Sunlight Glacier Beach

Sunlight Glacier Beach is a long, flat landing and backcountry camping beach on Northwestern Fiord, at the mouth of the valley leading toward Sunlight Glacier. It is a water-access stop, not a drive-up beach. Plan your landing around marine conditions; rough seas and a glacially shaped coastline can make a safe landing difficult.

At low tide, the flat beach can mean a long carry between water and camp. Put your camp and gear above the high-tide line. A food-storage locker sits on high ground near the middle of the beach, just in front of the alder line; store food and scented items there or in an approved bear-resistant canister. Keep them out of tents, kayaks and dry bags. Watch for nesting shorebirds, especially semipalmated plovers, and give them room.

The valley leads toward Sunlight Glacier, but a hike up it probably involves several crossings of braided glacial outwash streams. A hike up it probably involves several crossings of braided glacial outwash streams, so check route details and treat it as remote travel rather than a casual walk from camp. The broad outwash plain is evidence of a later advance in the Northwestern Fiord glacier system. For a photo, frame the low shoreline and alder line with the valley behind; the landing itself is part of the view.