Excursion Le conte glacier tour at Wrangell

Travel amidst incredible wildlife and spectacular glacial landscapes as you tour Le Conte Glacier Bay by boat. Le Conte Glacier Bay is a fjord 12 miles long that was carved by glaciers over thousands of years through the coastal mountain range. Transfer at the pier to your jet boat and after a safety briefing, travel 50 minutes by boat through to Le Conte Bay, home to the awe-inspiring Le Conte Glacier.

The Le Conte Glacier is the southern-most tidewater glacier in the United States. Because of its structure, with waters at its face that are 500 to 800 feet deep, the glacier does not advance so much as break into pieces, causing almost reliable calving events (where parts of the glacier break off in stunning, loud fashion). As a result of all of this calving, the bay is replete with icebergs, often featuring dozens to hundreds of Harbor Seals resting and sunning themselves on a single berg.

These icebergs can make the bay challenging to pass through, so much of the tour is dependent on the conditions of the day. At the mouth of the bay, lucky visitors may see humpback whales feeding on the schools of herring that frequent here. Bird lovers can watch for a variety of shorebirds, waterfowl, and nesting Mew Gulls.

In the narrow inlet with towering granite walls of Le Conte Bay, see up close how glacial action vigorously carved the landscape over time: the closer you are to the ice, the newer the land.

After your 2.5-hour jet boat tour, make your way back to the pier and return to the ship.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Le Conte Glacier, Harbor Seal pups, waterfalls, possible Orca or Humpback Whale sightings, variety of water and shore birds

Note

Please note: This tour entails minimal physical activity consisting of just 200 feet of walking, including a ramp to the boat that will need to be negotiated (ramp steepness varies with tide). Because of the nature of the boat ride and the lack of accommodations on the vessel this tour is not suitable for guests in a wheelchair. Guests must sign a waiver to participate in this excursion. Those participating must be at least 5 years old and must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian if they are younger than 18 years old. It is cold in the ice floes, so please dress in warm layers and wear closed-toe shoes. Camera, a light hat and gloves are also recommended. Space on this tour is extremely limited; we suggest you book well in advance to avoid disappointment. Wildlife sightings likely but they are not guaranteed. Calving sightings not guaranteed but likely given geology of Le Conte Glacier.