Glacier Pack Rafting, Hiking and Flightseeing from Juneau – AMAZING!

There is never a shortage of things to do in Juneau, but if you are looking for an activity that is beyond the usual adventures and hikes, Above and Beyond Alaska does an awesome trip Norris Glacier for pack rafting and hiking on the ice. Starting with a seaplane trip from the Juneau Airport Floatplane Pond, the flightseeing leads the way to an unusual sort of kayaking paired with navigating a glacier and seeing the crevasses of deep blue ice.

We’ve got the full scoop on planning the Juneau glacier adventure with Above and Beyond Alaska, tips for having the best experience and everything you might be wondering about adding it to your itinerary. If you have any questions or want to share your experience, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help YOU plan a great Alaska Trip.

Highlights of Glacier Pack Raft and Hiking

We are always down for an adventure and I think what made the glacier pack rafting with Above and Beyond Adventures so cool was the combination of activities in such a remote place. We began with a seaplane flight from JNU out over Juneau and then around the mountains to Takhu and Norris Glaciers. The flightseeing on its own was spectacular, particularly with kids. The landing was unique with a spiral down onto the lakes getting views from all sides and then arriving at basecamp, ready to paddle and hike.

Once on the ground we got a bit of an orientation and made our way over the newly exposed ground to the pack raft launch point. If you’re not familiar, a pack raft is a very small inflatable kayak for one person. Paddling the pack raft on the glacial lake is a bit like driving a bath tub, but it’s fun and great for kids. When you’re so remote, just being able to navigate is a luxury, so the pack rafting portion was great to cross the glacial melt.

Once at the base of the Norris Glacier the hike begins. The guide outfitted us with stretchy crampon type shoe coverings so we could safely walk on the glacier. I’ll tell ya, without them, even if the ice looks like you’ll have traction, you won’t; the spikes are so helpful. Once we were ready our guide took us all over the glacier to see peaks and crevasses, blue ice and moulins. It was so cool, and for our kids who hadn’t been on a glacier before, it was totally new and they were wowed. This is a very different experience than hiking on the Matanuska Glacier or when you land on the Knik Glacier. We all enjoyed this experience so much. If you can budget for the glacier pack rafting expedition for your time in Juneau, it truly is beautiful and unique, and one of the best glacier tours I’ve gotten to do.

Tips for a Great Glacier Flightseeing and Pack Rafting Experience

I think it’s always good to plan activities that are within your comfort zone but that may push the edge just a bit. For us, we do a lot of weird and “exotic” activities, so this was in line with that. If flying in small aircraft is NOT for you, then this trip is not something you’ll enjoy. The seaplane flight from Juneau on Alaska Seaplanes is really beautiful and I think one of my favorite flights I’ve had in Alaska (rivals flying to Lake Clark National Park with Rust’s Air Service), but with the mountains and the fjords, the air currents make this a little less smooth than you might be comfortable. I grabbed my seat a few times. Basically, push your experiences, but don’t book something like this if the terror of small aircraft will be too much to make it enjoyable.

When you’re doing the glacier pack raft tour with Above and Beyond Alaska, keep in mind that it’s an active tour. You’re not doing a seven mile hike on the ice or doing a white water paddle on the glacial lake, but it is an activity that takes energy and willingness to listen to your guide. Icy water and deep cracks in the ice are serious, but if my kids can do it so can you (I’m sure).

I think knowing how unique of a terrain and activity this is, I would recommend it for somebody who is comfortable trying new things and is in okay shape, so that leaves it open to many. If somebody has any mobility issues, even minor, I feel like this isn’t a good fit. Getting in and out of a Beaver seaplane is awkward on its own, so adding to that the pack rafting and uncertain footing on the glacier and it’s a more complex trip than you might initially think.

Being Prepared for Glacier Pack Rafting and Hiking

Y’all, dress warmly. Every time I do a trip to a glacier I forget that it’s genuinely cold. When you’re on a glacier or a glacier lake, the air that blows from it is so chilly, like it’s direct from an air conditioner. Dress in layers and when you’re a the Above and Beyond Alaska headquarters getting outfitted, listen to their recommendations. They’ll provide you with rain gear, including pants and boots, so follow their advice and instructions to be well suited for being up on the ice.

When it comes to bringing any gear, I used my phone for a camera as well as a 600, 250 and 50mm lens. Yep, there are all kinds of varied photography opportunities up on the glacier and while you’re pack rafting, and from the sea plane trip as well. This whole experience is beautiful and being on the ice is really fascinating, so there’s a lot to capture.

Having said that, this is also such an interesting thing to do that just being fully present and not trying to capture it all is almost my recommendation. Yes, I was able to get some of the coolest photos, both of the ice and my kids enjoying it all, but also there is so much to take in that if ever there was a trip where I’d say leave your camera gear at home and just enjoy, this is it. Clearly we all loved it, me and both the 10 and 13 year old, so that’s a big win.

Parking for Above and Beyond Alaska Tours

Doing a glacier pack raft tour with Above and Beyond Alaska is something you can book if you’re on a cruise ship or as an independent traveler. For cruise passengers, they’ll pick you up at the cruise terminal and do all the transportation to the guide service office for outfitting, the floatplane airport, and get you back to your terminal on time. If you’re visiting Juneau on your own and want to go glacier pack rafting, you can book it and coordinate a pickup. There is parking at Above and Beyond Alaska’s headquarters, but if you can have one less thing to worry about with getting yourself around, I would do that.

Is Glacier Pack Rafting and Hiking worth the Cost?

Yes, this is a big ticket item when you’re visiting Juneau, and while I’m not going to tell anyone how to spend their money, I can confidently say that the glacier trip with Above and Beyond Alaska is one of the best that I have done and the value is there. Considering that you get three experiences as a part of this (seaplane flightseeing, pack rafting on a glacier lake and hiking on a glacier) I would say that you do get a unique bang for your buck with this trip. Other glacier experiences may include a glacier landing, maybe dogsledding or just hiking from regular land, but with the Juneau glacier pack raft trip it’s a big experience all rolled into one. I would say that if you’re planning one big activity while you’re traveling in Alaska, this is a great one and will give you something to talk about and reminisce over for a long time.