What it's like
Mendenhall Lake formed in 1929, when the retreating Mendenhall Glacier began to leave behind a body of water at its foot. The glacier has pulled back about 1.75 miles since then and will keep retreating, so the lake keeps growing and the paddling changes from year to year.
On the water, paddlers in kayaks and canoes work toward the half-mile-wide face of the glacier and look up at the ice. The trip is mainly about that view. Nearby, the Nugget Falls waterfall drops into the lake and the East Glacier Loop Trail runs above its east side.
Good to know
- Mendenhall Glacier has retreated 1.75 miles since 1929, when the lake was created, and it keeps retreating.
- Car rental at the airport is the way to reach areas outside town on your own.
Mendenhall Lake
Mendenhall Lake is a glacial lake at the foot of Mendenhall Glacier, where paddlers in kayaks and canoes head out past the glacier's face. Guided trips and rentals both operate here.
Tours that go here
Prices are per person, booked with our partner, Shore Excursions Group.
Exclusive Juneau City and Mendenhall Glacier Tour
Juneau Channel Island State Marine Park
A group of 14 islands in the waters off Juneau, reached by boat. Paddlers come for wildlife viewing, photography and sport fishing among the islands.
Mendenhall Glacier
A massive glacier calving into its own lake, and Juneau's most popular attraction. Most visitors look at the face from the visitor center, then walk the trails to Nugget Falls.
Whale waters off Juneau
Whale watching from Juneau means a boat trip into the Inside Passage waters around the city. Humpback and orca whales feed here, and boats carry visitors out to see them.
Nugget Falls
Nugget Falls is a 377-foot waterfall that drops into Mendenhall Lake, reached on a short, flat trail from the Mendenhall Glacier area. It is one of the most popular walks in Juneau.
The same kind of day, elsewhere
Kayaking and paddleboarding
