One Day Kayak Adventures in Glacier Bay

    If you are short on time in our area, or if you do not wish to bring your camping equipment along, you might prefer one of our shorter, one day kayaking options in Glacier Bay National Park. You can either rent a safe, stable sea touring kayak by the day or half-day and strike out on your own, or you can join one of our guided day kayaking trips.

    Bartlett Cove, headquarters of Glacier Bay National Park offers the novice kayaker a very protected rain forest environment in which to paddle and explore. Kayakers may paddle along the shores of Lester Island and Point Gustavus with opportunities to view a variety of land mammals, marine and bird life. Seals, porpoise, sea otter, black bear, moose, bald eagles, and whales are some of the wildlife you can expect to see.

    For our rental guests, our expert kayak instructors will outfit you with the appropriate kayak and equipment, and issue additional gear according to your specifications and the day's weather conditions. Others may prefer to join with a group of like-minded explorers, and kayak with an experienced guide/naturalist, stopping to view wildlife, share a lunch or snack of local delicacies, and hike briefly along shore, before returning back to our Bartlett Cove site.

    If you would like to rent a kayak for the day during your stay in our area, or participate in a guided day kayak trip, give us a call or have your host make arrangements for you. We can pick you up at your inn, lodge, or bed & breakfast, and provide transportation for you from Gustavus to Bartlett Cove, or if you are staying in the Glacier Bay Lodge, we will meet you there. You may also make an advance reservation by filling out the Day Tour Reservation Form.

Guided Kayak Day Tours

    You can join us for a leisurely guided sea kayaking adventure in Glacier Bay National Park's Bartlett Cove or among the Beardslee Islands. Our experienced kayak guides are trained naturalists and will help you to connect with the marine environment, forested wilderness shorelines, and abundant wildlife, including birds, marine mammals, moose and black bears. Your guide will ensure that everyone in the group experiences the delights of kayaking and learns about the rich natural and cultural history of the area. A relaxed lunch on a secluded beach and short educational nature walks along the way round out the adventure. Half day is from 9:00 AM -12:30 PM; Full day is from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Cost includes rain gear, boots, kayak gear, permits, lunch, and van transportation from your Gustavus lodging.

** Evening paddles and short custom trips can be arranged for groups of 5 or more. Please inquire about group sizes and custom prices.

Full-Day or Half-Day Kayak Rentals

Twice daily, we offer kayak rentals, outfitting, and instruction programs for those wishing to explore Glacier Bay's Bartlett Cove or the high tide dependent Beardslee Island area. We meet all kayakers going out for the day at the NPS Visitor Information Station in Bartlett Cove. At 9:00 AM daily, you can rent a kayak for a full day (4:00 PM return time) or a half day (1:00 PM return time). We meet again for another group instruction period at 2:00 PM (6:00 PM return time). This option is favored by those who wish only a few hours of kayaking, or who wish to enjoy late afternoon high tides in Bartlett Cove.

Once our staff has introduced the kayaks and equipment, maps are issued and special tide considerations for the area are covered, as well as kayaking techniques and safety. Individuals, groups, and families then depart from the beach below the kayak racks. Kayak rental and instruction sessions generally last about an hour. Individuals renting single kayaks should be experienced. If you are alone and inexperienced, we encourage you to find a partner and rent a safe, stable double kayak. Rates are per person and include rain gear, boots, kayak gear, permits, and instruction.