Ice carved over centuries, walked in a single afternoon.
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4 hr 30 min
Glaciers, humpbacks, and bald eagles on a 4.5-hour Alaskan adventure from Juneau.
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5 hr
Chase humpback whales by jetboat, then hike to Nugget Falls with extra glacier time.
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4 hr
Paddle through icebergs to the face of a 3,000-year-old glacier on this 4-hour Alaskan wilderness experience.
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5 hr
Paddle a glacial lake, hike wild moraine terrain, and stand face-to-face with Alaska's famous Mendenhall Glacier.
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3 hr 25 min
Fly over Alaska's icefields and set foot on Herbert Glacier in an unforgettable 2.5-hour aerial adventure.
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Mendenhall Glacier has retreated nearly three kilometres since the 1700s, leaving the milky lake and Nugget Falls that visitors photograph today. Born from the vast Juneau Icefield, the 22-kilometre river of ice spills down the Mendenhall Valley toward tidewater, thirteen miles from downtown Juneau.
The Forest Service opened its visitor center here in 1962, among the first of its kind in the United States, and the Tongass National Forest still manages the site. A mendenhall glacier helicopter tour now lands flightseers on the icefield itself, while a mendenhall glacier canoe tour traces the lake's edge and a helicopter walk pairs aerial views with a guided trek across blue crevasses. The glacier matters as a living measure of a warming north — retreating, calving, reshaping its own valley faster than any map can follow.
"A river of ice thirteen miles from a working harbor, retreating faster than any map can follow."
A step-by-step walkthrough of Mendenhall Glacier tickets — what you'll see, how long each stage takes, and the details that matter.
You arrive between 10:00 and noon, before the cruise coaches fill the lot, and pay the 5 USD day-use fee to enter the visitor center. You scan the icefield through the observatory glass, then take the 0.7-mile Nugget Falls Trail to stand where the cascade meets the lake.
Later you trade the boardwalk for water: a guided canoe paddle carries you across Mendenhall Lake toward floating bergs, the blue ice close enough to hear it crack. Back ashore, you lace up for a guided hike along the West Glacier route, gaining elevation until the whole frozen valley opens below. By late afternoon your boots are damp, your camera full, and the glacier still groans behind you.
Start inside the visitor center to watch the 15-minute orientation film, browse interactive exhibits on glacial dynamics and Juneau Icefield, and pick up a Glacier Expedition Club sheet for children. Rangers are on hand to answer questions.
Walk the short paved Photo Point Trail from the visitor center for a direct view of the glacier face and blue icebergs floating on Mendenhall Lake. This platform is the classic panoramic viewpoint used by most mendenhall glacier tours.
Follow the raised boardwalk loop along Steep Creek, where black bears fish for sockeye salmon from late June onward. Viewing platforms allow close observation without disturbing wildlife.
Take the 2-mile round-trip gravel trail along Mendenhall Lake to Nugget Falls, a two-tiered waterfall that drops roughly 375 feet into the lake near the glacier terminus. This is one of the most rewarding mendenhall glacier tour routes.
For visitors with more time, this 3.5-mile loop climbs through old-growth rainforest for elevated views of the glacier and surrounding Tongass National Forest. Carry insect repellent as mosquitoes are present in the dense canopy.
The landmarks, rooms, and views travelers on Mendenhall Glacier tours remember — all visible on a single visit.
The glacier is a 13-mile-long river of ice that descends from the 1,500-square-mile Juneau Icefield, one of the largest icefields in the world outside the polar regions; the terminus calves blue icebergs directly into Mendenhall Lake.
This two-tiered waterfall drops approximately 375 feet from Nugget Creek into Mendenhall Lake near the glacier terminus, reached via a free 2-mile round-trip gravel trail; the roar and mist of the falls are audible well before arrival.
A raised boardwalk loop along Steep Creek gives visitors close views of black bears fishing for sockeye salmon from late June onward; live webcam footage of this spot streams continuously from the Forest Service website.
