juneau alaska mendenhall glacier tours

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Experience the Spectacular Mendenhall Glacier

Please see this important Mendenhall Glacier Update.  Mendenhall, one of the most beautiful and accessible glaciers in North America, is just 13 miles from downtown Juneau and a few minutes from the airport. It’s a must-see destination for any Alaska vacation. You won’t believe your ice! A half-mile wide, with ice up to 1,800 feet deep, it’s little wonder this is Juneau’s most popular destination. Whether you’re in town for a day or week, there are many ways to experience the glacier.

If you’re on a tight schedule, a trip to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center provides fascinating information as well as excellent views of this ever-changing wonder. While there, be sure to watch a brief film about how the Mendenhall is part of the 1,500-square-mile Juneau Icefield . Take a short trek down Photo Point Trail to a lookout platform for an unobstructed view of the glacier’s face and a perfect photo opportunity. You could do this all in about 90 minutes. 

Hiking Trails

If you can spend at least a half-day, there are many ways to get up close to this majestic glacier. Enjoy hiking trails that run along surrounding terrain, including a moderately easy and well-marked trail to Nugget Falls . Winding along Mendenhall Lake, the closest trail to the glacier itself, you’ll find a stunning 377-foot waterfall cascading into an iceberg lake with a magnificent glacier in the background — another amazing photo opportunity. 

From July through September, take a walk along the platform boardwalks that run along Steep Creek Trail adjacent to the Visitor Center. There you’ll see sockeye salmon swimming and spawning as well as the occasional black bear fishing for a meal. (No worries, the bears rarely climb up on the platforms.)

The  Trail of Time  shows the power and long-term impact that the glacier has on the surrounding environment. As you walk away from the glacier you pass through changes in the landscape and vegetation that correspond to the length of time that has passed since the glacier's retreat.

With more time to spend, there are plenty of additional options as well. A more difficult trail, the East Glacier Loop , leads through ancient forests for views of a waterfall near the glacier’s face. This trail (2-3 hours) is a little steep but makes for a perfect outing for school-age children. More experienced hikers should try the West Glacier Trail, which follows the edge of the lake and glacier, providing access to the ice itself. 

For another kind of adventure, kayak on Mendenhall Lake and enjoy paddling near icebergs and arctic nesting cliffs. Kayaks and gear can be rented from the Alaska Boat & Kayak Center . Due to the ice-cold temperature of the water, it’s only recommended for people who are physically fit and have experience kayaking. For the less experienced, there are guided canoe tours you can book through many cruise lines.

Guided Tours and Charters

The Mendenhall Glacier has plenty of activities you can do yourself but there are a number of fun charter tours that help you get the most out of your visit. Consider a day cruise that combines a visit to the glacier with a whale-watching tour of Auke Bay, for example. There are many helicopter tours providing spectacular aerial views of ice spires, deep blue crevasses, and meltwater pools. The helicopter tours land at the glacier site and offer everything from guided ice walking to dog-sledding. For the more adventurous, guided hiking tours will take you across the glacier’s surface.

Getting Here

Please see this important Mendenhall Glacier Update. We encourage visitors to book one of the fun, fantastic tours available to see the capital city and get beautiful vistas. 

By car : An easy drive from downtown Juneau, take Egan Drive and turn right at Mendenhall Loop Road which turns into Glacier Spur Road and ends at the Visitor Center. There is plenty of free parking on site.

By boat : There are a number of day cruises which combine whale-watching and a visit to the glacier. They will drop you at the glacier following your tour, allowing you time to explore Mendenhall Glacier and its surrounding terrain on foot.

By air : Helicopter tours provide incredible views of the glacier and the larger Juneau Icefield. From this height, you can see why NASA chose this area as one of the places on Earth that "captured the emotional sensations that one might encounter while walking on the moon."

When to Visit

While the Mendenhall Glacier is accessible all year, the best time to visit is May through October . July can be hot but it’s best to check the weather to see if rain gear is needed. The Mendenhall Glacier is great in all weather. On a sunny day, it's beautiful, with blue skies and snow-capped mountains in the background. On a cloudy afternoon, it can be even more impressive as the ice turns a deep and mystical shade of blue.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY! The 2024 Season Tour Schedule is now available!

Explore Our Juneau Tours

Enjoy the best of alaska with our mendenhall glacier tours, we provide visitors with unparalleled alaskan vacation experiences. explore our mendenhall glacier tours and book online today.

• Juneau's #1 Rated Tour!
• Check Bubble May 5th – September 29th, 2024

MENDENHALL GLACIER ICE ADVENTURE TOUR

Join us for the ultimate Alaskan Wilderness Exploration tour in Juneau!

• A Favorite for Families and Nature Lovers

MENDENHALL LAKE CANOE TOUR

With a guaranteed small group, absorb intimate views of the Mendenhall Glacier while paddling across the glacier-fed lake in a custom made canoe.

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Exclusive Juneau City and Mendenhall Glacier Tour

• Experience breathtaking Mendenhall Glacier and Juneau's unique culture
• Shop and dine in Juneau's historical downtown district
• Explore the Valley Area, passing boat harbors, boathouses, and Mendenhall Wetland Refuge
• Get an elevated view at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center
• Visit Douglas Island for panoramic views and photo opportunities

Alaska's Juneau City & Mendenhall Glacier Tour

Juneau is one of the most unique state capitals in the United States. Although Juneau isn't an island, it is landlocked, and you can only get to it by air or sea. This exciting half-day tour will give you an orientation of Juneau, and a visit to the Mendenhall Glacier and Visitors Center.

Your Juneau shore excursion begins in the historical downtown district, where you will see the streets lined with gift shops, jewelry shops, king crab shacks, and local fish restaurants. This tour will take you right by the Governor's Mansion, the State Capitol, and the world-famous Red Dog Saloon.

Departing the downtown area, you will make your way north to the Valley Area and the Mendenhall Glacier. Along the way, you will see boat harbors filled with Alaskan fishing boats, as well as boathouses and the Mendenhall Wetland Refuge. On clear days, you can see the majestic Chilkat Mountains in the distance.

Once you arrive at the park, you will have some time to walk around the Visitor Center, which has an elevated view of the glacier. The Visitors Center hosts exhibits as well as a short film about the Juneau Icefields. Admission to the Visitor Center is included in the price of the Juneau tour.

For those guests feeling more adventurous in their Mendenhall Glacier tours, there are several short hiking paths and walking trails around the lake area, including Photo Point Trail, which winds along Mendenhall Lake to an unobstructed view of the glacier face. At the appointed time, meet your guide for the trip back to town.

The Mendenhall Glacier Juneau excursion comes to an end with a stop at the famous Douglas Island, a historic mining community, for photo opportunities and panoramic views across the ocean to downtown Juneau. You will then arrive back at the main cruise ship terminal.

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