Where is Tracy Arm Fjord on a map?

Tracy Arm Fjord is located about 50 miles south of Juneau, Alaska. It branches off Holkham Bay in the Tongass National Forest. The fjord runs approximately 30 miles from its mouth to the twin Sawyer Glaciers at its head.

Where are the Sawyer Glaciers?

North Sawyer Glacier and South Sawyer Glacier sit at the far end (head) of Tracy Arm Fjord, approximately 30 miles from the fjord's mouth. South Sawyer Glacier is the more active of the two and typically produces more calving activity.

How does the ship enter Tracy Arm?

Ships approach from the south through Stephens Passage, enter Holkham Bay, and then turn north into Tracy Arm. The fjord narrows significantly as it approaches the glaciers, and ships must slow to navigate through floating ice.

Can ships always reach the glaciers?

Not always. In years with heavy iceberg production, the fjord can be too congested for safe navigation, and ships may turn around before reaching the glacier face. This is rare but possible. The ship's captain makes this call based on ice conditions on the day.

Tracy Arm Fjord Map & Getting Around — Alaska Cruise Guide

Tracy Arm Fjord: Geography and Route

Tracy Arm is a narrow glacial fjord cutting 30 miles into the Coast Mountains of Southeast Alaska. It branches off Holkham Bay, which opens onto Stephens Passage — the same protected waterway that cruise ships use traveling between Juneau and Ketchikan.

The fjord is roughly 1–2 miles wide and flanked by granite walls rising 2,000–7,000 feet on both sides. The walls are steep enough that the sun doesn’t reach the fjord floor until mid-morning even in summer.

Key Landmarks

Holkham Bay Junction — Where the ship leaves Stephens Passage and enters the fjord system. Ships turn sharply north here.

Endicott Arm — Tracy Arm’s twin fjord runs parallel to the south. Some itineraries cruise Endicott Arm instead of Tracy Arm, or visit both. Dawes Glacier sits at its head.

Iceberg Zone — Roughly the final 10 miles of Tracy Arm become increasingly congested with icebergs, growlers, and brash ice shed from the Sawyer Glaciers. The ship slows to 5–8 knots here.

South Sawyer Glacier — The primary destination on most Tracy Arm itineraries. An active tidewater glacier that calves directly into the fjord. The ship typically approaches within 0.25–0.5 miles of the face.

North Sawyer Glacier — Located slightly north of South Sawyer, it’s smaller but still visually dramatic. Some ships angle toward it after viewing the south glacier.

Cruise Route and Timing

Ships typically enter Tracy Arm in the morning (around 7–9 AM) after departing Juneau or another Stephens Passage port. The 30-mile transit at low speed takes 3–4 hours. Ships spend 30–90 minutes near the glacier face before beginning the return transit.

Most ships exit Tracy Arm by mid-afternoon (3–5 PM) and continue to the next port. The entire Tracy Arm day, from entry to exit, runs 6–9 hours depending on ice conditions and how long the captain chooses to hold position at the glaciers.

Distance Reference Points

Location	Distance from Tracy Arm Mouth
Holkham Bay junction	0 miles
First icebergs typically appear	~20 miles
South Sawyer Glacier	~30 miles
Juneau (via Stephens Passage)	~50 miles south