6 ½ Hours Duration

From pick-up to drop-off

In-Depth Glacier Time

Up to 2 hours spent on Mendenhall Glacier

Food and Gear Provided

Tour includes a hearty snack and all equipment

Limited Permits Available

Book early for this high-demand tour

Covid Update: Due to Covid-19 restrictions, if you do not see availablity on your desired tour, please inquire as there may still be space. Otherwise, please consider our private tour options, the Private Glacier Trek and the Private Mendenhall Glacier Paddle & Trek.

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 onto the ice for an in-depth exploration, which sometimes even includes the opportunity to explore other-worldly ice caves!

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 onto the glacier itself, 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 caves have formed, your trek across the massive 13.6 mile-long river of ice will feature a cave journey into 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 ½-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 ½ hours
Adult Rate	$359
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.

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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 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.