price	$ 1,600/person*

>*Does not include 3% sales tax or guide gratuities.

Trip Description

Marine Mammal Adventure and Paddle Up – One of our favorite and most overlooked stretches of Glacier Bay is the shoreline between the Beardslee Islands and the East Arm pick-up point. Paddle through the wildlife hotspot that is the Beardslee Archipelago before traveling up the dramatic east side of Glacier Bay with its steep mountains and emerald water. Our local guides will meet you in Bartlett Cove the night before to go over the kayaks and handle any packing questions you may have.

The next day, we’ll load the kayaks and paddle through the tidal cut in the back of Bartlett Cove and into the Beardslee Islands. The islands are designated wilderness and a common spot for moose, seals, porpoise, sea otters, and humpback whales.

Our local guides will meet you in Bartlett Cove the night before to go over the kayaks and handle any packing questions you may have. The next day, we’ll load the kayaks and paddle through the tidal cut in the back of Bartlett Cove and into the Beardslee Islands. The islands are designated wilderness and a common spot for moose, seals, porpoise, sea otters, and humpback whales.

After camping near the north end of the islands, we’ll make our way along the shoreline of Glacier Bay, leaving plenty of time for wildlife viewing as we go. We’ll be picked up on the morning of our fourth day by the Glacier Bay tour boat and enjoy a full day onboard exploring the West Arm of the Bay including multiple glacier views and 30 minutes in front of one of the tidewater glaciers.

We’ll return to Bartlett Cove at 3:30 where our staff will assist with unloading kayaks and gear and ensure that you’re safely on your way home.

Trip Details

Paddling Itinerary and campsites – subject to change due to weather, bears, and guide’s discretion.

Day 1 North Beardslees – Weave through the watermark islands of the Beardslee Islands and enjoy the quiet of this designated wilderness, watching for a diverse set of sea and land mammals and plenty of birds.

Day 2 Spokane Cove – After crossing the mouth of Beartrack Cove, we’ll follow the gorgeous shoreline of Glacier Bay towards the mouth of Muir Inlet. In recent years this has become a popular spot for humpback whales, and we’ll make sure that we leave time to watch any whales that appear along our paddle route.

Day 3 Garforth Island – A picturesque island with a multitude of attractive campsites, Garforth Island is home to plenty of ground nesting black oyster catchers while also being prime sea otter and humpback whale habitat. Camp views can offer vistas of the lower bay or the East Arm with Mt. Wright towering above the scene from the mainland.

Day 4 After a leisurely breakfast we will pack up and paddle towards our pick up point. We will be picked up by the daily tour boat and enjoy the continued tour of the West Arm of Glacier Bay, returning to Bartlett Cove by 3:30 PM where we will de-outfit and say our farewells.

The Glacier Chaser

Trip Dates	June 27-30, 2025
Trip Length	4 days, 3 nights
Difficulty Level	Appropriate for all levels
Price	$ 1,700/person*

Trip Dates	June 27-July 1, 2025 July 25-29, 2025
Trip Length	5 days, 4 nights
Difficulty Level	Appropriate for all levels
Price	$ 1,850/person*

>*Does not include 3% sales tax or guide gratuities.

Trip Description

The Glacier Chaser – Paddle along many of the same waterways John Muir did way back in 1879. Glacier Bay has changed by orders of magnitude since he set foot here, but we can still land on some of the same beaches he did and have the chance to find a rich array of wildlife with some of the most magnificent views Glacier Bay has to offer.

We start the tour in Bartlett Cove where our guides will meet you the night before for a pre-trip meeting and the opportunity to get familiar with the boats and answer any packing and camping questions you may have.

The next morning we’ll depart on the Glacier Bay Lodge tour boat, exploring the lower bay and West Arm. After viewing Margerie Glacier, one of the bay’s tidewater glaciers, we’ll be dropped off and begin our paddle towards Russell Island and the Reid and Lamplugh Glaciers.

This trip offers a nice mix of glacier views and wildlife opportunities. While neither Reid nor Lamplugh Glaciers are tidewater, we’ll try to get as close to the ice as we safely can. The highlight of our glacier exploration is our landing near the face of Lamplugh Glacier and a short hike that overlooks the ice and/or a walk on its glacial out-wash plain.

On our final day we’ll be picked up by the lodge tour boat for the two-hour ride back to Bartlett Cove to de-outfit and take a well-earned shower.

Trip Details

Paddling Itinerary and campsites – subject to change due to weather, bears, and guide’s discretion.

Day 1 Reid Inlet – After being dropped off in the early afternoon, we’ll paddle north towards the mouth of Reid Inlet. Reid Glacier has been relatively stable over the last couple of decades, and our first campsite offers scenic views of the glacier from a couple of miles away.

Day 2 North Russell – We land on the same beach on Russell Island that John Muir did on his first exploration of Glacier Bay. But the big draw is the paddle up the east side of the island. This area offers opportunities to find several sea bird species along with a beautiful glacier alluvial fan the gives us a chance to find many of the more charismatic land mammals of the area including bears, wolves, and moose. We finish the day on the north Russell Island where, (weather pending) we’ll enjoy glorious views of the white capped mountains and distant glaciers.

Day 3 Lower West Arm – Our longest paddle day. After crossing the arm and stopping at Lamplugh Glacier, we continue our way south along the shoreline. After crossing the mouth of Reid Inlet, we’ll select a campsite close to the pickup site, allowing for a low stress morning to our final destination.

