Description
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 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 and 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 Hike.
What's Included
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear and bring?
How many guests can attend on this tour?
Will we enter ice caves?
Mendenhall glacier is receding extremely quickly, making the terrain on the ice increasingly challenging. You will not be walking on the ice, and instead will be exploring right along the edge on the rocky morraine. The face of the glacier and the other features that form are incredible sights and you will be experiencing Mendenhall in a way that only a small percentage of visitors are able to.
Are the canoe paddle and the trek difficult?
Know Before You Book
Quick Facts
Itinerary • 5h 30min • 7 activities
Pick-up is provided from Mount Roberts Tramway near the cruise ship docks in downtown Juneau.
Guides will provide a waterproof jacket, pants, & boots as well as a life jacket, paddling gloves, helmet, trekking pole, and a dry bag. After gearing, they will provide instructions on how to safely and efficiently paddle the canoe.
Enjoy scenic views of the towering mountain peaks & Nugget Falls as you paddle across the scenic and peaceful Mendenhall Lake, before eventually sighting the glacier itself.
Explore fascinating ice formations & enjoy up-close views of Mendenhall glacier as you are guided along the moraine next to the glacier.
Return to the canoes for your return paddle back to the launch site, while learning more about the area and glacier from your expert guides.
At the end, you will be given time to remove your gear and enjoy a well-earned snack break before loading back in the vans.
Your guides will return you back to Mount Roberts Tramway near the cruise ship docks for you to either return to your ship or explore nearby downtown Juneau.