What is the best way to see Mendenhall Glacier?

On the Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure tour, you can paddle across Mendenhall Lake, taking in the waterfalls, wildlife, and mountain peaks, then hike within arms reach of the Mendenhall Glacier. Enjoy a small group and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

How far is the Mendenhall Glacier from Juneau?

The Mendenhall Glacier is in Juneau and a short ride from downtown. This tour includes round-trip transportation from the cruise terminal and is a perfect Juneau shore excursion.

Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour

5.0

310 reviews

Excursion Overview

The ultimate Juneau adventure!

This exclusive Juneau tour will take you on a canoe paddle over an iceberg-filled lake on your way to explore the Mendenhall Glacier. Experience its immensity and effects on the landscape as you trek alongside the edge of the glacier ice. Every portion of this tour boasts stunning views and unforgettable environments. With extremely limited capacity, this adventure is Juneau's most sought-after adventure tour.

This adventure starts with a scenic drive from the cruise ship terminal in downtown Juneau to the Mendenhall Glacier. With your professional guides, you will paddle with a small group in a canoe across Mendenhall Lake which is surrounded by towering waterfalls, wildlife, and massive mountain peaks. Along the way, your guides will entertain you and share their knowledge about the glacier's history and the unique Alaskan environment.

Once arriving on the shore next to the glacier, you will be led on a hike through the rocky moraine to view the impressive ice features. Marvel at the deep blue-hued ice exposed by crevasses, moulins, and other glacial formations. While taking in this remote Alaskan wilderness, your guides will provide you with an in-depth interpretive experience about your surroundings.

Continue to enjoy the dramatic scenery as you paddle back across the lake where you will be greeted with hot beverages before your return transportation. On this small group adventure, you will be one of the few to visit this unique location for an experience of a lifetime!

The Mendenhall Glacier is, in part, famous for the Mendenhall Glacier Ice Caves, but those are rarely seen on tours. Mother nature determines when an Ice Cave is formed and there is no way to predict when this will happen. Cave formation is not dependent on time of year or weather.

This tour operates under a permit with the Tongass National Forest and is an equal opportunity provider.

Cruising to Alaska in 2026? Complete our excursions inquiry form.

Click here to sign up to be notified about excursions for 2026. Once your requested tour becomes available, our team will notify you via email. All of our tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so completing our Excursion Inquiries Form gives you the best chance of booking all of your desired experiences for next year.

Things You Need to Know

Inclusions:

Roundtrip transportation from the cruise ship terminal
Bottled water and a light snack
Gear/equipment: Waterproof rain jackets, rain pants, rubber boots, helmet, trekking poles, and life jacket

Requirements:

Minimum age: 12 years old
Minimum weight: 90lbs
Maximum weight: 240lbs
Not recommended for guests with back or hip problems
Pregnant guests will not be allowed on this tour
Full use of limbs for up to 2 hours canoe paddling and 1-1.5 hours of trekking
Ability to hike over steep uneven terrain for approximately 1 mile
Signed liability waiver
Please note that tour guides may deny participation on the day of the tour if they are made aware of any physical problems that would compromise the group's safety or progress

Duration: 5 hours (Roundtrip from cruise ship terminal.)

30 minutes - transport to the glacier launch site
30 minutes - equipment and safety briefing
1 hour - lake canoe paddle
1~1.5 hours - trekking and exploration near the glacier terminus
1 hour - lake canoe paddle
30 minutes - gear unload and snack break
30 minutes - transport to the cruise ship terminal

Meeting Instructions:

This tour meets in front of the Goldbelt Mt. Robert's Tramway building. Fully detailed instructions are included on your finalized ticket vouchers.

ADA Accessibility of Tour:

This tour is not wheelchair or limited mobility accessible.

Refund Policy:

You may cancel for any reason up to seven (7) days prior to the date of the tour for a full refund.
Please see our Refund Policy Page for complete details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Minimum weight is 90 lbs, maximum weight is 240 lbs. You must have full use of limbs to get in and out of the canoe and to assist in paddling the canoe across the lake. You must be able to endure approximately 1 mile of hiking on uneven terrain and 2 hours of canoe paddling.

Due to the intensity of this tour, we recommend that injured guests do not take this tour. Tour guides may deny participation on the day of the tour if they are made aware of any physical problems that would compromise the group's safety or progress.

Yes! We will be using a native-style paddle canoe and everyone is expected to paddle along with the guide.

Due to recent flooding and glacial ice erosion, this tour no longer includes walking on the glacier. Instead, the tour will explore the areas directly in front of the glacier.

Bald eagles, herons, shorebirds, artic terns, and waterfowl are all common sights, however, this is not a designated wildlife tour and specific wildlife cannot be guaranteed.

The temperature really depends on the weather, but expect the temperature near the glacier to be 5-10 degrees cooler.

Weather depending, you are encouraged to wear gloves and light layers. We'll provide you with waterproof jackets, pants, and boots.

Yes, a complimentary bottle of water is provided along with a light snack and warm beverage at the conclusion of the tour.

Food and drink are allowed during this tour, but there are no waste bins, so you are responsible for transporting your own garbage.

Yes, small bags will be allowed during this tour.

Yes! When arriving on the Norwegian Bliss or Norwegian Jewel, you will be greeted by our tour guides in front of your cruise ship. It is important that you are ready to exit the ship upon arrival in order to have ample time to meet your guides.

Each canoe carries 8 guests. A maximum of 2 canoes are used at a time.

Guest Reviews

5.0

310 total

Pauline C

On Jul 2025

Great excursion. The guides were great! I would absolutley recommend.

Jody M

On Jul 2025

We absolutely loved this excursion. It was our favorite out of all that we did on our trip to Alaska. We paddled 2.5 miles into an off shore 35MPH wind. The way out to the glacier was some serious hard work but we made it! Loved that we got to pull canoes ashore and hike around and close by the glacier for some amazing pictures. My husband and I did a Glacier Hike about 15 years ago and were shocked to see how much the glacier has receded during this time. Highly recommend this tour as it s a great way to get up close to the glacier, however, make sure your group is physically fit and up to the challenge! We all slept so good that night! Our guides Issy & Ryley were awesome.

Olivia M

On Jul 2025

Highlight of our Alaska trip. Beautiful scenery and wonderful guides. Paddle is not easy but is worth it.

Lynn O

On Jun 2025

Ed and Izzy were wonderful guides. We thoroughly enjoyed our time on the water and on land.

Stacey S

On Jun 2025

Rod and Ed were awesome. Amazing experience. It s a lot of work to paddle for as long as we had too.

$359.00

Best Price Guarantee!

$359.00

Duration: 5 hours

Best Price Guarantee!

Duration: 5 hours

Select Date & Time *

Number of Passengers *

Weight must be between 90-240lbs

Adult (18+): $359.00

Weight must be between 90-240lbs

Minor (12-17): $359.00

Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour

Excursion Overview

The ultimate Juneau adventure!

Cruising to Alaska in 2026? Complete our excursions inquiry form.