Which Juneau Helicopter Tour Should You Do?
Juneau sits at the edge of the largest non-polar icefield on Earth. The Juneau Icefield stretches over 1,500 square miles of glaciers, snow-capped peaks, and ice formations that most people only see in documentaries. A helicopter tour is the single best way to experience it — and with three operators running nearly a dozen different tours out of Juneau, there is genuinely something for everyone, from a quick flightseeing trip with a glacier landing to a full afternoon of ice climbing. This guide breaks down every Juneau helicopter tour available in 2026 so you can figure out which one fits your schedule, your group, and the experience you are after.
To add context from someone directly running these tours, we spoke with Sarah, General Manager at Coastal Helicopters—one of Juneau’s leading glacier flightseeing and dog sledding operators. Sarah brings both operational expertise and local perspective, helping visitors understand what actually goes into these experiences behind the scenes.
View all Juneau helicopter tours
Quick Comparison: Every Juneau Helicopter Tour at a Glance
| Tour | Duration | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Icefield Helicopter Excursion | 2.5 hrs | First-timers, short on time — glacier landing + flightseeing |
| Private Icefield Helicopter Excursion | 2.5 hrs | Private groups, special occasions |
| Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter & Guided Hike | 2.5 hrs | Families with young kids — guided glacier walk (min age 2) |
| Helicopter & Dogsled Glacier Excursion | 3 hrs | Dog lovers — husky sled ride on the glacier |
| Helicopter Glacier Walkabout | 3.25 hrs | Active travelers — 1-hour guided glacier hike with crampons |
| Helicopter Dogsledding with Extra Landing | 3.5 hrs | Wants it all — dog sledding + second landing on blue ice |
| Helicopter Glacier Ice Climbing Tour | 4.25 hrs | Adventure seekers — guided ice climbing, teens+ (min age 12) |
Not sure where to start? Keep reading — we will walk through how to narrow it down based on your time, your interests, and your group.
How Much Time Do You Have?
Time is often the deciding factor, especially if you are visiting Juneau on a cruise ship. Every helicopter tour includes ground transportation from downtown Juneau to the helipad, a safety briefing, the flight itself, your time on the glacier, and the return trip. The durations below are the total time commitment from pickup to drop-off.
If You Have 2.5 Hours
Two tours fit this window. The Icefield Helicopter Excursion is the most popular helicopter tour in Juneau for a reason — you get a 25-minute flight over the icefield with a 20-minute landing on Herbert Glacier, and you are back in town with time to spare. With nearly 900 reviews and a 4.82-star rating, it has been the go-to introduction to glacier helicopters for years. If you want that same experience with guaranteed privacy for your group, the Private Icefield Helicopter Excursion is the same route with a dedicated aircraft.
The Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter & Guided Hike also fits in 2.5 hours and includes a 30-minute guided walk on the Mendenhall Glacier itself. It is a great option for families traveling with younger kids since the minimum age is just 2.
If You Have 3 to 3.5 Hours
This is the sweet spot where you get significantly more glacier time without eating up your whole day. The Helicopter & Dogsled Glacier Excursion gives you a full hour on the glacier with a team of huskies — enough time to really soak in the experience. The Helicopter Glacier Walkabout is a guided glacier hike at 3.25 hours, with crampons and gear provided so you can explore the ice up close.
If you want the most variety in a single tour, the Helicopter Dogsledding with Extra Landing at 3.5 hours combines dog sledding on the upper glacier with a second landing on the lower glacier where you walk among crevasses, moulins, and ice falls. It is the best-of-both-worlds option.
If You Have 4+ Hours
The Helicopter Glacier Ice Climbing Tour is the longest and most immersive helicopter experience in Juneau at 4.25 hours, with two full hours on the glacier. If you have the time and want a genuinely hands-on adventure, this is it.
What Experience Are You After?
All of these tours include a helicopter flight over the Juneau Icefield — the aerial views alone are worth it. What separates them is what you do after you land.
According to Sarah, no two flights are exactly the same—and that’s intentional.
“Every flight is a little different, which is part of what makes it so special. Pilots often adjust routes based on the day’s weather to give guests the best possible views of glaciers, icefields, and surrounding peaks.”
Rather than following a fixed route, pilots are constantly adapting in real time to maximize visibility and scenery.
“From the pilot’s perspective, we’re always looking for those ‘wow’ moments—whether it’s a dramatic glacier face, deep crevasses, or perfect lighting on the icefield.”
Glacier Walking and Exploration
If you want to set foot on a glacier and explore it with a guide, there are a few options at different intensity levels.
