Gateway to Glacier Bay
Surrounded by Glacier Bay National Park, Gustavus offers a panoramic view of the majestic Fairweather Mountains and the Chilkat Range. Gustavus has an expanse of sandy beaches, open land and forest. Homesteaded in 1914 as a small agricultural community, the area was once named Strawberry Point because of its abundant wild strawberries. Gustavus, recently established as a City government, is located 48 air miles west of Juneau, Alaska’s state capital. Spread across a large plain created by receding glaciers, Gustavus is an oasis of humanity surrounded by wildlife, lonely roads, beaches, the waters of Icy Straits and local rivers that invite individual exploration and solitude.
Visitors arrive by plane or boat as there are no outside roads connected to the area. Air taxis, Alaska Airlines jet, and a privately run ferry provide service to Gustavus from Juneau during the summer months. Saltwater fishing and natural history boat charters, kayak rentals, flight seeing, whale watch tours, golf, biking and hiking allow access to the wilderness that surrounds us. Local cafes, galleries and gift shops are in the town center.
Accommodations in Gustavus include full-service inns and lodges, vacation homes and bed and breakfasts. The lodges and inns serve meals for guests and often feature local seafood. (Drop-in customers check for space-available meal reservations.) Glacier Bay Lodge, located 9 miles away in the Park at Bartlett Cove, has a restaurant and lounge. Bartlett Cove also offers the only campground in the Gustavus area.
Everywhere in Gustavus you may see eagles, bears, moose, and shore and marine birds with a backdrop of wildflower fields and 360 degree views of mountains. Gustavus is a paradise for photographers and adventurers alike!
