Mendenhall Glacier Tours

Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour

Join the ultimate Alaskan adventure that takes you up close and personal with the Mendenhall Glacier. Our extended Alaska glacier tour gives you ample time for pictures and exploration while trekking with your guides next to the glacier ice itself. Be one of the few to experience the beauty of the Mendenhall Glacier this closely, exclusively, and safely. This is as close to the glacier as you can get without stepping foot on the ice.

Duration: 5-5.5 hours

Price: $329 per person

View Details

Mendenhall Lake Canoe Tour

Be among the select few to travel by canoe for an unprecedented experience of the majestic Mendenhall Glacier. This tour is limited by permits issued by the National Parks Service so book early for this unique experience! Paddle across Mendenhall Lake, navigating past icebergs, surrounded by one of the richest samplings of Alaskan wildlife you'll find anywhere. Venture within yards of the massive, awe-inspiring face of the living Mendenhall Glacier.

Duration: 3.5-4 hours

Price: $219 per person

View Details

Mendenhall Glacier Dog Sledding & Helicopter Tour

This tour is the same as our Juneau Dog Sledding & Glacier Helicopter Tour except that it will take you on a thrilling mushing ride across the Mendenhall Glacier. After your transfer to the helicopter base, you'll take off on a scenic flight over Mendenhall Lake, on your way to the dogsled camp situated atop the magnificent Mendenhall Glacier. The spirited dogs will be waiting to whisk you away on a mushing experience you'll not soon forget!

Duration: 3 hours

Price: $629 per person

View Details

Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter Tour & Guided Walk

Featured on GOOD MORNING AMERICA -- travel back to the Ice Ages with Alaska's original glacier helicopter tour! Board a modern turbine-powered helicopter for a flight to the world-famous Mendenhall Glacier!

Duration: 2.5 hours

Price: $359 per person

View Details

Juneau Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Tour

**This tour is not accepting new reservations for the 2023 season**
This combo is the best way to make the most of your day in Juneau! While out on the water, there is no doubt that you'll see humpback whales - this is the time of year they travel to Alaska to feed on thousands of pounds of krill a day. The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor's Center offers unique views and trails for guests to get as close to the glacier as possible!

Duration: 4.5 hours

Price: $165 per person

View Details

Juneau Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Tour Private Charter

**Please email [email protected] for availability**

For a truly memorable whale-watching experience, our exclusive private jet boat adventure is right for you and your family! Holding up to 14 guests, you can avoid the crowded whale-watching boats and enjoy the amazing marine life Juneau has to offer. Combine this with a visit to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor's Center for an excursion of a lifetime.

Please note: prices are per boat, which holds 1-14 passengers.

Duration: 4.5 hours

Price: $2,500 per person

View Details

Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip

Get ready for a true outdoor experience - you're going on an exhilarating river rafting adventure down the beautiful Mendenhall River. There is something for everyone; whether this is your first time or you're experienced! You can choose to paddle or just sit back and enjoy the day. No matter what, this is a tour not to be missed!

Duration: 3.5 hours

Price: $179 per person

View Details

Juneau Mendenhall Lake Kayaking Adventure

If you want to be the lucky few who can face the majestic Mendenhall Glacier under a very limited U.S. Forest Service permit, this is the right tour for you! Your guide will teach you kayaking techniques, then board the two-person kayaks either with your traveling companion or a new friend. Journey across Mendenhall Lake, listen to your knowledgeable guide's explanation of the breathtaking nature surrounding you, and the history and ecology of the Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls while navigating the iceberg studded pristine water. This will be the highlight of your time in Juneau!

Duration: 3.5 hours

Price: $249 per person

View Details

Juneau Glacier View Sea Kayaking

You'll be off to the north side of Douglas Island for panoramic views of the Mendenhall Glacier and Auke Bay, where you'll board a two-person kayak sailing as the Aleut Indians did! As you view the Mendenhall Glacier from the sea, your adventure may include seeing porpoises, seals, sea lions, eagles, herons, or even whales. Get ready for a wilderness adventure you won't forget.

Duration: 3.5 hours

Price: $139 per person

View Details

Juneau Privately Guided Mendenhall Glacier Trek

One of the most popular glaciers in Juneau, the Mendenhall Glacier can be visited on this privately guided tour. Hike through the Tongass National Forest and around the majestic Mendenhall Glacier on foot. Exploring the unique moon-like landscape of bedrock recently exposed by the receding glacier can be the highlight of your trip!

Duration: 8 hours

Price: $400 per person

View Details

Juneau Mendenhall Glacier & Salmon Bake Tour

**THIS TOUR IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE 2023 SEASON**

Experience the perfect day sightseeing at the most popular attraction in Juneau, the Mendenhall Glacier, followed up by an all-you-can-eat Alaskan salmon bake. Take in the magnificent sights during your free time at the glacier before being taken to an authentic Alaskan feast at Gold Creek. Spend as much time feasting, exploring, and enjoying the entertainment before heading back to your cruise ship.

Duration: 3.5 hours

Price: $129 per person

View Details

Browse by category:


View All Juneau Tours


About Mendenhall Glacier Tours

Best Mendenhall Glacier Tours & Excursions

1. Juneau Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Tour

2. Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour

3. Glacier Walk & Helicopter Tour

4. Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip

5. Juneau Mendenhall Glacier & Salmon Bake Tour

6. Dog Sledding & Helicopter Tour

7. Mendenhall Lake Canoe Tour

8. Kayaking & Mendenhall Glacier Viewing

 

Visiting Mendenhall Glacier

If you're in the Juneau area, a visit to the Mendenhall Glacier is a must-do activity.

