Bartlett Cove Campground — Glacier Bay National Park

This “semi-developed” campground in the park at Bartlett Cove near the Visitor’s Center is simply stunning. Campsites are free but require a permit and short briefing at the Visitor’s Center on the backcountry bear protocol. The campground has 36 individual walk-in sites (3-group sites) and the closest are around 1/4 miles from the parking lot. The park provides wheelbarrows to help tote your camping gear to the site. I point this out because we waited until arriving at the Visitor’s Center to prep our gear and food for our sea kayak trip and the distance from our campsite and parking lot required a lot of schlepping gear, food and many, many steps. It did, however, contribute to the remote feel of the campground. 

The campsites themselves, are simply bare spots on which to pitch your tent – no picnic tables or fire rings, but there are composting toilets in the campground.  No sites in the park can accommodate camping from your vehicle or trailer, though there is at least 1 small RV park in Gustavus about 10 miles away. 

Supplies and food should be brought with you, as the options for purchasing in Gustavus are limited. The park gift shop as well as the town’s general store does sell camping fuel in the small and green canisters – these cannot be brought on any airplane if you fly in.  At the campground, all food needs to be prepared and consumed on the rocky beach, in the intertidal zone, away from the camping area so that all food smells and debris are carried away by the water and do not attract bear curiosity. Regardless of the weather, you must cook here so bringing a small rain fly is a good idea. Food must be stored in the food cache shelters scattered along the trail winding through the campsite. 

As the weather can be cold and rainy anytime during the summer the park provides warming huts which are 3 sided shelters with wood stoves that a perfect place to hang out, dry off and warm up. Firewood is both copious and free. No food consumption or preparation should be done in these shelters. Back Country camping is available anywhere within the park except areas that are closed. Rangers will provide information on campsite selection as well as a lot of other information in the mandatory backcountry briefing held twice a day(10am& 6pm at the Visitor's Center).

Check out our video of our backcountry experience in Glacier Bay here:  https://youtu.be/bYmf6GKT5kA

Abundance of wildlife. Trails to hike. What an amazing place to visit.

Beautiful place in Glacier Bay with lots of critters, historic cabin, views, trails, etc. This isn’t car camping since you have to walk less than a mile from the parking lot to the campsite. Make sure to bring everything you need, including water and bear protection, and definitely stop into the ranger station to learn bear safety and to secure your spot. This campsite had so much character. I think it’d be a great way to introduce kids or adults to backpacking, it adds some backcountry feel but you’re not all that far from your car and civilization if needed. Highly recommended!