Lituya Bay

Overview

About Lituya Bay

Lituya Bay is a dramatic, almost landlocked fjord on the park’s outer coast—think steep walls, a deep glacial basin, and a tight, hazardous entrance only seasoned mariners should even consider. Cenotaph Island anchors the middle of the bay, while multiple glaciers—including Lituya Glacier—feed the landscape at its head. Most people who “visit” do it by air for the sweeping views, and that’s the smart call here.

Why stop

Raw, glacial fjord scenery with Cenotaph Island as a centerpiece
Site of the 1958 megatsunami—its trimline scars are still visible

Heads up

Dangerous, expert-only marine access with strong currents and a narrow entrance
No facilities or services of any kind; extremely remote and weather-exposed

On July 9, 1958, an earthquake-triggered landslide at the head of the bay produced the largest recorded wave runup on Earth—about 1,720 feet—stripping trees and reshaping shorelines in an instant. You can still read that story on the slopes as a stark trimline between older forest and younger growth.

Parkwolf’s verdictWhy it’s Famous

Map

Where it is

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Full map

SightLituya Bay58.63912, -137.57208

Keep this map with you offline in the Parkwolf app

Local know-how

Tips for visiting Lituya Bay

See it by air; flightseeing delivers the best views without the risk.
If you’re a mariner, study the entrance in detail and plan for strong tidal currents.
Carry the correct nautical chart for Lituya Bay (Chart 1378) and verify conditions.
There are no facilities—pack everything and plan for full self-reliance.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

There are no crowds or operating hours here—your window is whenever weather and conditions line up. Aim for clear-weather flightseeing days for the best views and photos. Mariners should time any approach for the most favorable sea state and currents; otherwise, admire it from the air.

Access and Safety

This place is remote, exposed, and unforgiving. The entrance is narrow and notoriously tricky, with strong tidal currents and ocean swell—absolutely not for casual boating. There are no facilities, no easy landings, and no backups if something goes sideways. Scenic flights are the low-stress way to appreciate the bay’s geology and scale.

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Glacier Bay Tour Guide

Your drive to Lituya Bay, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Glacier Bay National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

37 audio storiesacross Glacier Bay’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
Wildlife heatmapsfor Humpback Whale, Orca, Brown Bear, and 13 more
Works offlinemaps, 3 trails, 45 places, and audio download before you lose signal
CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive

★★★★★

“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”

JMJamesApp Store review

4.7 from 8,600+ ratings

Guide

More about Lituya Bay

What You’ll SeeA classic glacial fjord framed by rugged Fairweather Range peaks

A classic glacial fjord framed by rugged Fairweather Range peaks
Cenotaph Island dividing the bay’s interior
Glaciers at the head of the bay, with rock walls that tell the tale of ice and landslides

WildlifeThe surrounding coast and forests support brown bears, wolves, and bald eagles.

The surrounding coast and forests support brown bears, wolves, and bald eagles. Productive waters and streams draw salmon, while whales, harbor seals, and marine birds move along this outer-coast corridor during migrations. Bring binoculars and keep your distance—this is true wilderness.

Practical NotesCome fully self-sufficient; there are zero services onshore

Come fully self-sufficient; there are zero services onshore
Expect rapidly changing coastal weather
Photography is excellent from the air—use a polarizer and a longer lens to compress the fjord’s scale

Wildlife

Wildlife in Glacier Bay

All Glacier Bay wildlife maps

98 sightingsHumpback WhaleMost seen around 6 AMSighting map

48 sightingsOrcaMost seen around 5 PMSighting map

110 sightingsBrown BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map

312 sightingsSea OtterMost seen around 4 PMSighting map

106 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 6 PMSighting map

93 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 5 PMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Glacier Bay. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.