How far are the glaciers from Bartlett Cove and which glaciers are the best to see?
There are 10 tidewater glaciers in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. McBride Glacier, the only tidewater glacier in the East Arm, is approximately 40 nautical miles from Bartlett Cove. In the West Arm, Margerie Glacier is approximately 55 nautical miles from Bartlett Cove while Johns Hopkins Glacier is about 63 nautical miles away. If you are on short visit your best bet is to head to the West Arm for glacier viewing. John Hopkins Glacier is perhaps the most scenic of the park’s tidewater glaciers. If you are kayaking, McBride Glacier is a good destination because it attracts fewer motorized vessels and is a very active glacier. However never paddle (or take a boat) into McBride Inlet due to its hazardous entrance.