This short paved walkway is the most visited viewpoint in the entire Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, offering a direct sightline to the glacier face, Mendenhall Lake, and the surrounding Coast Mountains; tern colonies nest on the lakeshore nearby and are monitored by live camera.
The visitor center, constructed in 1962 as the first facility of its kind in the entire National Forest System, features a glass-walled observation deck, interactive exhibits on glacial retreat, a continuously running 15-minute film, and a ranger-staffed bookstore.
Every Mendenhall Glacier tour side-by-side — duration, what's included, how you redeem.
| Experience | From | Duration | Transfers | Pickup | Lunch | Tax inc. | Free cancel. | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Skip-the-line Most popular
Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier & Whale Watching Day Trip
|
— | 4 hr 30 min | — | — | — | — | ✓ | €199 | Book → |
|
Standard Entry
Juneau Glacier & Whale Watching Extended Tour
|
— | 5 hr | — | — | — | — | ✓ | €172 | Book → |
|
Guided Experience
Mendenhall Lake Canoe Adventure
|
— | 4 hr | — | — | — | — | ✓ | €217 | Book → |
|
Premium Combo
Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure: Canoe & Hike Tour
|
— | 5 hr | — | — | — | — | ✓ | €327 | Book → |
|
Luxury / Private
Juneau Helicopter Glacier Landing Adventure
|
— | 3 hr 25 min | — | — | — | — | ✓ | €372 | Book → |
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Practical details for Mendenhall Glacier tickets straight from our verified partners — hours, access, rules, and how to get there.
6000 Glacier Spur Rd, Juneau, AK 99801
Main drop-off and pick-up point for all shuttle services; day-use fee kiosks are in the adjacent parking lot.
Open in Google MapsDrive 13 miles from downtown Juneau via Egan Drive, turn onto Mendenhall Loop Road, then Glacier Spur Road to the visitor center; free parking available.
Capital Transit bus to Mendenhall Loop Road and Dredge Lake Road stop, then 1.5-mile walk along Glacier Spur Road sidewalk.
Private shuttle companies depart from near the cruise ship docks and drop off directly at the visitor center; Blue Bus Glacier Express by M&M Tours is a popular option with narrated commentary.
Taxis available from downtown Juneau; Lyft operates in Juneau but drivers are not authorized to enter the park.
Dress in waterproof, layered clothing even in summer — southeast Alaska weather changes rapidly and rain is common year-round near the glacier. Sturdy, closed-toe footwear with grip is essential for gravel trails and potentially icy terrain near Mendenhall Lake. A light fleece or insulated jacket is advisable regardless of forecast.
There is no formal security screening at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. Bring a daypack for layers, water, and snacks. Bear spray is permitted and recommended if you plan to hike trails beyond the visitor center grounds. Keep bags secured and food sealed to avoid attracting wildlife.
Photography is freely permitted throughout the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, including inside the visitor center. The Photo Point Trail offers a designated paved platform with direct sightlines to the glacier face and Mendenhall Lake. Do not approach wildlife for photos; black bears are regularly seen at Steep Creek. Drone use requires a Special Use Permit from the Tongass National Forest.
The visitor center is accessible from the parking lots by stairs, elevator, and an easy ramp. Interior exhibit halls are wheelchair-friendly. The Photo Point Trail is a short paved walkway suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Nugget Falls Trail is gravel and mostly flat; strollers can navigate it with some assistance. Steep Creek Trail features raised boardwalks. Accessible restrooms are available inside the visitor center.
Mobile phone signal is generally available in the visitor center parking area and along the main trails, though it may be intermittent deeper into the forest. The Forest Service maintains live webcams of Photo Point, Steep Creek salmon spawning, and beaver activity — check these at fs.usda.gov before your visit to preview conditions. Portable battery packs are useful for longer hikes.
Mendenhall Glacier is one of Juneau's top family destinations, with a free Glacier Expedition Club activity sheet that rangers stamp at each trail stop — children who complete it earn membership in the club. Kids 15 and under enter free year-round. The 15-minute orientation film in the visitor center runs continuously and suits all ages. Steep Creek's boardwalk is safe and engaging for young children during salmon and bear-viewing season.
