Mendenhall Glacier

Canoe & kayak tours

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. This tour offers one hour at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. If you want two, check out our Mendenhall Glacier Waterfall and Whale Watching Tour for only $10 more!

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.

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.

Explore one of the most unique state capitals in the U.S.: Juneau. Begin your tour at the base of majestic Mt. Juneau in the historical downtown district. Hop on your bus and drive through downtown and see the streets lined with gift shops, jewelry shops, king crab shacks, and local fish restaurants. Get a glimpse at the governor’s mansion, and if you’re lucky, see the world famous Red Dog Saloon. Stop at Overstreet Park to see a lifesize breaching whale sculpture and water fountain display in a very picturesque area on the north end of Gastineau Channel next to the Juneau-Douglas bridge. Then, make your way across the bridge to Douglas Island for a stop at Homestead Park. Here, walk down some stairs to a viewing platform and be awed by the striking panoramic view of downtown Juneau with snow capped mountains in the background. Head back across the bridge and drive on the only highway in Juneau, embarking on a 10-mile scenic drive. See fishing boat harbors, a wetland refuge, and the mighty Chilkat Mountain Range. At mile marker 10, pull into what is known as Brotherhood Bridge Park. Here, get spectacular views of the Mendenhall Glacier and mountains of the Coastal Range. Drive back to Juneau to enjoy your evening at your own pace, perhaps to enjoy an Alaskan beer with a king crab leg or a visit to the historic Red Dog Saloon for a shot of the famous Duck Fart.

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.

Discover the beauty of the Tongass National Forest on 3.5-mile hike and uncover an array of natural features with a view of the receding Mendenhall Glacier on this 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 the hike. Begin with a hike through the Tongass National Forest, the largest temperate rainforest in the world. Walk through areas dominated by towering Sitka spruce and hemlock Trees. Stop along the way to refuel with a hearty and tasty snack pack. Watch as the wilderness trail becomes less defined as you follow your guide through the dense vegetation, around beaver ponds, and up rock scrambles. Emerge from the forest and approach the final ridge where the jagged face of the glacier bursts into view, and with its ice behind it. 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. Hike back on the West Glacier Trail and transfer back to your meeting point.

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, the capital of Alaska, is a city that combines the wild beauty of the natural landscape with a rich history and vibrant culture. Located in southeast Alaska, between the rugged mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Juneau is unique among U.S. capitals in that it is only accessible by sea or air; there are no roads connecting the city to the rest of the continent. This geographic quirk has helped preserve its isolated charm and pristine setting. Juneau's history is deeply tied to the gold rush that brought thousands of prospectors to Alaska in the late 19th century. The town was founded in 1880, after prospector Joe Juneau and his partner Richard Harris discovered gold in Gold Creek. This discovery led to the creation of one of the first European settlements in Alaska, which quickly grew into a thriving mining center. In 1906, Juneau was designated as the capital of Alaska, replacing Sitka, due to its growing economic and political importance. Best Places to See in Juneau Mendenhall Glacier: This is Juneau's most popular tourist spot. Visitors can explore the visitor center, hike trails that offer breathtaking views of the glacier and surrounding waterfalls, and, for the more adventurous, even take a walk on the ice. Mount Roberts Tramway: A ride on the Mount Roberts Tramway offers panoramic views of Juneau, the Gastineau Channel and surrounding mountains. At the top, visitors can enjoy hiking trails, a cultural center and a restaurant with spectacular views. Downtown Juneau: Downtown Juneau is a charming district filled with historic buildings, museums, souvenir stores and restaurants. Famous Creek Street is one of the most picturesque spots, known for its colorful wooden buildings that once housed saloons and brothels during the Gold Rush. Whale Watching Tours: Juneau is one of the best places in Alaska for whale watching. During the summer season, humpback whales frequent the waters around Juneau, offering visitors the opportunity to see these magnificent animals in their natural habitat. Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure: A tour of these botanical gardens takes you through a unique landscape where nature and the art of gardening combine. The famous "Flower Towers", fallen trees turned into vertical gardens, are one of the main attractions.