Riggs Glacier

Riggs Glacier is a mountain glacier in Alaska that descends from the southern slopes of the Takhinsha Mountains down to Muir Inlet at sea level. The ice mass flows through a broad valley and displays the features of an active glacier with crevasses and fracture zones.

The glacier was named in 1947 by the American Geographical Society after Thomas Riggs Jr., who served as Governor of Alaska from 1918 to 1921. The naming acknowledged his significance in Alaska's territorial history.

The Tlingit people maintain traditional connections to Glacier Bay National Park, where Riggs Glacier stands as part of their ancestral territory.

Visitors can reach the glacier from Glacier Bay National Park by taking a ferry from Juneau to Gustavus or booking an air service. The best time to visit is from June through August when access is easiest.

The glacier flows directly into Muir Inlet, creating a meeting point where sea and glacier ice converge at the water's edge. This junction of different environments produces striking visual contrasts not found everywhere.

Location: Alaska

GPS coordinates: 59.16889,-136.24361

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:01