Glacier trips in Juneau
Glaciers and fjords in Juneau
Glaciers and fjords are the main draw of a day in Juneau. The closest is Mendenhall Glacier, about 13 miles north of downtown, which calves into its own lake and is the city's most popular attraction. Farther out, Endicott Arm and its tidewater Dawes Glacier are reached only by boat, on a long day trip.
About glaciers and fjords in Juneau
Juneau's glaciers come off the Juneau Icefield, a 1,500-square-mile field of ice on the Alaska-Canada line that feeds 38 large valley glaciers. Mendenhall Glacier is the one you can reach by road, and it is the only glacier in Southeast Alaska that can be. Its ice runs a half mile wide and 300 to 1,800 feet deep, and it has pulled back about 1.75 miles since 1929, when Mendenhall Lake formed.
Most people on a day here take the bus or a taxi from the cruise docks, about 40 minutes out. A stop at the visitor pavilion takes about 90 minutes, and the trail to Nugget Falls adds more. Endicott Arm and its Dawes Glacier lie about 50 miles southeast and are reached only by a 7.5-hour round-trip boat tour.
- About 13 miles Mendenhall Glacier north of downtown
- About 40 minutes Bus or taxi out from the docks
- 7.5 hours Round-trip boat tour to Dawes Glacier
Glacier excursions in Juneau
Booked with our partner Shore Excursions Group. Prices are per person. Each trip says where it goes.
Exclusive Juneau City and Mendenhall Glacier Tour
Whales and Mendenhall Glacier
Best of Juneau
Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip
Glacier View Sea Kayaking
Juneau City with Glacier View and Hatchery
Mendenhall Glacier Trek
Helicopter Dog Sledding Extended Tour
Goes to Mendenhall Glacier
Mendenhall Lake Kayak Adventure
Mendenhall Lake Canoe Adventure
Mendenhall Lake Kayak and Salmon Bake
Juneau Sights and Sips by Jeep with Lunch
Private Glacier Trek Hiking
Where to go for Glaciers and fjords
Each trip shows where it goes.
Mendenhall Glacier
A half-mile-wide glacier that calves into Mendenhall Lake. Watch ice break off the face from the visitor center or the trails below it.
West Glacier Trail
Walkers can reach the glacier from the land side, but crampons are recommended for any walk on the ice, and guides often lead people out.
What to expect
Most people who come for glaciers in Juneau start at Mendenhall. Buses and taxis leave the cruise docks about every 30 minutes in summer, and the ride out takes about 40 minutes. The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, run by the US Forest Service, gives a clear view of the glacier face and the lake it feeds. A quick stop at the pavilion takes about 90 minutes. Visitors who want more can walk the trails around the lake, or head to Nugget Falls, a 377-foot waterfall, which is a longer walk.
The glacier is about a half-mile wide, with ice 300 to 1,800 feet deep, and it keeps moving and changing with the seasons. Commercial operators offer hiking, biking, rafting, canoe and kayak trips around the glacier in summer. For a longer day on the water, boat tours reach Dawes Glacier at the head of Endicott Arm, about 50 miles southeast of downtown. That trip runs 7.5 hours round trip and suits people who want to see tidewater ice from the boat.
Tour or on your own Either Buses and taxis run from the cruise docks to Mendenhall for a low fare, while the Dawes Glacier trip is a boat tour.
Time it takes Half a day The bus out takes about 40 minutes, and a visitor pavilion stop takes about 90 minutes; the Dawes boat trip takes 7.5 hours round trip.
Effort Easy Views from the visitor center need little walking, though reaching the glacier face itself takes significant effort.
Who it suits Families and photographers The visitor center view, easy trails and short trips suit families, children, walkers, photographers and people with limited mobility.
Good to know Long Dawes boat day The Dawes Glacier trip is a 7.5-hour round-trip boat tour, and the Mendenhall visit needs a bus or taxi out from the docks.
Best months May to September The visitor center runs daily in the summer season, and glacier views are often best on overcast, rainy days.
Good to know
- No food or soft drinks are allowed in the Mendenhall recreation area, and dogs must be on leash.
- Cell service can be limited in backcountry areas, so plan your route and turnaround time before you go.
- Weather in Juneau can change quickly, and trails can be steep or slippery, so bring layers and sturdy shoes.
- The visitor center charges an admission fee for adults from May to September, while children under 16 enter free.
Questions
How do I get to Mendenhall Glacier from the cruise docks in Juneau?
Buses and taxis run from the cruise docks to Mendenhall Glacier, about every 30 minutes in summer. The trip takes about 40 minutes. Bus services charge a low fare, and taxis cost about the same as a bus for five or more people.
How much time do I need at Mendenhall Glacier?
A quick stop at the visitor pavilion takes about 90 minutes. Walking trails, Nugget Falls or a kayak or canoe trip on the lake add more time, so allow a longer half day for those.
Is a glacier boat trip from Juneau a full day?
The boat trip to Dawes Glacier in Endicott Arm, about 50 miles southeast of downtown, takes 7.5 hours round trip. Plan for most of a port day if you choose this trip.
More to do in Juneau
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Glaciers and fjords in other places
The same thing, at the other places that do it well.
Sailings that stop in Juneau
2,816 sailings on 18 cruise lines call here in the next twelve months. Totals are for two guests, taxes included.
Carnival Legend
MSC Poesia
Crown Princess
Sources: Helicopter Trips · Outdoor Activities Guide · Juneau Hiking Trails · ALASKA.ORG · Top Juneau Attractions · Juneau, Wikivoyage
Photo: Ben Hohenstatt, CC BY 2.0