Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is one of the best natural settings for studying or just viewing glacial activity. When the first travelers saw the area, only two hundred years ago, Glacier Bay was completely covered by glacial ice. In the time since then, the glaciers have receded 65 miles up the valleys.
Visitors arrive by boat or plane, and either hike or canoe around the bays.
Plentiful wildlife ranging from bears to whales can also be seen while in the park. Glacier Bay provides for excellent research opportunities. Geologists study everything from the rates of recession to the rate of new plant grown after the glaciers have left. The park is covered with glacial features. There are fjords, valley glaciers, tidewater glaciers, outwash plains, drumlins, eskers, and many other features.