Juneau, Alaska

Juneau is the capital city of the gorgeous state Alaska and it is well known for its incredible wildlife and the Glaciers. Juneau lies in the southernmost part of Alaska on the Panhandle. The city can only be reached by sea or air as there are no roads to this small coastal city. Downtown Juneau is surrounded by Mount Juneau, Mount Roberts and Gastineau Channel. The beautiful and most iconic site of the Juneau is the Mendenhall Glacier and is just a short drive from the downtown. The Mendenhall Glacier is in the Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the United States. A 13 mile long Mendenhall glacier ends at Mendenhall Lake and it can be easily viewed from the visitor center.

These photos are from our visit to Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau during the last week of August, 2013.

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Quick Facts and Tips

• Best time to visit: June to September
• Port of Call or Fly Into: Juneau, Alaska
• Clothing
  • It is cool, so plan to dress in layers. Comfortable jeans, hiking shorts, T-shirts, warm jackets, scarfs, coats, caps, gloves, comfortable walking/hiking shoes/snow boots.
• What to Expect
  • Glacier, Snow-capped mountains, Fjords, Waterfalls, Iceberg-dotted lakes, Valleys, Wildlife, Rugged coastlines
• Best Things to do
  • Visit and enjoy the massive view of Mendenhall Glacier, lake and falls. The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center is a great starting point where you can capture panoramic view of the glacier 
  • Do rafting/kayaking on iceberg floating Mendenhall Lake
  • Make a trip to Glacier bay National Park. Take a scenic flight or a relaxing ferry ride from Juneau to Gustavus, the park’s gateway town. Once in Gustavus, a quick taxi or shuttle ride brings you to the park entrance.
  • Take a tour to Tracy Arm Fjords to see the stunning blue colored Sawyer Glacier. There are several tour companies that offer full-day excursions to this stunning area, known for its deep and narrow fjords, towering cliffs, and the twin Sawyer Glaciers.
  • Ride a Mount Roberts Tramway. It’s a great way to get panoramic views of Juneau and the surrounding areas
  • Walk around downtown Juneau. More info here.
  • Book any one of the Mendenhall Glacier Tours
    • Juneau Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Tour
    • Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour
    • Glacier Walk & Helicopter Tour
    • Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip
    • Juneau Mendenhall Glacier & Salmon Bake Tour
    • Dog Sledding & Helicopter Tour
    • Mendenhall Lake Canoe Tour
• Popular hikes in The Mendenhall Glacier area
  • Popular hikes in The Mendenhall Glacier area
    • Photo Point Trail:  Easy and short 0.6 mile round trip from Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, as the name suggests, trail is best to capture panoramic shots of Mendenhall Glacier and the surrounding peaks. 
    • Nuggets Falls Trail: Flat and easy 2 mile round trip from Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. At the end, the hike opens up to the powerful, beautiful, impressive, roaring and misty waterfall.
    • West Glacier Trail: Moderate 4 mile round trip, starts at the end of Skaters Cabin Road, offers a spectacular view of a large section of the glacier surrounded by mountain range that is not seen from the visitor center area.
• Other Attractions
  • Tracy Arm Fjord: Located just southeast of Juneau. This ice-covered glacial fjord cuts through some breathtaking scenery of Sawyer glacier, turquoise color water with floating icebergs,  descending vertical rock walls and waterfalls. The impressive blue colored twin Sawyer Glacier at the head of the Fjord are enchanting
  • Glacier Bay National Park: Offers stunning scenery with enormous glaciers, pleasant rainforests, hidden fjords, and a rugged coastline.