8 Hour Duration

From pick-up to drop-off

Physical Fitness Required

For full-day hiking and glacier traverse

Glacier Exploration

On the edge of stunning Mendenhall Glacier

Food Provided

Complimentary hearty snacks and water

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.

Not your everyday adventure, the Private Mendenhall Glacier Trek is among the most exclusive and in-depth excursions in Juneau Alaska. Similar to the standard Mendenhall Glacier Trek but with a guide leading your own private party, this involved and exciting outing allows you to explore a stunning world of crystal blue ice up-close and personal. Conditions permitting, it even features the opportunity to explore the otherworldly Mendenhall Glacier ice formations! Particularly if you’re looking to customize the pace or content of your glacier experience, the Private Mendenhall Glacier Trek is quite simply one of the premier excursions in Juneau Alaska.

Your epic adventure begins with pick-up from the cruise docks or the place of your choosing, followed by a lovely drive to the famed Mendenhall Valley. Then it’s time to suit up with your trekking gear and, guided by your personal expert guide, head out toward the glacier itself! You’ll head up a scenic (and fairly strenuous!) trail toward the ice, skirting Mendenhall Lake through stunning temperate rainforest. Then, glacier-side, it’s time to don crampons for the real adventure alongside gaping crevasses, icy-blue meltwater pools, and lovely glacial streams. Thanks to this tour’s private nature, you get to decide what’s next! On the hunt for Mendenhall Glacier ice formations? Your guide will lead the way! Whatever your glacier dream entails, the Private Mendenhall Glacier Trek has you covered! As it’s of the most exclusive excursions in Juneau Alaska, though, this trip has very limited spaces, so book early to guarantee your spot! Note: Price per person varies depending on group size. See the Additional Information tab for pricing specifics.

For stunning glacier-front views and less hiking, you might consider the Private Mendenhall Glacier Paddle & Trek. To learn more about glacier caves, check out this article on Mendenhall Glacier ice caves, part of our Nature & History series.

Rate for 2 people	$424/person
Rate for 3-6 people	$289/person
Rate for 7-12 people	$264/person
Port	Juneau
Type	Glacier Interaction, Private
Length	8 hours
Minimum Age	8 years old. Children must be in good enough physical condition to hike up to 8 miles.
Accessibility	Guests must be under 250lbs., Must be fit enough to hike for 7+ hours covering several miles of strenuous terrain (see trip description above) carrying a 10-15 pound backpack.
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 can I do to prepare physically for this trip?

Answer: Cardiovascular training is a must. You will be hiking approximately 8 miles roundtrip for 7+ hours on uneven terrain. Cardiovascular training will increase your endurance making for a more pleasant experience on the trail. In addition, get yourself out on a hike and choose trails that are uneven. We oftentimes get people who are in good physical condition (i.e. train at the gym daily, run several times a week), but struggle on the uneven surface because they are used to exercising on flat ground, which does not require much balancing and much use of the small muscles in the legs and ankles.

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.

What about restroom facilities along the way?

Answer: You'll have a chance at the kayak 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.

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.