The Icefield Helicopter Excursion includes a glacier landing where you can walk around freely for about 20 minutes. It is unstructured time — you explore, take photos, and take in the views at your own pace. Short and sweet.
The Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter & Guided Hike gives you a 30-minute guided walk on the Mendenhall Glacier. The guide walks you across the ice and explains what you are seeing. No crampons needed, and it is family-friendly with a minimum age of 2.
For a deeper glacier experience, the Helicopter Glacier Walkabout is a full hour of guided glacier hiking with crampons and trekking poles provided. NorthStar's guides take you through an interpretive hike — think of it as a geology class on ice. It is non-strenuous but far more immersive than a quick landing. Depending on conditions, you may land on Mendenhall, Taku, Norris, Herbert, or another glacier in the icefield. Minimum age 8.
Dog Sledding
Dog sledding on a glacier is one of those experiences that sounds impossible until you are actually doing it. Teams of 12 to 14 Alaskan huskies pull you across the snow at the upper elevations of Herbert Glacier, where a seasonal camp operates through the summer. You can even stand in the musher position and help guide the team.
Two tours offer this experience. The Helicopter & Dogsled Glacier Excursion is the classic — fly in, mush for about an hour, fly out. The Helicopter Dogsledding with Extra Landing adds a second glacier landing where you walk among the ice features on the lower glacier. Same dog sled camp, same husky teams, plus the bonus of seeing a completely different glacial landscape on the same trip.
Glacier dog sledding is one of the most unique excursions in Alaska—but it’s also one of the most logistically complex.
“Dog sledding camps operate during a pretty short window each summer, when snow conditions on the glacier are just right. Maintaining that environment takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work from the team.”
Snow conditions are constantly monitored to maintain both safety and experience quality.
“Snow quality really matters. We’re constantly monitoring conditions to make sure the experience is both safe and enjoyable for guests and for the dogs.”
Ice Climbing
Brand new for 2026 — see the dedicated section below.
Flightseeing-Focused
If the helicopter ride itself is the main draw and the glacier landing is the cherry on top, the Icefield Helicopter Excursion or its private version are the most straightforward options. You get extended flight time over the icefield, mountains, and glaciers, with a landing for photos and free exploration time. No structured activity on the glacier — just you, the ice, and a camera.
Dog Sledding on Snow, Glacier Walks on Ice, or Both?
This is one of the most common questions we get, and the answer comes down to understanding how glaciers work at different elevations.
Dog sled tours land on the upper glacier, where packed snow covers the ice year-round. This is where the summer dog sled camps operate. The landscape is white, wide, and bright — you are surrounded by mountain peaks with snow stretching to the horizon. The dogs are the stars here, and the experience is unlike anything else in Alaska.
Glacier walking tours land on the lower glacier, where the ancient blue ice is exposed. This is where you see crevasses, moulins (vertical shafts carved by meltwater), seracs, and the kind of otherworldly ice formations that make glaciers so visually striking. It is a completely different landscape from the upper snowfield.
If you cannot decide, the Helicopter Dogsledding with Extra Landing is specifically designed to give you both. You dog sled on the upper glacier snow, then fly to a second landing on the lower glacier to explore the ice. Two completely different environments in one tour.
A note about late-season availability: Dog sled tours depend on adequate snowpack at the upper glacier camp. As summer progresses and snow melts, these tours may end earlier than other helicopter tours. If you are visiting Juneau later in the season (late August or September), check availability carefully or consider a glacier walking tour as a backup plan.
New for 2026: Glacier Ice Climbing
The Helicopter Glacier Ice Climbing Tour is the newest addition to Juneau's helicopter lineup, and it fills a gap that adventure travelers have been asking about for years. NorthStar Helicopters runs this tour with two full hours on the glacier — by far the most on-ice time of any helicopter tour in Juneau.
No experience is needed. Your guides provide everything — helmet, harness, crampons, and ice climbing tools — and they adjust the difficulty to your ability level. Whether you have never touched an ice axe or you are an experienced climber looking for a glacial setting, the guides meet you where you are.
The minimum age is 12, making it a solid option for families with teens who want something more active than a standard glacier landing. At 4.25 hours total, it is the longest helicopter tour available, so plan accordingly if you are on a cruise ship schedule. If you have the time and want an experience that goes well beyond standing on a glacier for photos, this is the one.
Practical Tips for Your Helicopter Tour
Weight and Seating
Every helicopter tour requires an accurate weight for each passenger at the time of booking. This is used for aircraft balance and safety — the pilot needs to distribute weight correctly for safe flight. All passengers are weighed at check-in, and seating assignments are based on weight distribution, not preference. This is a standard safety procedure across all helicopter operators worldwide.
