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JuneauAutumn activities

Our most recommended Juneau Autumn activities

Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier and Whale Watching Tour

1. Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier and Whale Watching Tour

On this half-day excursion from Juneau, visit the scenic Mendenhall Glacier and a nearby salmon run. Later, sail through Auke Bay Harbor and nearby waterways to watch for magnificent humpback whales. During your tour, benefit from the knowledge of a local naturalist guide. To begin your tour, depart from downtown Juneau by bus. Enjoy the scenic route from Juneau to the Mendenhall Valley, where you'll pause to admire the glacier. Visit the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and learn about the area as you take in the stunning views. Continue with a stroll along the boardwalk. Feel the brisk air on your cheeks as you peer over the railing at a creek where salmon spawn. As you watch nature at work, you may spot a bear waiting patiently for a fresh catch. Next, head to Auke Bay Harbor and board a boat captained by a naturalist guide. With binoculars in hand, scan the waves for whales in Favorite Channel, Stephens Passage, Lynn Canal, and Saginaw Channel. The towering mountains provide a perfect backdrop for wildlife watching. After cruising through Alaska's waterways, head back to shore and warm up with coffee, hot chocolate, water, and a small snack. Return to downtown Juneau to complete your tour.

From Juneau: Whale Watching Cruise with Snacks

2. From Juneau: Whale Watching Cruise with Snacks

Go in search of whales with a naturalist guide on a day trip from Juneau. Hop onboard a boat and get binoculars to spot other wildlife such as sea lions, bald eagles, and black bears. Enjoy a light snack, water, coffee, and hot chocolate onboard. Depart from downtown Juneau on a bus driven by a local tour guide through a scenic route to Auke Bay, where you board a comfortable jet boat. Be led by a captain and naturalist on an unforgettable search for whales in Favorite Channel, Stephens Passage, Lynn Canal, or Saginaw Channel. Binoculars are provided so you can see the humpbacks, killer whales, Dall’s porpoises, harbor seals, Steller sea lions, bald eagles, black bears, and towering mountains better. With the growing abundance of whales in the area and their comfort with small boats, you are bound to see many. This tour includes transfers between downtown and Auke Bay and two hours on the water. Included in the price of the tour are onboard refreshments including bottled water, coffee, hot chocolate, and a small snack.

Juneau: Whale Watching and Wildlife Cruise with Local Guide

3. Juneau: Whale Watching and Wildlife Cruise with Local Guide

Head out on a wildlife adventure in Juneau on a whale watching cruise. Glide over the ocean in search of these marvellous creatures, taking in the impressive surrounding coastal landscape as you sip on drinks and tuck into snacks onboard. Begin your adventure in downtown Juneau at the central cruise ship terminal. Enjoy a narrated and scenic drive to the small boat harbor, where you meet your captain and crew. Board your state-of-the-art whale watching boat, built specifically for this purpose. After a short safety briefing, embark on a search for whales and other wildlife off the coast of Alaska. As your boat navigates protected ocean waterways and channels, ride in comfort with multiple viewing decks and restrooms onboard. As you search for whales, learn about the area's flora and fauna from your local guide. Once whales are spotted, view the animals from a safe distance with plenty of photo opportunities. Marvel at their majestic beauty as they glide smoothly through the water, hopefully seeing a whale breach out of the ocean or slap its tale on the surface. Keep a lookout for other water wildlife along the way, including seals, sea lions, eagles, and more. Once you've soaked up this natural landscape, return back to the boat harbor where your driver will bring you back to downtown Juneau.

Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier & Whale Watching Boat & Bus Tour

4. Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier & Whale Watching Boat & Bus Tour

Enjoy onboard refreshments including bottled water, coffee, hot chocolate, and a small snack. Be picked up at a central meeting point in Juneau and hop aboard a comfortable and spacious bus. Relax and take in stunning views on the way to the Mendenhall Valley. Hop aboard a jetboat and begin your whale watching adventure. Cruise through the Favorite Channel, Stephens Passage, Lynn Canal, or the Saginaw Channel. Keep an eye out for wildlife like humpback whales with the help of a naturalist guide. Peer through the provided binoculars to try to spy life at a distance. Arrive at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area where you have free time to take an easy hike to Nugget Falls This tour is designed specifically for people who want extra time to make it to the picturesque Nugget Falls, a waterfall overlooking the Mendenhall Glacier. Alternatively, use your free time to explore the Visitors Center for educational opportunities about the glacier, or walk the board walk over looking a creek where salmon spawn. Return to your meeting point in Juneau at the end of the experience.

Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier Adventure Tour

5. Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier Adventure Tour

Meet your guide at the cruise ship docks to start off this adventure. Hop in the van and listen to live commentary while driving through Juneau into the Tongass National Forest, the largest National Forest in the United States.  Once at the lake you'll have a meet and greet with the second guide who helps you put on the gear. You receive a rain jacket, rain pants, and rain boots. Along with everything needed to stay safe, including but not limited to paddling gloves, life jackets, helmets, trekking poles, and dry bags.  Your guides go over safety and paddling instructions before stepping into the canoe. This journey across the lake is a team effort, so it is not necessary to have paddling experience.  Mendenhall Lake is a glacier-fed lake that is surrounded by mountains and the famous Nugget Falls. The wind coming off the Mendenhall Glacier will officially welcome you to the Alaska wilderness.  Once the canoe is docked on the beach, there's time for a quick break before starting the hike to the glacier. During the hike, you can learn about the history of the area and listen to all the information your guides can share. Enjoy quiet moments to soak in the calmness of Alaska.  Once arriving on the rocky shore next to the glacier, follow your guides on an exploration trek around the rocky moraine to view the glacier up close.  The professional guides are in the wild every day and thrive on showing off what nature has to offer. One of the most unique aspects of the trip is that the glacial environment is in a constant state of movement and change, meaning no one tour is the same as the next. After your hike back to the canoes, be sure to soak in your last moments with the Mendenhall Glacier as the group paddles back to the shore.  Once arrived your guides will provide a hot beverage while you take off the gear. After a short drive back to the cruise ships, you will walk away with memories of Alaska that you will never forget.

Juneau: Mendenhall Lake Canoe Tour

6. Juneau: Mendenhall Lake Canoe Tour

Come face to face with the famous Mendenhall Glacier on this once in a lifetime Alaskan adventure. Meet your guide at the Mt.Robert's Tram building near the cruise pier. Your guide will take you on a scenic tour by minivan to the Tongass National Forest where you can gaze upon the stunning Mendenhall Glacier. This small group canoe tour takes you past icebergs, waterfalls, and steep cliffs once carved by ice. Paddle up close to the face of this 3,000-year-old glacier, 13 miles long of ice, half a mile wide and up to 1,800 feet deep. This is Alaska's most visited glacier! The paddle time is around two hours from start to finish, providing plenty of time to take advantage of capturing the memory through scenic photos. You will be equipped with top quality gear including rain pants, rain jackets, waterproof boots, and everything else you will need to ensure your comfort and safety. You'll get a dry bag filled with bottled water and snacks, to be used to store personal belongings while canoeing. Please note this is canoe tour only and does not include hiking on a glacier. Throughout the day you are offered snacks and beverages.

Juneau: Whale Watching Cruise with Snacks and Beverages

7. Juneau: Whale Watching Cruise with Snacks and Beverages

Explore the Alaskan coast on this sightseeing cruise from Juneau. Admire glaciers and lighthouses as you search for a variety of local wildlife. Keep cozy with the heated cabin and bathroom. Relax with complementary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Board the ship at the meeting point in Juneau and venture off to explore the rugged Alaskan shoreline. Be on the lookout to see a variety of local sea life like humpback whales, killer whales, Dall porpoises, harbor porpoises, harbor seals and Steller sea lions. Listen as your naturalist guide provides a facinating look into the lives of the majestic creatures that you see. Observe the habitats of bald eagles and try to spot their nests. Search for seagulls, surf scoters, oyster catchers, and harlequin ducks. Capture pictures of the Point Retreat Lighthouse and Sentinel Lighthouse. Return to the starting point of your cruise at the end of your tour.

