Petersburg to Thomas Bay by way of LeConte

If you’re heading from Petersburg up to LeConte Glacier, you’re in for one of the classic Southeast Alaska day runs—short, dramatic, and packed with scenery.

You’ll depart Petersburg via Wrangell Narrows, typically timing your transit for a favorable tide since the channel is narrow and well-marked but current-sensitive. Once you clear the narrows into Frederick Sound, it opens up quickly—this stretch can kick up with wind-against-tide chop, so keep an eye on conditions.

From there, you’ll head northeast toward the mouth of LeConte Bay. The entrance is usually obvious from a distance thanks to floating ice increasing as you approach. Once inside the bay, slow way down—this is where you’ll start weaving through bergy bits and growlers, all calved from LeConte Glacier, which is the southernmost tidewater glacier in North America.

The run up the bay is relatively short but demands attention. Ice density can vary wildly depending on recent calving and tides. Many boaters stop short of the face and drift among the ice, taking in the deep blue colors and the occasional thunder of calving.

All told, it’s roughly a 20–25 nautical mile trip one way, depending on your exact route. It’s very doable as a day trip from Petersburg, but it feels like you’ve traveled much farther—quiet, wild, and unmistakably Alaska.