Forest Loop Trail
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
Bear activity around Bartlett Cove is common, especially in late summer when salmon run in nearby streams — make noise on the trail and carry bear spray, even on a short walk like this.
Boardwalk sections can be slick when wet, which in Glacier Bay means most of the time — watch your footing, especially on the wooden bridges.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Walk the loop counter-clockwise to hit the densest old-growth section first, before the trail opens up near the intertidal area where most people start getting distracted by the shoreline views.
Glacier Bay's rainforest gets over six feet of precipitation annually — pack a lightweight rain shell even if the morning looks clear, because conditions shift fast and the forest canopy only delays the soaking by about ten minutes.
Bring a macro lens or use your phone's close-up mode — the real show here is at ground level. The moss varieties, shelf fungi, and tiny mushrooms growing on nurse logs are some of the most photogenic subjects in the park, and the diffused forest light means you don't need golden hour to get a great shot.
