I hear sometimes waiting for the blue shuttle can be nightmarish too. The most intense blue occurs in crevasses and when ice breaks off, or calves, from a glacier's face. Juneau's most popular attraction (and the most easily accessible Alaska glacier) is the mighty, magnificent Mendenhall Glacier, located just 13 miles from downtown Juneau and only a few minutes from the airport. You can choose to hike to Nugget Falls (plan 1.5 hours for a leisurely walk or at least 1 hour if you hurry), take the Photo Point Trail (20 round trip), look for wildlife along the Steep Creek trail, or stroll up the easy walk to the Visitor Center. Nearby Steep Creek is the spawning stream for wild sockeye salmon from late July through early September. Great tour, with friendly and helpful customer service, and the driver shared funny and informative stories of the city! Premier Whale Watch and Mendenhall Glacier Combo 2023 - Juneau - Viator The driver was cheesy - bad jokes, repeated himself, kinda odd Five other trails feature short hikes near the visitor center, including the one-mile trail to Nugget Falls along the shore. Due to the ice-cold temperature of the water, its only recommended for people who are physically fit and have experience kayaking. Definitely a must do tour. Public Transportation: You can take the city bus from Juneau for a small fee, but it does not leave from the cruise ship dock or come all the way to the visitor center. Quiet little visitor centre, great walk out to falls. Idea place for photography. The fjord triggers sensory overload. Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Tour. What restaurants are near Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center? US$ 345.45 per person Water activity . First of all, the bus started about 10 to 15 minutes late due to waiting for a few passengers. Amazing vistas. Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure (Juneau) - All You Need to Know You could do this all in about 90 minutes. Wow wow wow - no other words / this was a one in a lifetime experience - our family has a memory that will never be forgotten. We had a fabulous time canoeing to the glacier and waterfall yesterday. When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. Mendenhall Glacier Tours 4 Tours & Activities Nature and Wildlife Tours 23 Tours & Activities Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises 51 Tours & Activities Why you are seeing these recommendations Reserve Now & Pay Later Premier Whale Watch and Mendenhall Glacier Combo 501 Reviews Juneau, United States They know the glacier and areas well. There you can also visit the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center for an elevated view of the glacier as well as interactive geological exhibits explaining glacier formation. He made the tour even livelier! There is no beverage or food service available to prevent bears from becoming food-conditioned. If you are on the fence about which company to go with, definitely choose these guys! Another bus driver with M&M Tours told us he could do nothing and did not offer to call the office. Mobile ticket Offered in: English Explore our promoted experiences Juneau, Alaska Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. From this height, you can see why NASA chose this area as one of the places on Earth that "captured the emotional sensations that one might encounter while walking on the moon.". Juneau Shore Excursion: Paddle with Whales! Driver was very entertaining. To add more items, please delete some old ones. (But don't let rain discourage your trip! Kudos to Maryann our tour guide! Before 1765, the face of the glacier reached 2.5 miles farther down the Mendenhall Valley. The 2 stops before that were short, but acceptable because we had time to take a few photographs. Tripadvisor gives a Travellers Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor. Lena and Kels were great guides! Hire a taxi/private tour vehicle - save some $$ off the ships. From $75.00 Lowest Price Guarantee Select Date and Travelers Check Availability Reserve Now & Pay Later Secure your spot while staying flexible Free cancellation Up to 24 hours in advance. Another very rugged route extends further from the main trail toward the glacier itself, but is recommended only for experienced backcountry travelers prepared for route finding. Spend time with our professional . The Mendenhall Glacier is one of Juneau's most impressive natural wonders, stretching over 13 miles (21 kilometers). Warm layers (beanie, wool socks, gloves and non-cotton layers are recommended), Confirmation will be received at time of booking, Not recommended for guests with back or hip problems, Full use of limbs for up to 2 hours canoe paddling and 1.5 hours of trekking, Ability to hike over steep uneven terrain for approximately 1-2 miles, PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent flooding and glacial ice erosion, this tour no longer provides access to WALK ON GLACIER ICE, Not recommended for travellers with back problems, No heart problems or other serious medical conditions, Travellers should have a strong physical fitness level, This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travellers. I dont like exercising but I will paddled again through that beautiful lake. Featured on GOOD MORNING AMERICA -- travel back to the Ice Ages with Alaska's original glacier helicopter tour! When is Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center open? A half-mile wide, with ice up to 1,800 feet deep, it's little wonder this is Juneau's most popular destination. By car: An easy drive from downtown Juneau, take Egan Drive and turn right at Mendenhall Loop Road which turns into Glacier Spur Road and ends at the Visitor Center. Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center (Juneau) - All You Need to Know Naturalist John Muir named the glacier Auke Glacier in 1888. Additionally, I booked a tour earlier that didnt meet our port times and Liquid Alaska managed to move us to another tour that worked better. Highly recommend this your. Small pieces of glacier float up to the shoreline so you can pick them up for photo opportunities. Free personal GPSdriven travel guide to Alaska. Juneau glacier viewing is often best on overcast days, so don't let a little rain dampen your plans. If you have questions about tours prior to booking, please email [emailprotected]. Winding along Mendenhall Lake, the closest trail to the glacier itself, youll find a stunning 377-foot waterfall cascading into an iceberg lake with a magnificent glacier in the background another amazing photo opportunity. The Visitor Center added an informative dimension to our glacier hike, well timed, fun and useful (not to mention clean restrooms). You can choose to paddle or just sit back and enjoy the day. While the movement is very, very slow, the glacier is always moving and flowing downhill like a river. 