Day 4 / Day 5 After a leisurely breakfast we will paddle to our pick up point and enjoy the day boat journey back down bay, returning back at Bartlett Cove at 3:30 pm.

Note: If you are on the 5 day trip Itinerary, day 3 will be a more leisurely paddle day plus you will have extra time to enjoy the glaciers.

East Arm Adventure

Trip Dates	July 11-16, 2025
Trip Length	6 days, 5 nights
Difficulty Level	Moderate to Adventurous
Price	$ 2,050/person*

>*Does not include 3% sales tax or guide gratuities.

Trip Description

East Arm Adventure – Also known as Muir Inlet, the East Arm features some of our favorite camp sites in Glacier Bay and is our guide’s preferred trip for the wildlife viewing opportunities and quiet, scenic vistas.

Today, the West Arm of Glacier Bay attracts most of the attention. Commercial vessels, cruise ships, and many private vessels opt to head this direction, leaving the East Arm comparatively ignored.

For those looking for solitude and a true wilderness experience, this makes the East Arm the perfect escape. Whales, bears, wolves, seals, sea lions, otters, and a variety of sea birds frequent this arm, while the minimal competition for campsites and lack of boat noise add to the intimate feel.

We start the tour in Bartlett Cove where our guides will meet you the night before for an orientation and the opportunity to examine the boats and handle any packing and camping questions you may have. The next morning we’ll depart Bartlett Cove on the tour boat for the designated drop off point near the mouth of the East Arm.

Our six-day trip allows us more time in the upper portion of this more remote and often overlooked part of Glacier Bay. We will paddle up to the mouth of McBride Inlet, where rapid retreat by the McBride Glacier has tucked it deep into the mountains. A day hike from the nearby Riggs Glacier offers the chance to view both glaciers from this high vantage point.

On the final day of our trip, we’ll be picked up early in the morning by the same tour boat and enjoy the day exploring the West Arm of Glacier Bay, including the tidewater glaciers. We’ll return to Bartlett Cove at 3:30 PM to de-outfit and wrap up our adventure.

Trip Details

Paddling Itinerary and campsites – subject to change due to weather, bears, and guide’s discretion.

Day 1 Lower East Arm – Our first campsite is at a beautiful pocket beach. We love the steep shoreline and rock faces that make unpacking easier and provides good opportunities to watch humpback whales close to shore.

Day 2 McBride Inlet –There’s plenty of good camping near the mouth of McBride Inlet. One of the few popular campsites in the East Arm, the bottleneck at the mouth can offer dramatic views of icebergs pulled by the tide from the McBride Glacier.

Day 3 Mouth pf McBride Inlet – We spend two nights at our McBride campsite, which gives us the chance to hike up the nearby ridge between McBride Intel and Riggs Glacier. Some bush-whacking is required to reach the ridge, but the hike offers the chance to view both the McBride and Riggs Glacier.

Day 4 Lower East Arm – Another of our favorite campsites. This spot offers a nice view of Mt. Wright (weather permitting) and is another spot for potential humpback whale sightings along with seabirds and harbor porpoises.

Day 5 Sebree or Garforth Island – Depending on the pickup point, there are several comfortable campsites to finish our trip. They offer either panoramic views of the lower bay or the mouth of the East Arm. Both include the chance to view whales, seals, and sea lions from camp.

Day 6 After a leisurely breakfast we will pack up and paddle towards our pick up point. We will be picked up by the daily tour boat and enjoy the continued tour of the West Arm of Glacier Bay, returning to Bartlett Cove by 3:30 PM where we will de-outfit and say our farewells.

Wildlife Quest

Trip Dates	Aug 8-11, 2025
Trip Length	4 days, 3 nights
Difficulty Level	Appropriate for all levels
Price	$ 1,700/person*

*Does not include 3% sales tax or guide gratuities.

Trip Description

Wildlife Quest– Our most open-ended tour, our local guides will recommend a paddle plan closer to our departure based on the latest reports and sightings.In general, this will depend on where humpback whales have been congregating and we do our best to select locations where we can maximize our sightings. There’s plenty of other species to look for including sea otters, porpoise, orcas, seals, sea lions, bears, and wolves.

This trip as well as the Secluded Beardslee Islands trip has the itinerary best suited for a citizen science trip.

Trip Details

Paddling Itinerary and campsites – subject to change due to weather, bears, and guide’s discretion.

Day 1 – Load kayaks onto the tour boat for a 7:30 AM departure and tour of Glacier Bay by boat. Depending on the paddle itinerary that your guide selects, you will enjoy viewing the West Arm’s large tide water glaciers and inlets, sightseeing and taking photos of wildlife along the way either on the first or last day of your trip. We will be dropped off with our kayaks and camping gear at either the East or West Arm. We will load our kayaks and get ourselves acquainted with the boats and rudder systems and have an easy paddle to find a good camp spot for the night.

Day 2 & 3 Explore the area, looking for birds, wildlife, humpback whales and other marine mammals while paddling. Make sure to bring your binoculars to bring the wildlife closer. If you’re a birder, expect an abundance of sea birds to add to your accumulative ‘life list.’

Day 4 After breakfast we will pack up and paddle towards our pick up point for our return trip on the tour boat to Bartlett Cove where we will de-outfit and say our farewells.