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Private Mendenhall Lake Canoe Paddle & Trek
Top 10
  • Mendenhall Glacier Paddle and Trek
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  • Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Paddle & Trek
  • Mendenhall Glacier Paddle and Trek
  • Mendenhall Glacier Ice Caves with Alaska Shore Tours
  • Mendenhall Glacier Paddle and Trek
  • Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Paddle & Trek
  • Mendenhall Glacier Ice Caves with Alaska Shore Tours
  • Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Paddle & Trek

$334.00

4.90243902439 out of 5 based on 123 customer ratings
(123 )

Mendenhall Glacier Paddle & Trek

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Arriving

6 Hour Duration

From pick-up to drop-off


Mendenhall Glacier Up Close

An in-depth adventure


Food and Gear Provided

Tour includes a hearty snack and all equipment


Limited Permits Available

Book early for this high-demand tour

Tour Update: The Mendenhall Glacier is receding on a daily basis causing drastic changes to the surface of the glacier. Our site for trekking on the glacier with crampons has continued to get steeper and more challenging each summer. These changes, along with rising lake levels, have left us with very limited safe areas to explore on the ice. For this reason, it is not safe to walk on the glacier. This trip will spend time exploring the glacier up close and hiking around the edges of it safely from the bedrock. The edge of the glacier has some of the most stunning features you will find; this is where ice formations, tunnels, and tubes tend to form creating those beautiful blue colors. These features are never guaranteed but do form throughout the summer. Whether or not conditions present the opportunity to walk on the glacier in addition to paddling across the Mendenhall Lake past icebergs and waterfalls, this entire journey is top-notch from start to finish.


 

The Mendenhall Glacier Paddle and Trek experience is a favorite among Juneau glacier tours and an experience you’ll be unlikely to forget! Imagine paddling a canoe over the tranquil waters of a serene glacial lake, with the grand peaks of snow-capped mountains and cascading Nugget Falls reflected in the surface; skimming around glowing blue icebergs; and marveling at the region’s diverse wildlife, from gulls and terns nesting along cliffs to mountain goats, porcupines, river otters, beavers, bald eagles, black bears, and other inhabitants of this magical landscape. At the edge of the awe-inspiring Mendenhall Glacier, the adventure continues as paddles are traded for trekking poles and your guide takes you right up to the ice for an in-depth exploration, which sometimes even includes the opportunity to explore other-worldly ice formations!

With the glacier only twelve miles from Juneau, the Mendenhall Glacier Paddle and Trek adventure is conveniently situated near the historic port town. This exclusive tour is the only one with permits to venture across Mendenhall Lake and right up to the glacier, allowing you to spend up to two hours exploring the ancient ice! If conditions are judged by the guides to be sufficiently safe and ice formations have formed, your trek around the edges of the massive 13.6 mile-long river of ice may feature various ice formations in the glacier itself! With a maximum group size of just 12 participants, this intimate favorite among Juneau glacier tours allows plenty of time to question your knowledgeable guides and learn more about all you are seeing and experiencing. Your excursion is followed by a leisurely paddle back to your retrieval point by the lake’s edge. Pick-up and return from the cruise docks, as well as from many Juneau hotels, is included in this stunning, family-friendly 6-hour experience. Join us on this top tour, because after all, no visit to Juneau is complete without a close-up experience of the legendary Mendenhall Glacier!

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

6 hours

Adult Rate

$334

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

Guests will be outfitted in 6 or 12 passenger canoes and must be able to paddle for up to 5-6 miles roundtrip and hike on uneven terrain up to 2 miles roundtrip., Smallest shoe size available is a youth 2; largest shoe size available is a men’s 14., This tour cannot accommodate pregnant women., Guests must be under 250lbs.

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.

Customer reviews

Rated 4.90243902439 out of 5 stars
123 reviews

123 reviews for Mendenhall Glacier Paddle & Trek

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    What's the weather like near 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 near 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: As of 2022, there are no longer accessible ice caves on Mendenhall Glacier.

    How many guests can attend on this tour?

    Answer: There can be up to 12 participants on this trip and there is a minimum of 2 guests for the trip to operate. With advanced notice we can accommodate larger groups on private tours.

    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.

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