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Things to do in
Juneau

Our most recommended things to do in Juneau

From Juneau: Whale Watching Cruise with Snacks

1. 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

2. 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 and Whale Watching Tour

3. 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.

Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier Waterfall & Whale Watching Tour

4. Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier Waterfall & Whale Watching Tour

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. With the help of a naturalist guide, look for wildlife like humpback whales. Use the provided binoculars to try to spot these creatures 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 reach 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: Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier Day Trip

5. Juneau: Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier Day Trip

Travel to Mendenhall Glacier aboard an air-conditioned bus on this day trip from Juneau and have some free time to explore the area on your own. Cruise along the shore to observe true Alaskan wildlife at its finest. Enjoy complimentary snacks and beverages during your trip. Meet your guide at the centrally-located meeting point in Juneau and be escorted to the spacious bus. Sit back and relax on the scenic drive through downtown Juneu and the countryside. Arrive at Mendenhall glacier and have 45-minutes of free time. Take the time to tour the visitor center, walk towards Nugget Falls, or hike the East Glacier Loop Trail. Snap pictures of Mendenhall Lake and, if you are lucky, you spot black bears fishing for salmon in streams that traverse the area. Get back on the bus and transfer to the boat. Sail along and look for sea lions basking in the sun on Benjamin Island or taking a nap on an ocean buoy. Keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles soaring peacefully in the air. Ride on a boat that is specifically designed for whale watching. Have your cameras ready to try and capture breathtaking photos of humpback whale flukes, breaches, and rare bubble-net feeding. Search for orca whales which are occasionally sighted traveling in pods. Head back into the dock and make sure to capture a photo of the Mendenhall Glacier in the background. A naturalist is with you the whole time on your Juneau whale watching tour to explain everything that you are seeing and to answer any of your questions. Feel confidently knowing that your captain and deckhands are certified with the United States Coast Guard and highly trained to ensure your safety while onboard the boat. Return to your starting point at the end of the tour.

Ketchikan: Tongass Forest Alaska Bigfoot ATV Ride and Hike

6. 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 Adventure Tour

7. 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

8. 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.

Ketchikan: Private Scenic Drive & George Inlet Fjords Cruise

9. Ketchikan: Private Scenic Drive & George Inlet Fjords Cruise

On this private, guided, half-day tour, embark on an adventure from Ketchikan through the Tongass Narrows as you travel to the George Inlet Fjords. Discover hidden gems of Alaskan culture on the drive through Saxman, then cruise through the rich scenery of the coastal fjords. Begin your tour in Ketchikan, where you'll meet your guide and explore the historic downtown area by van. Then, venture onwards to Saxman, which pays homage to Tlingit culture with its extensive totem pole park. Admire the breathtaking scenery of the Tongass Narrows coastline as you drive. Continue your adventure at the Beaver Falls Salmon Cannery. After visiting the historic cannery, relish the fresh air as you hike the rainforest trail to the Zodiac boat. Along the way, pause for Mahoney Falls Glacial Cirque's stunning views of snow-capped mountains and a 2000-foot waterfall. Next, your guide will provide a brief safety orientation of the Zodiac motorboats. Bundle up in rain gear, rubber boots, and a life jacket, then step into the four- or six-seater vessel. Follow your guide out to the George Inlet Fjords and marvel at the pristine scenery. As you cruise, keep watch for wildlife, including Sitka deer and black bears. Bald eagles may swoop to water for hunting, and in the water, you may be able to observe the salmon streams. After your cruise, return to the cannery for snacks and refreshments before heading back to Ketchikan.

From Ketchikan: Mahoney Lake Off-Road UTV Tour with Lunch

10. From Ketchikan: Mahoney Lake Off-Road UTV Tour with Lunch

Get well off the beaten path and speed along muddy trails to the remote Lake Mahoney on this guided UTV tour. Follow off-road trails along the George Inlet Fjord and through the Tongass National Forest to reach a tranquil lake where you’ll enjoy a hearty campfire lunch. Start your adventure in downtown Ketchican, where you will meet the guide and travel out to the White River base camp. Learn about the history of Ketchikan as you pass sites like the Ward Cove Pulp Mill. After a short UTV training session at base camp, gear up and head out onto the trails. Be prepared to get muddy as you tear along 5 miles of off-road paths, through a beautiful wilderness of fjordland and temperate rainforest. Reach the peaceful shores of Mahoney Lake, where a hearty campfire lunch will await you. Enjoy a well-deserved meal and a hot drink looking out over the peaceful water, far away from tourist crowds. Return to base camp along the trails and get dropped back in Ketchikan to end the tour.

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What people are saying about Juneau

Overall rating

4.8
(142 reviews)

Amazing experience!!!! This was one of the highlights of our trip which we will NEVER FORGET! Our guides were extremely knowledgeable about the glacier and lake and safety was their #1 priority as well. They are the ONLY company to take you up close and personal to the Mendenhall Glacier within 300 ft! While we paddled up to the glacier, the OTHER company does NOT carry the permits to get close to the Glacier and walk on the beach next to it, and Only allowed to go the center of the lake. As we explored the beach next to the glacier we viewed two 3,000 year old cedar tree stumps that were uncovered in 2022 due to the glacier receding. We also viewed Nugget Falls and it was roaring into the lake with a height of 375 ft! We were there on an on and off light raining day which we learned was ideal as a opposed to a "bluebird day" which causes Katabatic Winds of 45+ mph and cause for canceling a trip. I was happy it was raining!

We had a great time! We were picked up at a convenient location, right off our cruise ship. We took a short ride to the venue., with history and a short stop for our guide to pick up a light snack. We drove ATV mules for a short distance through the forest and took an easy hike with breaks through the woods. We learned about the history of the area, flora and fauna, in addition to the Big Foot lore. There were “Big Foot” sightings and photo opportunities! Our guide was awesome! He was knowledgeable and proceeded at our pace.

This was an amazing experience. We had phenomenal tour guides in Boots and Ben. They were both knowledgeable and accommodating.

I was an excellent experience in every way! Many thanks for a memorable day!

We got to see several whales. Crew was friendly and knowledgeable.