LeConte Glacier

LeConte Glacier, the southernmost tidewater glacier in North America, dips into LeConte Bay on the mainland, 25 miles east of Petersburg [1]. Part of the vast Stikine Ice Field, its glacial ice was once used by local fishers to keep their catches cold on the way to market in Seattle. Today, locals use it to cool their drinks. LeConte Bay is home to 2,000 harbor seals. The entire area is included within the 448,841-acre Stikine-LeConte Wilderness.

There are no Forest Service cabins in LeConte Bay, but an excellent one is on Mallard Slough (518/885-3639 or 877/444-6777, www.recreation.gov [2], $45), near its entrance. A 1.5-mile trail connects the cabin and Le Conte Bay, where you’re likely to find icebergs high and dry at low tide. A fine trip for experienced sea kayakers is to head up the Stikine River [3] from Wrangell [4] and then into LeConte Bay, 10 miles north, before crossing Frederick Sound and continuing on to Petersburg. The total distance is approximately 50 miles (longer if you explore the Stikine River or LeConte Bay).