From Cache

Mendenhall Lake Canoe Tour

5.0
84 reviews

Excursion Overview

Explore the Mendenhall Glacier Lake by canoe!

Prepare to come face to face with the magnificent Mendenhall Glacier on this ultimate Alaskan adventure. Traveling with a small group in a canoe, your guide will help you navigate past icebergs, waterfalls, and steep cliffs once carved by ice. You will help paddle the canoe as close as possible on the expedition toward the face of the Glacier.

This small, intimate adventure begins by meeting your professional guide at Mt.Robert's Tramway building. You will enjoy a narrated scenic drive to a more remote part of the Tongass National Forest, where you will first lay eyes on the ever-changing Mendenhall Glacier. One of the most beautiful and accessible glaciers in North America, the Mendenhall Glacier is just 12 miles from downtown Juneau but feels like a million miles away from the everyday. The 13-mile-long river of ice, which ends on the far side of Mendenhall Lake, is one of Alaska's shining gems. A half-mile wide with ice up to 1,800 feet deep, it's no surprise that Mendenhall is the most-visited glacier in Alaska.

Gaze upon the other-worldly beauty and serenity of Mendenhall Lake from the seat of your canoe as you paddle across the lake. Keep an eye on the cliffs adorned with nests of Arctic terns, a giant waterfall, and wildlife while navigating past beautiful blue icebergs. You will come as close as possible to the face of the Mendenhall Glacier and be rewarded with front-row views of the "icefalls", where miles of glacier ice flow steeply over the mountainside, and continue down to the lake in front of you. Your guide will steer the canoe to the best viewpoints of the glacier's towering ice seracs and blue crevasses. So make sure you bring your camera!

Group sizes are kept small and personal, with a maximum of 8 to 10 guests. 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. Each guest is provided a dry bag filled with bottled water and snacks, to be used to store personal belongings while canoeing.

Important notice: This tour is canoe only and does not include hiking on a glacier. For a glacier tour experience, please view our Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour.

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
  • Rain jacket, rain pants, Xtratuf rain boots, paddling gloves, and a dry bag for personal items
  • Bottled water, snacks, and hot beverage

Requirements:

  • Minimum age: 12 years old
  • Minimum weight: 90lbs
  • Maximum weight: 240lbs
  • Not recommended for guests with back, shoulder or hip problems
  • Pregnant guests are not permitted on this tour
  • Full use of limbs for up to 2 hours canoe paddling
  • Signed liability waiver

Duration: 4 hours (Roundtrip from cruise ship terminal.)

  • 30 minutes - narrated transport to the glacier launch site
  • 20 minutes - equipment and safety briefing
  • 2+ hours - canoe paddling
  • 20 minutes - equipment unload & break with hot chocolate
  • 30 minutes - transport back to port

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

Yes, everyone is expected to paddle along with your guide.

There are 2 different sizes of canoes that are used. One style holds up to 10 guests and the other holds up to 14 guests.

Our guides will bring you as close to the glacier that is safe and accessible. The distance ranges depending on the weather as well as the group, but typically around 200 meters away.

Bald eagles, herons, shorebirds, arctic terns, mountain goats, and porcupines are all common sights, but this is not a designated wildlife tour and nothing can be guaranteed.

This really depends on the weather. Typically the wind coming off the glacier causes it to be around 5-10 degrees cooler. We suggest you to be prepared for everything!

We provide everything you need to stay dry. Rain pants, rain jackets with hood, "Alaskan Sneakers" a.k.a Xtratuf rain boots, as well as paddling gloves. We suggest dressing in layers and according to the weather that day. Sunglasses if it is sunny and if you tend to get cold, please bring a hat/beanie as well as gloves.

Small backpacks are allowed on this tour. We provide dry bags that contain bottled water as well as snacks that may be used to store your personal items during the paddle.

Minimum weight is 90 lbs and maximum weight is 240 lbs to fit into the required lifejacket. You must be able to get in and out of the canoe and full use of limbs. You must be able to paddle for 2-2.5 hours on the canoe. We take frequent breaks to enjoy the surroundings and take photographs.

Yes, we encourage you to take photographs. We take frequent breaks to enjoy the glacier, the waterfalls, as well as the beautiful Alaskan wilderness.

 

Guest Reviews

5.0

84 total

98%
1%
0%
1%
0%

JoAnn B

On Jul 2025

Ben was an excellent guide! The company itself went above and beyond with rain gear, boots, gloves, and hot drinks. We thoroughly enjoyed canoeing to the glacier!

Efrain A

On Jul 2025

Wonderful tour.

Alexander V

On Jul 2025

Great guide and a fun crew. wish we could have gotten a little closer to the glacier. I'd recommend this excursion to anyone stopping in Juneau.

Cindy L

On Jun 2025

Best experience of the whole trip all due to Jordan. His wealth of knowledge and his bad dad jokes made the hard paddling enjoyable as you are waiting for more fun facts. The nugget falls was gorgeous but the glacier falls was amazing. There is no other way to get that close to a glacier and Jordan and his outfit made it possible.

Virginia O

On Jun 2025

Liquid Alaska Tour Guide Rod took us on a once in a lifetime canoe trip across Lake Mendenhall up to the Mendenhall Glacier. Majestic mountains, bald Eagles and a view of Nugget Falls all included! Great experience and fun.

$239.00

Best Price Guarantee!

$239.00

Duration: 4 hours

Best Price Guarantee!

Duration: 4 hours



Adult (18+): $239.00

Child (12-17): $239.00

From Cache -BTN