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Glacier Bay · September
September is a busy time to visit Glacier Bay — quieter than August, busier than October.
Expect heavy crowds (8/10), highs near 54°F, and about 12.8 hours of daylight.
Crowd score
Approaching peak season — expect full lots by mid-morning and busy overlooks.
About 71% of this park's busiest month.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 2023–2025
Data: NPS visitation 2023–2025 · crowd scores computed Jul 2026 · alerts checked Jul 10, 2026. How this is calculated →
Computed from federal data · Methodology by Sharon Ben-Moshe
Visitation
September draws about 15% of Glacier Bay’s yearly visitors.
Typical monthly recreation visits, averaged over the most recent three full years.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 2023–2025
Weather
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, GLACIER BAY, AK US
What's open
There are no entrance gates at Glacier Bay National Park, so we are technically open 24-hours a day; however, services may be extremely limited depending on the time of your visit. The main visitor season is from late-May through early-September with the peak being the month of July. Check the VISITOR CENTERS tab below to see hours for specific facilities, and read the exceptions that detail seasonal changes in hours.
No seasonal road or area closures reported for this park.
Source: NPS Data API
Conditions
Attention visitors, residents, and workers in Bartlett Cove and the Glacier Bay Park Headquarters area: Be aware of upcoming power outages related to local maintenance work. All lasting from approx. 9 am - 1 pm: Saturday, 5/23 - An outage will occur park-wide (all of Bartlett Cove local area). Sunday 5/24 - Outage at the park generator building, including the Bartlett Cove fuel dock. Monday 5/25 - Outage at the park maintenance building. Thursday, 5/28 - Outage at the Glacier Bay lodge.
Source: NPS Data API
Context
Alternatives
FAQ
September rates 8/10 for crowds (Busy) at Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve — about 71% of its busiest month. Typical recreation visits: 111,863.
In September, Glacier Bay averages a high of 54°F and a low of 43°F, with about 9.2 inches of precipitation.
Entry to Glacier Bay is free.
Glacier Bay is quietest in January and February. If your dates are flexible, those months bring the thinnest crowds of the year.
In mid-September, Glacier Bay gets about 12.8 hours of daylight, with sunrise around 5:37 AM and sunset around 6:25 PM.