Park Service reopens deadline for businesses seeking Glacier Bay's only kayak rental

The National Park Service on Monday gave businesses until Dec. 7 to say they plan to compete to run Glacier Bay National Park's only kayak rental, reopening a deadline that closed Oct. 28.

The agency opened bidding Oct. 7 on a 10-year contract for the rental at Bartlett Cove, near park headquarters outside Gustavus. The new date meets a Park Service rule that solicitations stay posted at least 60 days, according to the solicitation amendment. Businesses that don't send notice by then can't submit proposals, which are still due Dec. 28.

The Bartlett Cove rental is the only place visitors can rent kayaks to paddle on their own straight into park waters, according to the Park Service's prospectus. Several Gustavus companies offer guided kayak trips, and Juneau businesses rent kayaks for multi-day trips. But Juneau is about 60 miles away, reachable by daily small-plane service or a state ferry that typically runs twice a week in summer.

The rental served about 560 guests this year on half-day, full-day and multi-day trips, according to the Park Service's answers to bidders' questions. It grossed $86,400 in 2025 and about $84,000 in each of the two years before.

Glacier Bay Sea Kayaks holds the current contract, which began in 2015. As the current operator, it can match the best offer if it submits a responsive proposal and isn't picked.

Local residents and the most directly affected Native corporations can claim a preference under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act that takes precedence over that right. A qualifying local or Native corporation bidder wins if its best offer is at least substantially equal to the best offer from a bidder without the preference, and otherwise gets a chance to match it, the Park Service said.

The new contract is expected to take effect Feb. 1, 2027, with rentals starting May 31. The operator would have to rent kayaks every summer from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. It could also rent gear and clothing and shuttle paddlers between Gustavus and Bartlett Cove.

The operator would pay the government at least 3% of gross receipts or $1,000 a year, whichever is greater. The Park Service projects $85,000 in receipts in 2027.