One of the easiest glaciers to visit on land is Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau. Located about fifteen minutes from downtown Juneau it’s a great place for easy hiking, kayaking and learning about Alaska’s glaciers. If you’re visiting Juneau via cruise ship there are plenty of tours that bring cruise guests to the visitors center, or you can rent a car and drive yourself. I think visiting Mendenhall Glacier is a great addition to a Juneau itinerary.
Highlights of Visiting Mendenhall Glacier
Visiting Mendenhall Glacier is really easy and fun. when you arrive, head to the visitor center to check out the exhibits and watch a short film about the glacier, geology, and the history of the Juneau area. Once you ‘ve had your fill of learning, head out on the trail. It’s a very easy trail out to Nugget Falls.
The trail is paved most of the way and in total is only 2 miles round trip. where the trail ends at the Nugget Falls viewpoint, You can then head out from the maintains Trail to get a beautiful unobstructed view of Mendenhall Glacier. if you’re lucky, you might see some glacial calving. For the walk back, I like to go off the pave trail and then walk the trail that goes along the lake. There are several other viewpoints and it’s a great spot for bird watching. When you get to the end of the trails, there are several other viewing areas for the glacier, and if it’s beautiful day you might as well visit them all.
Tips for Enjoying Mendenhall Glacier in Tongass National Forest
Visiting Mendenhall Glacier is a treat, especially if you haven’t been someplace else like the Matanuska Glacier or done a helicopter landing on Godwin Glacier or Knik Glacier near Anchorage. Mendenhall Glacier is popular so expect to be among lots of tourists. It’s one of the most popular cruise excursions, so if there are several boats in port, there’s a good chance of having a lot of people at the visitor center and on the trails.
To get away from the people though, as you approach the visitor center, there are trails that go off to the left. While they don’t all have beautiful views of Mendenhall Glacier, there are opportunities for seeing salmon and other wildlife in the forest. The West Glacier Trail goes out from across the lake (drive to the trailhead) and will be a completely different experience than the busy trails from the visitor center. At 6 miles round trip, it’s a half day adventure and worth the hike.
Another great way to experience Mendenhall Glacier without a lot of people is to book either a canoe tour or kayaks. For kayak and canoe, you can’t do that at the visitor center but at the mouth of the lake there are guided tours (should be booked in advance). We love paddling of All sorts. so kind of lacking on Mendenhall Lake is pretty cool to us.
What to Bring to Mendenhall Glacier
Juneau tends to be pretty rainy so it makes sense to dress for that sort of weather, even in the peak of Summer. You’ll be able to tell what the weather will be like when you leave the city to head up to Mendenhall Glacier. Because the trail is not difficult, and even the additional trails within the Tongass National Forest area at Mendenhall Glacier aren’t difficult, you are probably fine wearing standard walking shoes and dressing as you would for any other sort of sightseeing. You may want to dress in layers if the weather is seeming iffy, but a visit to Mendenhall Glacier doesn’t typically include traversing great mountain trails.
Note: the Tongass National Forest is the wettest National Forest, even beating out El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico for accumulate rainfall. So yes, expect some drizzle during your visit.
When it comes to camera gear, the glacier is very large and you get pretty close to it. You do not need to bring a telephoto lens bigger than 400 mm. while you have a great chance of bird watching, particularly for eagles and Arctic terns, it’s not likely to see any big ticket Wildlife at Mendenhall Glacier. This is a very busy area where the bears and moose tend to keep their distance. if you do bring binoculars though, look up on the cliffs surrounding the lake to see what you might see.
Parking and Fees for your Visit
There are several parking areas at Mendenhall Glacier. Even if you arrive and the closest parking spots are full, the overflow parking still is only a 5 to 10 minute walk away from the visitor center. If you are driving yourself, pay attention to the different parking signs and directions, as there tend to be a lot of tourist buses that have designated drop-off zones.
Here parking is free, but you do need to go into the visitor center and either pay the entrance fee or show your federal lands pass. there is a nice gift shop here so be sure to grab a postcard or two and check out some of the local art featuring Mendenhall Glacier.
Mendenhall Glacier Tour Options
I know that most people visiting Mendenhall Glacier are coming into Juneau on a cruise, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It just means that you need to plan your shore excursions out to the glacier, hiking or kayaking properly. Tour operators in Juneau are very well versed in the ship schedules and are great at making sure guests are able to explore and return to the boat on schedule, so tours are a way you can make plans to get to the glacier and return in time with confidence.
Here are our top tour picks for experiencing Mendenhall Glacier:
- Mendenhall Lake kayak tour and salmon bake
- Canoeing with guided ice hiking
- Guided canoeing with transportation and rain gear
Visitor Center Operating Info
To complete your planning, here is all the information to plan and book your adventure.
- Operating Dates/Season: May through September, 8:00 am – 7:30 pm, October through April 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Fri-Sun
- Forest Service office phone number: 907-789-0097
- Company website: National Forest Service
More Things to do in Juneau, Alaska
I think Juneau is a fun city and it’s set in one of the most beautiful areas. If I were moving back to Alaska I would move to Juneau. Surrounding by mountains and the Tongass National Forest, there are loads of outdoor things to do in Juneau. Pair the surrounding waters of the Inside Passage and close proximity to Glacier Bay National Park (accessible by water) and you’ve got a hub of beauty and adventure.
What really sets Juneau apart though is the presence of Alaska Native culture. From the people you meet to the shops in the tourist areas, the totem poles on the waterfront to the Tlingit art at the Sealaska Center, the indigenous cultures of Southeast Alaska are alive and well here in Juneau. As you plan the things to do that are most important to you, make sure you include some time to learn about the peoples whose ancestral lands you are visiting.
- Alaska State Museum
- walk the waterfront to see totem poles and the humpback whale fountain
- visit Mendenhall Glacier
- visit Cope Park for the beautiful stream, trails and playground
- go kayaking and bald eagle watching
- check out local indigenous art at the Sealaska Center
Dining in Juneau
I think Juneau is one of the better towns in Alaska for good food. Whether you’re sticking around downtown or you’re heading up to Auke Bay, there are lots of good places to eat in Juneau. We’ve picked some of our favorites for meals and drinks, but there are MANY more options around town for a great meal. One of the coolest places to find food in Juneau is actually the food truck park. You’ll find salmon tacos, burgers, oysters and Alaskan beverages. There is often live music and it’s a good combination of tourist and locals.
- Hangar on the Wharf – mellow, pub fare
- El Sombrero – good Mexican food
- Sacred Grounds Cafe – indigenous owned, LGBTQ+ inclusive for drinks and grab-n-go breakfast or simple lunch
- Deckhand Dave’s Fish Tacos (in the food truck park)
- SALT – a bit fancier
- Devil’s Club Brewing Co – brewery with pub food
Where to Stay in Juneau
I like staying in downtown Juneau because it’s such a walkable town, but if you’re planning to be here for a few days and really explore the area there are LOTS of cabins and vacation rentals away from the city, including up in beautiful Auke Bay. Be prepared for higher hotel and vacation rental costs due to limited inventory. Alaska isn’t an inexpensive destination, but the experience is worth it.
More ideas for your visit to Juneau and the Tongass National Forest:
I hope you’re excited to experience Mendenhall Glacier. Between the beautiful views and variety of activities in Tongass National Forest, I know you’ll love it. If you have any questions about visiting Juneau, traveling in Southeast Alaska or planning a trip please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to help with travel planning for an Alaska Trip!
