Meares Glacier
A tidewater glacier still advancing at the head of Unakwik Inlet, with an ice face about 1.6 kilometers wide. Long glacier cruises get close enough to see ice calving.
Meares Glacier lies in Unakwik Inlet in the northern part of Prince William Sound. It is one of the few tidewater glaciers still advancing. Its ice face is about 60 meters high, and there is relatively little floating ice around it, so tour boats can usually get closer than they do to Columbia Glacier, often seeing large chunks of ice break off into the sea. Full-day cruises from Valdez take about 9 hours round trip and pass through Columbia Bay on the way, where you can watch sea otters, sea lions and whales. Tickets cost more than the Columbia Glacier route, making it suited to visitors with time who want to see two glaciers in one trip. Light meals are usually served on board. Watch out for seasickness and bring warm clothing.
Opening hours
Summer schedule, about 9 hours
Nearby sights
- Columbia Glacier
- Shoup Bay State Marine Park
- Maxine & Jesse Whitney Museum
- Valdez Museum
- Valdez Small Boat Harbor
- Dock Point Trail
- Solomon Gulch Hatchery
- Old Valdez Townsite