GLACIERS
LeConte & Shakes
SHAKES GLACIER
Shakes Glacier is connected to the same ice field that feeds LeConte Glacier, but it lies nestled in a scenic lake 30 miles up the Stikine River from Wrangell. While Shakes is less active than LeConte, the winding river channels leading to it are filled with beautiful waterfalls, towering peaks, and opportunities to see wildlife such as moose, bear, eagles and beaver. The bergs that break off the face of the glacier pile up at the head of the lake, creating a stunning maze of ice for your boat captain to navigate while you pull out your camera and enjoy the scenery.
You can access these glaciers by boat or by small plane, and either option provides a unique and different perspective. Accessing the fjords by boat provides incredible close up sightseeing opportunities of the landscape, the wildlife, icebergs and immense size of the glacier and carved valleys. Flightseeing provides an incredible birdseye perspective of the Stikine Icefield, Devil's Thumb, Castle Mountain and other iconic peaks in the coast range.
LECONTE GLACIER
If you’re looking for the iconic Alaskan experience of watching massive pieces of ice calving off the face of a glacier, LeConte Glacier will not disappoint. Navigating through LeConte Bay towards the glacier is a spectacle in itself, as the bay is a constantly changing museum of ice sculptures carved by weather and time. One of the best things about LeConte is that it is not frequented by large ships and hordes of visitors, so you’re likely to see more seals than people on your visit.
LeConte Bay is home to many bird species, mountain goats, and hundreds of harbor seals in their pupping season from late May to mid-June. They birth and rear their pups on the icebergs in the bay to provide protection, though the cycle of life continues and they are often preyed on by eagles and the occasional Orca.
