Active Adventure
Cozy Gustavus offers a variety of outdoor adventures for all levels of traveler. Whether exploring the area by bicycle, or hiking several of the secluded nature trails, Gustavus provides excellent opportunities to view wildlife and wilderness. A stroll along the sandy beaches of Gustavus, places you upon the edge of two extraordinary worlds. On one side, Alaskan wildflowers and wild strawberries carpet the area, while on the other side, you may witness Steller sea lions, sea otters, harbor seals, and even humpback whales. Throughout your coastal journey, the skies above you are populated by eagles, ravens, songbirds and shorebirds. Gustavus and its surrounding ecosystem is a kayaker’s utopia. Fully outfitted, guided day or multi day trips are available, independent kayak rentals are also available for the more adventurous. Stay several days, book a trip into Glacier Bay, immerse yourself in a World Heritage Site, or try your hand at fishing in Icy Strait and bring home a tasty reminder of Southeast Alaska. Enjoy a relaxing bike ride exploring the community, looking for wildlife and picking berries, hike a 2-3 mile trail through the Nature Conservancy Preserve, or feel the sand between your toes as you discover the intertidal life at the Gustavus Beach Park near the dock. In Bartlett Cove, the park’s front country, there are hikes on one of the two developed trails through the forest. One of the most popular experiences is taking the day tour on a well appointed catamaran to view the dynamic tidewater glaciers of the West Arm. The ultimate adventure is to get a boat drop-off in the West Arm and paddle back in geological time, surrounded by calving glaciers while watching for bears and wolves along the shore. Head up Muir inlet, named for the naturalist John Muir, and revel in the solitude of this often overlooked gem. The possibilities are endless.