When you’re asked for your weight when booking, it’s not arbitrary—it’s a critical safety factor.
“Weight and balance are a critical part of helicopter operations. It’s not about individuals—it’s about planning for seating and fuel loads and ensuring the aircraft is properly balanced for a safe flight every time.”
Weather Cancellations
Helicopter tours are weather-dependent. Roughly 15% of departures are affected by weather at some point during the season. Weather is the biggest variable in any Juneau helicopter tour—and cancellations are part of doing things safely.
“In Southeast Alaska, weather can change quickly, so every flight is a real-time decision. Our pilots are constantly evaluating visibility, wind, and cloud ceilings before and during each tour.”
If your tour is cancelled due to weather, you will receive a full refund or the option to reschedule. If you are visiting on a cruise ship and your tour is cancelled, you will not be charged. It is one of those realities of flying in Southeast Alaska — the same dramatic landscape that makes these tours spectacular also comes with unpredictable weather. Booking an earlier departure time gives you a better chance of rescheduling if conditions improve later in the day.
While cancellations can be disappointing, they’re actually a sign of a responsible operator.
“Guests are sometimes surprised by weather cancellations, but it’s actually a sign the operation is doing things the right way. Our pilots have strict safety thresholds, and we’d always rather reschedule than push conditions.”
What to Wear and Bring
Dress in warm layers. Even in summer, glacier temperatures can be 15 to 20 degrees cooler than in town. Closed-toe shoes with good grip are required — no sandals or flip-flops. Sunglasses are strongly recommended, as the glare off the snow and ice is intense. Tour operators provide rain gear and rubber boots on most tours, but check your specific tour's details. Bring a camera or phone, but leave large bags behind — there is no room for purses, backpacks, or extra bags in the helicopter cabin.
Kids and Minimum Ages
Most helicopter tours welcome children, but minimum age requirements vary:
- Age 2+: Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter & Guided Hike
- Age 8+: Helicopter Glacier Walkabout
- Age 12+: Helicopter Glacier Ice Climbing Tour
- No minimum listed: Icefield Excursion, Dogsled tours — check individual tour pages for the latest requirements
Book Early
Helicopter tours are consistently the first excursions to sell out in Juneau, especially during peak cruise season (June and July). If a specific tour and date matter to you, do not wait. These are small aircraft with limited seats per departure, and popular tours can fill up weeks in advance. All tours offer flexible cancellation policies, and Book Now Pay Later options are available — so there is no downside to reserving your spot early and adjusting later if plans change.
Ready to Book Your Juneau Helicopter Tour?
No matter which tour you choose, you are going to see Alaska from a perspective that very few people ever get. The Juneau Icefield is one of the most remarkable landscapes on the planet, and a helicopter is the only way to reach most of it.
Browse all Juneau helicopter tours to compare availability and reserve your spot. Every tour includes flexible cancellation, and Book Now Pay Later is available so you can secure your seats today and pay closer to your trip.
Have questions about which tour is right for your group? Get in touch — we are happy to help you pick the perfect one.
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Cara Lederrman has worked in the Alaskan tourism industry for years, and specializes in sharing her passion for Alaska through blogs and social media content. She travels the Inside Passage each summer to find hidden gems, explore new tours and ensure her recommendations for Alaska tourists are up-to-date.
Brittany Keller has lived and worked in Skagway and considers it her favorite place on earth. She draws on both her firsthand experiences in Alaska and her years of experience in the travel and tourism industry to write articles that help visitors to Alaska get oriented and find the right tours and experiences for their trip.
Sarah is the General Manager at Coastal Helicopters in Juneau, where she oversees day-to-day operations for one of Alaska’s premier glacier flightseeing and dog sledding operators. Since joining the company in 2018 as Tour & Marketing Manager, she has grown into a leadership role focused on delivering seamless, high-quality experiences for thousands of visitors each season.
A Juneau local, Sarah brings a deep connection to the region and its outdoor culture—something that shapes both how Coastal operates and how guests experience Alaska. From coordinating complex glacier logistics to working closely with pilots, ground crews, and dog camp teams, she plays a central role in making these remote experiences run safely and smoothly.
Beyond her work at Coastal, Sarah is actively involved in Alaska’s tourism community, contributing to broader industry conversations and supporting collaboration across operators through organizations like the Alaska Travel Industry Association. Through both her operational leadership and industry involvement, she helps shape how visitors experience Southeast Alaska.
All of our content at Alaska Shore Tours is written by experienced travel writers who have visited all of the locations we recommend. And our review board of local tourism experts ensure that all the information we provide is accurate, current and helpful
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