Mendenhall Glacier is a massive and mighty river of ice that extends 13 miles. Featuring vivid blue ice and awe-inspiring views of the magnificent Coast Mountains, the Mendenhall Glacier is a natural wonder. It is part of the Juneau Icefield, located within the Tongass National Forest

 

Visiting Mendenhall Glacier

When you visit, you’ll step back in time to the last ice age, when Juneau Icefield spilled forth with 38 glaciers, including the Mendenhall with its with rugged, icy crevasses. Have your camera ready as you wander along the well-maintained trails to view black bears, salmon streams, and even bald eagles.

You can get to the glacier via one of our scenic Medenhall Glacier tours, taxi, or car.

 

Mendenhall Glacier Visitor's Center

When you arrive at the visitor’s center, take a short walk on Photo Point Trail, about 0.15 miles, to a beautiful viewpoint, great for taking photos of the glacier. The trail is paved and accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.

Once you’ve taken the perfect glacier photo, head to the U.S. Forest Service Visitor Center to learn more about the glacier and watch a 15-minute video. You can also pick up a trail map from the National Forest Service. Many people enjoy learning about the science of the glacier, along with the area’s rich history. The visitor’s center charges a small fee for entry, but you can use the restrooms and visit the bookstore for free. 

 

Nugget Falls

If you have more time, take a 15-20 minute walk along the trail to Nugget Falls to reach a large and beautiful waterfall. Enjoy the spectacular sight of the waterfall spilling into an iceberg-filled lake, with the glacier in the background. This is the closest you can get to the glacier from this side of the lake.

The Nugget Falls Trail is 2 miles roundtrip and takes about an hour to accomplish. It is a well-maintained, gentle trail with dirt and gravel.

 

Spotting Wildlife: Salmon and Black Bears

Those visiting the Mendenhall Glacier in late July through September can look for views of black bears fishing for salmon. Head left from the roundabout onto a series of boardwalks for the Steep Creek Trail. If you’re lucky, you’ll find black bears chasing the salmon that have spawned in the creek. (Don’t worry, bears can’t get up to the platforms where you’ll be.)

Steep Creek Trail is a 0.25 mile loop, and takes about 20 minutes to see. The trail is easy for most visitors, alternating between pavement and raised boardwalks.

 

Mendenhall Glacier Weather

Mendenhall Glacier weather is typically mildest in May through September. During the summer, expect highs in the 60s and always bring a rain jacket - just in case. (But don't let rain discourage your trip! The glacier is beautiful on cloudy days.)

Overcast days can bring some of the best glacier views and photographs, so don’t let a little rain discourage you! You can find the current Mendenhall Glacier weather conditions on our page.

 

Cool Mendenhall Glacier Facts

In addition to its splendor and beauty, the Mendenhall Glacier offers fascinating insights into science and history.

 

Why is the Ice Blue?

The ice appears blue, because it absorbs all of the colors of the visible light spectrum except blue, which it reflects. Other ice may appear white, because it is highly fractured with air pockets and scatters the visible light spectrum. The ice is bluest in the areas least exposed to air.

 

How Did the Glacier Form?

Year after year, snow accumulates and compacts underlying snow layers from previous years into solid ice. Snowfall in the Juneau Icefield often exceeds 100 feet, which creates excellent conditions for glaciation. Mendenhall Glacier is one of 38 glaciers that flow from Juneau Icefield.

 

The Glacier Looks Still; Is it Moving?

Yes, the glacier is always moving, shaping the landscape as it goes. While the movement is very, very slow, the glacier is always moving and flowing downhill like a river.

 

How Did Mendenhall Glacier Get its Name?

The glacier was actually orginally known as Sitaantaagu (“the Glacier Behind the Town”) or Aak’wtaaksit (“the Glacier Behind the Little Lake”). Naturalist John Muir named the glacier Auke Glacier in 1888. Then, in 1891, it was renamed in honor of Thomas Corwin Mendenhall, who served as Superindendent of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1889 to 1894.  

 

Choosing Your Excursion

There's a Mendenhall Glacier tour for everyone. You can ride atop Mendenhall Lake by kayak, canoe, or raft or you can fly to the glacier via helicopter. For a truly exciting trip, the Ice Adventure tour can include a visit to the famous Mendenhall Glacier Ice Caves if conditions are favorable.

For even more to do in Juneau, check out our list of the best things to do in Juneau.

 

FAQs

What are the best Mendenhall Glacier tours?

The best Mendenhall Glacier Tours are:

 

Can you walk on top of Mendenhall Glacier?

Yes, you can walk on top of Mendenhall Glacier. Our Mendenhall Glacier helicopter tour lands on top of Mendenhall Glacier and allows you to walk around and experience the glacier.

 

Why is the Ice Blue?

The ice appears blue, because it absorbs all of the colors of the visible light spectrum except blue, which it reflects. Other ice may appear white, because it is highly fractured with air pockets and scatters the visible light spectrum. The ice is bluest in the areas least exposed to air.


  • Copyright 2023 Alaska Shore Excursions
  • 212 Admiral Way Ste. 5 Juneau, Alaska 99801
  • 1-888-586-8489