Xunaa Shuká Hít - The Huna Tribal House - Glacier Bay National Park

Xunaa Shuká Hít, or the Huna Tribal House, was  dedicated on August 25, 2016. It is "a gathering place where tribal members, park visitors, and the National Park Service are inspired to learn about and preserve Tlingit history, culture, life ways, and traditions." Also known as the Huna Ancestors' House, it "is the first permanent clan house in Glacier Bay since Tlingit villages were destroyed by an advancing glacier over 250 years ago." The park website has a webpage about the house. There is also a video imbedded on the webpage or available here. During our August 2022 visit to Glacier Bay National Park, we were greeted at the house by Darlene See of the Hoonah Indian Association. She shared some of the history of her tribe and how the tribe and the park service found common ground after decades of mistrust and suspicion. 

There is no entrance fee at Glacier Bay National Park.

The Glacier Bay National Park website is https://www.nps.gov/glba/index.htm.

Tlingit Trail - Glacier Bay National Park

Our final hike at Glacier Bay National Park during our August 2022 visit was the Tlingit Trail. This ½-mile trail is rated easy. The trail starts at the Ranger Station or the Healing Totem Pole and continues parallel to the shore all the way to Park Road near park headquarters. Instead of hiking the trail twice, we hiked about half the distance on the trail and about halfway along the shore for a one-mile hike. The trail is wide and level from the Healing Totem Pole to Xunaa Shuká Hít, the Huna Tribal House. Beyond that, it devolves into a footpath. 

Looking back at the trail toward the whale exhibit from the rear of the lodge

View toward the Huna Tribal House from the rear of the lodge

Native vegetation at the lodge

The Huna Tribal House

A social path down to the shore

Looking back at the dock

Glacial erratics on Lagoon Island

The trail narrows

Looking back from the end of the trail

Park Road at the end of the trail

Another view of Bartlett Cove and Lagoon Island

Glacial erratic

The short, but winding trail

There is no entrance fee at Glacier Bay National Park.

The Glacier Bay National Park website is https://www.nps.gov/glba/index.htm.

Forest Trail - Glacier Bay National Park

As noted previously, Bartlett Cove is the only developed area in Glacier Bay National Park. After hiking the Beach Trail, we continued our August 2022 one-mile loop by returning to the lodge via the easy Forest Trail. Bartlett Cove and the surrounding area are part of a large temperate rainforest. Luckily, the weather was warm and dry during our hike.

Trail intersection with the Beach Trail (left and right)

Trailhead interpretive sign

Typical trail conditions

The only stairs I recall along the way

We saw lots of mushrooms

Another view of the trail

Water lilies (Nymphaeaceae) cover a small pond

A log bench at the water lily pond

Plant succession from rocky ground to mature forest

Another pond provides an opening in the canopy

A bear likely shredded this snag while searching for grubs

Raised trail crosses a waterlogged area

This rock and moss remind me of a bison shedding its winter coat

Moss covers everything

Shelf fungus on a snag

Three trees have fallen across this pond

First view of Blackwater Pond

From here to the lodge is handicap accessible

Glacial Erratic in Blackwater Pond

Another view of Blackwater Pond

The typical boardwalk is too narrow for wheelchairs to meet but there are several "pullouts"

Side path to another overlook

Tlingit carving

A last look at Blackwater Pond

More boardwalk

Trail intersects Park Road

No trail to the right

Forest Trail continues to the left and crosses Park Road

Once across the road a small sign confirms the route

More boardwalk...

...but not continuous

Rootball of a downed tree

Back to a gravel surface

Back at the lodge

There is no entrance fee at Glacier Bay National Park.

The Glacier Bay National Park website is https://www.nps.gov/glba/index.htm.