Bartlett Cove Campground
Open — Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. Free camping permits and camper orientation are required from May 1 through September 30. Winter services are extremely limited. Stays limited to 14 consecutive days.
Special Weather Statement issued February 8 at 1:57PM AKST by NWS Juneau AK
After a series of shortwaves that brought rain and gusty winds over the past few days, a stronger front will approach southeast Alaska from the west on Tuesday. South to southeast winds will increase through the day Tuesday. Confidence is increasing for windy conditions with strong gusts Tuesday night into Wednesday morning as the front pushes west to east across southeast Alaska. Gales with storm force gusts will be possible ahead and along the frontal passage, especially along north-south oriented channels and along the coastal waters. A period of moderate to heavy rainfall will be possible with the frontal passage, but with the progressive nature of the front, flooding is not expected at this time. Another gale to potentially storm force low will quickly lift northeast into the Gulf and looks to push across southeast Alaska sometime later Wednesday into Thursday, bringing another round of strong gusty winds and moderate to heavy rainfall. Further details on the high wind and flooding potential for this system will be honed in on in the coming days. Looking further ahead, a cooling trend is favored to commence in the wake of these passing systems by late work week into the weekend. Snow levels will begin to lower and a colder outflow wind pattern could set up by late weekend. This could result in a return of snow for some coastal communities, especially across northern southeast Alaska. Further details on the pattern change and snow potential will be honed as the weekend approaches.
About
Bartlett Cove Campground offers a unique wilderness camping experience in Glacier Bay National Park. This free walk-in campground is located in a scenic temperate rainforest setting along the shoreline, approximately one-quarter mile south of the Bartlett Cove dock via trail. The campground features 33 designated sites with bear-proof food caches, a warming shelter with provided firewood, and a fire pit on the beach. Composting toilets are available year-round. Wheelbarrows are provided to help campers transport gear from the dock. This is a primitive wilderness campground accessible only by foot. No RV facilities, hookups, or vehicle camping areas exist within the park. Campers must attend a mandatory orientation at the Visitor Information Station to obtain their free camping permit. All food and scented items must be stored in the provided bear-proof caches. Cooking and eating are only permitted in the intertidal zone on the beach, never at individual campsites or in the campground itself. Potable water and garbage facilities are located at the Visitor Information Station near the dock. Bartlett Cove receives approximately 70 inches of precipitation annually, so quality rain gear is essential.
Directions
The campground is accessible only by foot via a quarter-mile trail from the main dock in Bartlett Cove. Bartlett Cove has no road access from other areas of the US or Canada. Visitors must fly or take the Alaska Marine Highway ferry into Gustavus, or arrive by cruise ship or private vessel. Wheelbarrows are available at the dock to help transport gear. Stop by the Visitor Information Station near the dock to obtain a camping permit and attend the required orientation.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | No |
| Water Hookups | No |
| Sewer Hookups | No |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $0 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| glba_administration@nps.gov | |
| Phone | +1 (907) 697-2627 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Photos
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