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Best glacier destinations in North America

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Glacier Bay National Park
Majestic glaciers and pristine wilderness
9.3
Seven tidewater glaciers reach the water here and four actively calve icebergs into the bay. In 1794 one large glacier nearly filled the bay. By 1879 John Muir found the ice had retreated about 48 miles up the bay. Johns Hopkins Glacier still advances roughly 10 to 15 feet per day.
Highlights:
  • 🚣‍♂️ Kayak among tidewater glaciers in coves
  • 🏔️ Hike to Columbia Glacier viewpoint
  • 🐋 Cruise Inside Passage, spot humpback whales
Greenland
Arctic wilderness with ice landscapes
8.8
A single ice sheet blankets about 80 percent of Greenland and spans roughly 660,000 square miles. Its ice reaches 11,444 feet at the thickest point. Jakobshavn Isbræ is the largest outlet glacier and has drained about 6.5 percent of the sheet. Complete melting would raise global sea levels by about 24 feet.
Highlights:
  • 🌅 Experience the magic of the midnight sun on a boat cruise
  • 🥾 Hike the rugged terrain of Kangerlussuaq and visit the Arctic Tundra
  • ❄️ Marvel at the floating icebergs in Ilulissat Icefjord, UNESCO World Heritage site
Denali National Park
Wild Alaska’s peaks and wildlife
8.8
Glaciers cover about 16 percent of this park. Kahiltna Glacier runs roughly 44 miles and is the longest in the Alaska Range. Ruth Glacier measures about 31 miles in length and 3,800 feet in thickness. Above them stands Denali at 20,310 feet, the highest mountain in North America.
Highlights:
  • 🛩️ Take a flightseeing tour above Denali’s snowy peak
  • 🥾 Hike the Savage River Trail for rugged alpine views
  • 🐻 Spot grizzly bears and moose in their wild habitat
Alaska
Land of superlatives and adventure
8.9
Ice covers roughly 29,000 square miles of the state. The Bering Glacier alone spans about 2,000 square miles and is described as the largest glacier in North America. Hubbard Glacier flows 76 miles to Disenchantment Bay and has advanced for about a century. Ships reach tidewater faces such as Hubbard's.
Highlights:
  • 🐻 See wild bears fishing for salmon in Katmai
  • 🛳️ Cruise through glacier-filled waters in Glacier Bay National Park
  • 🌌 Watch the northern lights dance above Fairbanks
Banff National Park
Majestic Peaks and Turquoise Lakes
9.2
Peyto Glacier has lost about 70 percent of its volume since record keeping began. The northern end of the park reaches the Columbia Icefield, called the largest uninterrupted glacial mass in the Rockies. The Icefields Parkway links Lake Louise to Jasper over about 140 miles.
Highlights:
  • 🌊 Explore the scenic Johnston Canyon waterfalls trail
  • 🏞️ Hike to Lake Louise and admire turquoise waters
  • 🚡 Ride the Banff Gondola for spectacular mountain views
Jasper National Park
Untamed Wilderness and Starry Skies
8.8
Athabasca Glacier lies close to the Icefields Parkway. It is described as one of the most accessible and visited glaciers in the world. A 1.1 mile interpretive trail marks where the ice once reached. The Angel Glacier can be viewed from a lookout on Mount Edith Cavell.
Highlights:
  • 🧊 Walk on the Athabasca Glacier with a guided tour
  • 🐻 Spot elk, moose, and bears along Icefields Parkway
  • 🛶 Cruise Maligne Lake and marvel at Spirit Island
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