5½ Hour Duration

From pick-up to drop-off

Mendenhall Glacier Up Close

An in-depth adventure

Food and Gear Provided

Tour includes a light snack and all equipment

Limited Permits Available

Book early for this high-demand tour

Journey right up to the edges of Juneau’s most iconic glacier on one of the most hands-on Mendenhall Glacier tours. The Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour takes you across Mendenhall Lake right up to the face of this magnificent glacier. The ever-changing face of the glacier makes for a unique experience for each tour departure, as the receding glacier could present you with blue ice, waterfalls, visible moraines, or even a rare ice cave. Mendenhall Glacier tours are a rare & unique experience, even with it being one of the most visited glaciers in North America, as the permits to actually access the glacier are very limited. This guarantees you an incredible off-the-beaten-track experience. Even the canoe ride across Mendenhall Lake will stun you with natural beauty & occasional wildlife. You’ll paddle past views of Nugget Falls & towering mountains, as well as tern nesting areas. Book your seats on the Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure early for an exclusive Alaskan experience.Your tour begins right from the cruise docks, where your professional guides will meet you to provide round-trip transportation. Unlike many Mendenhall Glacier tours, your guides will take you from here to the west side of Mendenhall Lake, away from the crowds of the visitor center, to gear up and launch your canoes. Along the way, your guides will regale you with information about Juneau and the surrounding Tongass National Forest. After a safety briefing & instructions from your guide, you will launch your canoes for a 1-hour paddle to the opposite side of the lake. You’ll pass icebergs & wildlife as you cruise across the lake. Upon reaching the rocky shore near the glacier, you’ll see where the Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour gets its name. For 1-1.5 hours, you will trek along the rocky moraines caused by the river of ice, right up to the edge of the glacier. Here you’ll have the opportunity to explore the area with your knowledgeable guide & learn all about this quickly receding glacier & its history. After your time at the glacier, you will return to your boats for another hour return paddle, to a snack waiting for you at the put-in. As you finish up your Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour, you will be returned right to your cruise docks for easy return to ship.

To explore Mendenhall Glacier without the paddling portion of the tour, consider the Mendenhall Glacier Trek.

Port	Juneau
Type	Glacier Interaction, Paddle Adventure, Top 10
Length	5 ½ hours
Adult Rate	$329
Child Rate	There is no child rate for this tour. All participants will be charged at the adult rate.
Minimum Age	The minimum age for participants is 12 years old.
Accessibility	Full use of limbs for up to 2 hours canoe paddling and 1.5 hours of glacier hiking is required., Guests must be above 90lbs and below 240lbs., Guests must have the ability to hike over steep uneven terrain for approximately 1-2 miles., This tour cannot accommodate pregnant women., This tour is not recommended for guests with back or hip problems.
Cancellation Policy	Cancel up to 14-days before your tour for a refund, less any non-refundable fees., If for any reason the tour is canceled (due to unpermitting weather, for example), or if your cruise ship's schedule changes, you will receive a refund minus any non-refundable fees.

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What's the weather like on the glacier? Is it cold?

Answer: Juneau temperatures during the summer are typically between 50 and 65 degrees, with an average of 56 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius). The temperature on the glacier is about 5 degrees cooler, but can feel up to 15 degrees cooler due to katabatic winds (cold downslope winds coming down the glacier). Please bring layers of clothing including a warm hat and gloves.

Are we guaranteed to see ice caves?

Answer: We don't guarantee ice cave visits. Because the caves are dynamic and change rapidly, visits are condition-dependent. Your guides will ultimately make the call whether or not it is safe to enter an ice cave.

How many guests can attend on this tour?

Answer: There can be up to 14 participants on this trip. There is a guide to guest ratio of 1:8.

What about restroom facilities along the way?

Answer: You'll have a chance at the gear base to use the restroom but after that we will be entering the great outdoors. We recommend all guests follow 'Leave No Trace Principles' and should the need arise, we request packing all trash from the trip including toilet paper. If this is of concern for you, we recommend bringing toilet paper and a ziploc bag for easy packing.

Will the trip still operate if it is raining?

Answer: Because much of SE Alaska is a rainforest, these trips do operate rain or shine. Rain jackets and pants are provided on this trip. If weather conditions are unsafe, the trip will be canceled and we will provide a refund. This can happen on canoe trips from time to time and will be typically related to sea or lake conditions, not rain.

What if our ship is delayed or doesn't make it into port? Refund?

Answer: It's very rare that a ship is delayed into port, but in those cases we will try our best to work with you to reschedule the tour to a later time. If that is not a possibility or your ship doesn't make it into port, we will refund you.

What do we need to bring?

Answer: This is an all-inclusive tour. We provide all the gear you need to be safe and dry. However, please remember to dress for the weather. We suggest wearing comfortable, non-cotton layers. If it is cooler, please bring a hat, gloves, and wear warm socks. If there is sun, please bring sunglasses.

What is provided?

Answer: We provide round-trip transportation, professional Wilderness First Responder guides, waterproof jacket/pants/boots, life jacket, paddling gloves, helmet, trekking pole, a dry bag, bottled water, snacks, and a hot beverage.