Ketchikan: Tongass Forest Alaska Bigfoot ATV Ride and Hike

8. Ketchikan: Tongass Forest Alaska Bigfoot ATV Ride and Hike

Alaska Bigfoot Adventures is an experience for the Bigfoot enthusiast, environmentalist or the casually curious. ABA has prepared an exciting and informative back-woods wilderness adventure for you in the heartland of Alaska’s Rain Forest near the port of Ward Cove/Ketchikan. Meet your Alaskan tour guide and leave the civilized world behind as you join an intimate group of adventurers going into this lush forests setting. Read more about Alaska Bigfoot Adventures - https://www.viator.com/tours/Ketchikan/Alaska-Bigfoot-Advenutres/d942-333914P1?mcid=56757Start your tour at the cruise ship port and hop into a comfortable air-conditioned van for the first leg of your Alaskan adventure. Enjoy a brief tour of Ketchikan as you drive through the town en route to the ATV site. Then, travel by shared ATV as you make your way into the forest to reach the Alaskan wild woods base camp close to the trailhead. From here, your short hiking experience begins. Explore the moss-covered forest as you wander through prime bigfoot habitat. Learn about the area from your guide and stop to read informative kiosks placed along the trail to identify the abundant plant and animal species living here. Take a short break during your forest trek, to learn about the surrounding legend of the Bigfoot and enjoy a warming cup of hot chocolate or coffee served with a gourmet cookie. Keep an eye out for the sasquatch throughout your tour. And if you don't spot the real thing, don't worry, you'll still get the chance to capture a full-sized, motion-active replica of bigfoot. At the end of your experience, enjoy a comfortable return journey to the cruise ship port in Ketchikan by air-conditioned van. 

Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Day Trip and Hike

9. Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Day Trip and Hike

See for yourself while this tour is one of the most popular adventure trips to the world-renowned Mendenhall Glacier. Paddle across the Mendenhall Glacier Lake and uncover an array of natural features on the edge of the receding Mendenhall Glacier on a guided hike.  Enjoy pickup and drop-off from a meeting point in downtown Juneau or from major hotels in the Mendenhall Valley. Hop aboard a comfortable and climate-controlled van for the transfer to the starting point of your canoe trip.  Begins on the shore of the Mendenhall Glacier Lake with paddle instructions from your guide. Load your gear into the large canoes and paddle together across the cool waters along the Mendenhall. Glide past Arctic Tern nesting grounds and observe the mist generated by Nugget Falls. Travel in 8-person or 12-person canoes skippered by 1 to 2 guides. As you approach the glacier, keep your eyes open for freshly calved icebergs and feel the cool breeze generated by the ice. navigate to the beach and land the canoe. Stop along the way to refuel with a hearty and tasty snack pack. After landing by the glacier, follow your guide across the rocky landscape. See crevasses filled with a deep blue color and an icefall at the toe of the glacier. Due to the glacier's state of constant change, not all features may be present or accessible, making each hike a unique experience.  Return to the canoes and enjoy paddling back with the wind at your back. Arrive on the shore, de-gear, and transfer back to downtown Juneau or your hotel in the Mendenhall Valley.

Juneau: City Highlights Tour

10. Juneau: City Highlights Tour

Begin the tour on a comfortable minibus for a scenic ride past the State Capitol Building, the Governor's House, and the Russian Orthodox Church. Make a stop at the Alaska State Museum where you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in Alaskan culture and gain an appreciation for its rich and diverse history. Continue to Douglas Island for gorgeous views and photos of the Juneau coastline and Gastineau Channel. From there you will make a stop at the Macaulay Hatchery, commonly referred to as "DIPAC" by the locals. Learn about the salmon industry, observe various marine life, and watch the salmon run up the ladder, depending on the time of the year. Conclude your tour with a stop at the 50-acre Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure in the Tongass National Forest. Walk through this award-winning botanical garden and admire the flower towers as your guide fills you in on this region's varied ecosystem. Your tour will end near "Deckhand Dave's", the latest go-to food option in Juneau. Receive a voucher for a free serving of the signature rock-fish tacos. This new venue only serves locally caught fish in a fantastic creative way.

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What people are saying about Juneau

Great tour, cheaper than booking with a cruise ship excursions. Seen two groups of humpback whales and a couple hundred sea lions on an island. Even got a short side trip to see Mendenhall Glacier on the bus. Guides Maryna, Danny and Greg were great and informative on the different wildlife we seen. Would book with Alaska Tales again.

Trip was amazing seen whales in abundance and close up. Skipper and Naturalist on board as well as bus driver transporting us to the boat went and above beyond to ensure we had a great trip. This was truly a bucket list experience. Highly recommend.

Friendly staff who knew where to find the whales. Even though it was a rainy and foggy day, it did not rain on our whale watching. Highlight of our trip to Alaska!

This was a excellent excursion. You will see whales . We love this experience and it is a must see, must do.

Great people ,excellent boat , Faultless .Thank you