Margerie Glacier

• Frequent calving: slabs shear off the face and cannon into Tarr Inlet, sending ripples across the bay and a crack‑boom you feel in your chest.
• Blue ice and meltwater pools: dense ice absorbs longer light wavelengths, so the face and crevices glow an electric blue.
• Bergs and brash ice: the approach is often dotted with floating ice of all sizes, perfect for photos.

Calving stirs up small fish and krill, concentrating seabirds right in front of the face. Expect activity from species like Surf Scoter, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, Tufted Puffin, Black‑legged Kittiwake, Mew and Glaucous‑winged gulls, Arctic Tern, and Pelagic Cormorant. In the surrounding waters, watch for sea otters and harbor seals, and you may occasionally spot whales. Bears or mountain goats sometimes appear on adjacent slopes—binoculars help.

Calving is unpredictable—be patient and keep your camera ready. The blue tones pop against overcast skies, and a polarizing filter isn’t necessary to appreciate the color. Spray and mist are common near the face, so bring a lens cloth. Dress warmly in layers and bring rain gear; the wind off the ice is real. Binoculars make the bird action and crevasses come alive.

Named for French geologist Emmanuel de Margerie (who visited in 1913), the glacier once connected with Grand Pacific before that ice pulled back. Look for dark bands in the ice—moraines loaded with rock scraped from valley walls. Margerie is one of the bay’s true tidewater glaciers, with a fully submerged terminus that calves directly into the sea, maintaining that iconic sheer wall of ice.

All boats must keep a safe distance from the face—calving can throw ice and create surprise waves. Private vessels need permits in summer and must follow park rules; give wildlife a wide berth and pack all your own essentials—there are no facilities at the glacier.