No food vendors operate inside the visitor center. From May through September, eating food on the trails or near Steep Creek is discouraged due to active bear activity in the area; only sealed water is generally acceptable on trail. Pack snacks and consume them in the visitor center or at designated picnic areas. The nearest restaurants and cafes are in Juneau's Mendenhall Valley, roughly 3–4 miles away.
Pets are not permitted on the Steep Creek Trail or the Photo Point Trail due to bear activity and sensitive wildlife habitat. Dogs are allowed on other trails in the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, including the Nugget Falls Trail and East Glacier Trail, but must remain on a leash at all times. Do not bring pets to areas where bears are regularly observed.
The visitor center, built in 1962, was the first in the entire National Forest System and attracts more than 400,000 visitors annually. America the Beautiful Annual, Senior, Access, and Military passes are accepted in lieu of the day-use fee. A $15 collectible season pass is also available, covering the cardholder and one guest for unlimited visits through September 30.
6000 Glacier Spur Rd, Juneau, AK 99801
Main drop-off and pick-up point for all shuttle services; day-use fee kiosks are in the adjacent parking lot.
Get directions
490 S Franklin St, Juneau, AK 99801
Primary shuttle and tour departure hub near cruise ship docks, 1-minute walk from main pier; Blue Bus Glacier Express departs nearby.
Get directionsBest time to go, insider tips, nearby landmarks, and the cancellation fine print — flip through to skim what matters to you.
How crowds, weather, and events shift across the year.
Peak season with longest daylight, salmon spawning at Steep Creek from late June, and active bear viewing; visitor center fully staffed, mendenhall glacier tours run daily, but cruise ship crowds peak midday.
Visitor center reopens with summer hours; entry fee applies from May 1; fewer crowds than July–August and good conditions for wildlife spotting before peak salmon season.
Late-season light is ideal for photography; crowds thin after Labor Day; salmon runs continue; last month for the $5 day-use fee before winter hours take effect.
Visitor center open Friday–Saturday only, 10:00–16:00; no entrance fee; the glacier landscape takes on a stark, quiet character with possible snowfall and far fewer visitors.
Small details that turn a good visit into a great one.
The visitor center opens at 10:00 and the first hour is consistently the least crowded; most cruise ship tours arrive between 11:00 and 14:00, so early entry gives you calm viewing at Photo Point and a quieter orientation film experience.
The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center is closed every Saturday; plan your mendenhall glacier tour for any other day of the week to avoid a wasted trip to a locked building.
Automated fee kiosks in the parking lot accept cards and the Token Transit app, cutting the indoor queue significantly on busy days; the $5 day-use fee is also covered if you book a shuttle tour that includes the park pass.
Black bears frequent Steep Creek from late June through September; if you plan to hike beyond the visitor center — especially toward Nugget Falls — carrying bear spray is strongly recommended and rentals are available from outfitters in downtown Juneau.
The Forest Service streams real-time footage of the glacier face, Photo Point tern colony, and Steep Creek salmon pool at fs.usda.gov; checking these the morning of your visit tells you whether bears are active and confirms current ice conditions.
The Nugget Falls Trail, East Glacier Trail, Powerline Trail, Moraine Ecology Trail, Trail of Time, and all Dredge Lakes and West Glacier Trails are accessible without the $5 day-use pass; only the visitor center interior, Pavilion, Photo Point, and Steep Creek Trails require the fee.
Non-bookable sights within a short walk — free to visit, easy to pair.
Network of trails and former gold-dredge ponds in the Mendenhall Valley, free to access year-round.
Aerial tram rising 1,800 feet above Juneau with panoramic views of Lynn Canal and the surrounding Coast Mountains.
Permanent collections on Alaska Native cultures, Russian colonial history, and natural history; located in downtown Juneau.
Focused on Juneau's gold rush era and indigenous Tlingit heritage; free admission for Juneau residents.
