Description
The Mendenhall Glacier River Float is the perfect way to escape from the crowds and get in touch with Alaska’s magnificent landscapes and wildlife. This rafting tour beautifully combines adventure with scenic beauty, and at 3.5 hours it’s a great activity to fit into your day in Juneau. Beginning with a narrated transport to Mendenhall Glacier, you’ll put on the provided gear and receive a safety briefing before stepping into your raft. Next, take in the scenery as you glide over Mendenhall Lake, passing the face of the glacier to the mouth of the river. This 5-mile river float offers opportunities to spot wildlife along the banks including eagles, salmon, and even bears. Your expert guide will steer you through 1 mile of up to class-3 rapids, or if you are looking for more of a challenge, you can opt to paddle the raft yourself! The casual pace is conducive to taking pictures, chatting with fellow travelers, and absorbing the wealth of information from the local guides.
There’s something special about the connection that a motorless, self-propelled adventure can provide, bridging the gap between us and nature and delivering the wild Alaska experience many are hoping to find. Once you reach the final bank, enjoy an Alaskan-style snack. The tour concludes with transport back to your ship or downtown. Rafting on Juneau’s Mendenhall River is the perfect mix of excitement and natural beauty, so don’t miss this one!
If you prefer canoes and glaciers over whitewater rafting, take a look at the Mendenhall Glacier Paddle and Trek.
What's Included
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there rapids on this tour?
What should we wear and bring?
What if our cruise ship's schedule is canceled or delayed?
Know Before You Book
Quick Facts
Itinerary • 3h 30min • 5 activities
Your guides will pick you up from Mount Roberts Tramway, just a short walk from the cruise docks, for a narrated transfer to the boat launch site.
Once you reach Mendenhall Lake, you will be provided with rain gear, life jackets, rubber boots, and even a paddle if you'd like to participate, before running through a safety briefing and hopping in the boats.
You'll embark on a 5-mile, narrated float down Mendenhall River with views of the glacier at the start. This fairly mellow float includes a small stretch of class II-III rapids.
At the end of the float, you'll take time to remove your gear and enjoy a snack of reindeer sausage, cheese, crackers, salmon spread, & water or hot apple cider.
At the end of your tour, you'll hop back in the vans for a drive back to Mount Roberts Tramway, where you can take a short walk to your cruise dock or explore downtown.