Icy Strait-Cross Sound Province
Glacier Bay is the principal tributary to Icy Strait-Cross Sound, linking the northern waters of the Alexander Archipelago to the open sea. At its western margin, Cross Sound broadens out into a complex of small fjords and offshore islets that face the open sea.

Icy Strait-Cross Sound and its complex of tributary inlets provide a wide array of open waters and sheltered estuaries; these habitats support concentrations of a variety of marine species, notably halibut, salmon, Tanner crab, humpback whales, harbor porpoises, and marbled murrelets. The recently reintroduced sea otter is thriving.

This waterway is a major conduit for animal movements into and out of southeast Alaska. These waters have been major commercial fishing grounds for over a century, and now sightseeing, sport fishing, and ecotourism are rapidly increasing activities.

A rich array of mature plant communities has developed on these lands, including old-growth forests, providing habitat for large populations of deer and brown bears.

Permit Information
Backcountry campers and hikers are required to obtain a free permit from the Glacier Bay Visitor Center in Bartlett Cove.

Directions
This province is accessible by boat or plane and is located between the southern end of the park and Chicago Island.

Information Center
The park's only visitor center is that in the Glacier Bay Province. It is located on the second level of the Glacier Bay Lodge in Bartlett Cove.

Activities