USFS rangers interpret the ecology and geology of the 17-million-acre Tongass National Forest from within the glacier visitor center building.
Flexible, no hidden fees.
Day-use passes purchased at parking lot kiosks or inside the visitor center are non-refundable. The $5 USD per-person fee is a standard day-use charge and is not tied to a reservation, so no cancellation window applies.
Hand-picked options within walking distance — pick a district for vibe, or a specific hotel for convenience.
Several mid-range hotels and chain properties cluster near the Mendenhall Valley mall corridor, convenient for early glacier access without downtown pricing.
Downtown Juneau property within walking distance of the state capitol and waterfront; free parking available for glacier day-trips.
Modern full-service hotel near downtown Juneau with amenities including complimentary breakfast; good base for day-trippers.
Historic 1906 craftsman B&B in a residential neighborhood near the Juneau Governor's Mansion.
Budget-friendly downtown property, walking distance to Capital Transit stops for glacier access.
During summer (May 1–September 30) the visitor center is open Sunday through Friday from 10:00 to 17:00 and is closed on Saturdays. Call +1-907-789-0097 or check fs.usda.gov for intermittent spring and fall hours.
A day-use fee of $5 USD per person applies to visitors age 16 and older from May 1 through September 30; this covers entry to the visitor center, the Pavilion, Photo Point, and Steep Creek Trails. America the Beautiful federal lands passes are also accepted. Hiking the Nugget Falls Trail, East Glacier Trail, and several other trails on the grounds is free.
Arrive at the 10:00 opening to beat cruise ship tour groups, which typically arrive between 11:00 and 14:00. Saturday is the one day the visitor center is closed, and the lightest weekday crowds tend to be on Monday and Tuesday mornings.
Rental car is the most direct option, a 20–25 minute drive from downtown via Egan Drive and Glacier Spur Road with free parking on site. Capital Transit public buses stop 1.5 miles away for about $2 each way, requiring a 30-minute walk. Private shuttle services depart from near the cruise docks and drop off directly at the visitor center for roughly $80–$90 round-trip including the park pass.
Yes — the visitor center is reached from its parking lots by stairs, an elevator, and an easy paved ramp. The Photo Point Trail is a short paved walkway suitable for wheelchairs, and Steep Creek Trail features raised boardwalks. Accessible restrooms are available inside the building.
Nugget Falls Trail is a 2-mile round-trip gravel path from the visitor center to a waterfall that drops roughly 375 feet into Mendenhall Lake; the trail is free to hike and takes about one hour round-trip. It is included in most mendenhall glacier tour itineraries.
Black bears are regularly seen at Steep Creek, particularly from late June through September during salmon spawning. Stay on designated trails, maintain a distance of at least 50 yards from bears, never feed wildlife, and consider carrying bear spray on longer hikes. The area is heavily visited and incidents are rare when guidelines are followed.
Wear waterproof, layered clothing and sturdy grip footwear as southeast Alaska weather changes quickly. Bring a refillable water bottle, sunscreen, insect repellent, and binoculars for glacier and wildlife viewing. If you plan to hike beyond the visitor center, bear spray is recommended.
Photography is freely permitted throughout the recreation area, including inside the visitor center. The designated Photo Point platform provides the best unobstructed view of the Juneau Icefield glacier terminus. Commercial filming and drone operation require a Special Use Permit from the Tongass National Forest.
Dogs are welcome on many trails including Nugget Falls Trail and East Glacier Trail but must remain on a leash at all times. Pets are not permitted on Steep Creek Trail or Photo Point Trail due to active wildlife habitat. Check current trail-specific rules at the visitor center.
Most trails, including Nugget Falls Trail, are free to access without entering the visitor center. If you arrive on a Saturday, you can still walk the free trails on the grounds; the visitor center building and fee-access trails (Steep Creek, Photo Point) will be closed.
Visitors 15 and under enter free year-round. The $5 day-use fee applies only to those age 16 and older, and only from May 1 through September 30.
