Explore
See the dramatically altered landscape left behind by the second fastest-moving glacier in the world.
Columbia Glacier flows at up to 80 feet per day, discharging roughly 2 cubic miles of ice into the bay each year. Since the early 1980s, the glacier has receded more than 10.5 miles and lost half its volume.
Today, day cruises navigate the dense iceberg fields left in the glacier's wake. You will view the roughly 300-foot-high ice face from a safe distance while spotting marine wildlife resting on the floating ice.
1-2 hoursSea otters and seals
This sprawling expanse of water is filled with massive, vividly blue chunks of floating ice calved from the glacier. A skilled captain is required to navigate this shifting ice field safely. Watch the floating ice closely as you pass through. Sea otters and harbor seals frequently use the bergs as resting spots, providing excellent photo opportunities.
45-60 minutesZoom lens needed
The active terminus is the roughly 300-foot-high face where the glacier meets the sea. It remains a massive wall of ice despite retreating nearly 11 miles since the 1980s. Because the dense ice field prevents boats from approaching the face closely, a zoom lens is essential.
Viewed in passingHistorical terminus marker
This island marked the absolute edge of the Columbia Glacier's terminus in 1980 before its rapid retreat began. Tour boats view this island in passing as they travel through the bay. Use Heather Island as a visual reference point to grasp the 11-mile distance the ice has retreated.