2-5 day small ship explorations. No visit to Juneau is complete without a close-up look at the Mendenhall Glacier, one of Alaskas most popular attractions. He passed them around for purchase which just made it awkward. Juneau Shuttle To The Mendenhall Glacier - Juneau Tours Take a short trek down Photo Point Trail to a lookout platform for an unobstructed view of the glaciers face and a perfect photo opportunity. The glacier was a great experience. Check trail times,difficulty and the shuttle departure times with your driver before you go. Easily reached by taking one of the many small buses from the cruise docks that will drop you off within a few 100 ft of the visitor center and return multiple times for a return trip. From the colorful port, to the busy capitol building, to the famous whale statue, this unique city has a surprise around every corner. If you have further questions please email [emailprotected] or if it is an urgent matter you can call 1-888-586-8489, Please email us at [emailprotected] or call 1-888-586-8489In order to check the status of your reservation request, please use the following link: alaskashoreexcursions.com/order-status. Mendenhall Glacier is one of 38 glaciers that flow from Juneau Icefield. What's the Secret to Catching Salmon in Alaska? There is an interesting visitor's centre that is accessible by either a ramp or, after a short walk, an elevator. 100% of travellers recommend this experience. Gustavus is located about 33 air miles from Juneau. During the summer, expect highs in the 60s and always bring a rain jacket - just in case. A trip to Tracy Arm is a full day round-trip boat tour that takes you just south of Juneau. Alec and Ben are awesome guides and took us paddling across the lake and up to Mendenhall Glacier. There should be more people like them doing these special activities.. 99% of travellers recommend this experience. Its active face regularly calves big icebergs and brash into its lake. Bus Tours. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experiences start time. The Mendenhall is one of 38 large and more than 100 smaller valley glaciers in the Juneau Icefield. Glaciers put off a mystical blue color caused by a unique crystalline structure that absorbs and reflects light, giving the ice its unique hue. If you are not on a cruise ship please be sure to call to confirm schedule for the day you are in town. It takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour round trip to walk to the waterfall and glacier, but the tour only gives you an hour before the bus leaves. If you're in the Juneau area, a visit to the Mendenhall Glacier is a must-do activity. Spend as much time feasting, exploring, and enjoying the entertainment before heading back to your cruise ship. Incredible, amazing guides Bryce and Kelby brought the whole experience to life. Holding up to 14 guests, you can avoid the crowded whale-watching boats and enjoy the amazing marine life Juneau has to offer. However, there are no public trails to the Mendenhall Glacier ice caves, and while beautiful, glaciers are ever-changing and may be dangerous. Please note: prices are per boat, which holds 1-14 passengers. Make a wishlist on Viator and win up to $7,000 towards your dream getaway. In winter, the visitor center is open Friday-Sunday from 10am to 4pm and closed on federal holidays. Pickup and drop off is conveniently located at the cruise ship terminal next to the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway. Disembark at the Mendenhall Glacier and explore both this landmark and its visitor center. It was a nice walk and great oportnist to take amazing photos. The ice field is the reason that Juneau has no roads running in or out. See tickets Full view All photos (363) Top ways to experience Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure and nearby attractions Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure in Juneau With more time to spend, there are plenty of additional options as well. Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier - Viator If you would like to exchange one tour for a different one, you must create a new reservation for the new tour and send us an email to cancel the other tour. Well done. The ice is bluest in the areas least exposed to air. Would give more than 5 stars if I could!! Enjoy a one-hour hike to 400-foot-tall Nugget Falls. Innkeepers can arrange guided sea excursions, including kayaking, whale watching tours to Point Adolphus, or fishing in salt or fresh water. Year after year, snow accumulates and compacts underlying snow layers from previous years into solid ice. Just the luck of the tour I guess. The Mendenhall Glacier is great in all weather. The glacier is beautiful on cloudy days.). What a great experience. Book Now 2 hours on-the-water whale watching for Humpback whales, sea lions, bald eagles, and other wildlife. Here you will discover the magnificent ice features up close. Was the first time for me and my husband doing paddle and Paul and Bryce have been exceptional guides, super professional but also funny and friendly, you can really feel the passion behind the job! For the tour they provides transportation, jackets, pants, helmets and boots of great quality, we had also a good hot chocolate and snacks during the tour; from the beginning to the endwas definitely the best part of our trip in Alaska It was raining when we headed out but ended up a sunny beautiful day when we were at the glacier. It is a well-maintained, gentle trail with dirt and gravel. The visitors center charges a small fee for entry, but you can use the restrooms and visit the bookstore for free. The Trail of Time, a .5-mile paved interpretive walk, features signs marking the glaciers recession. Take the spur road another 1.5 miles to the visitor center. Nice, but they should allow 2hrs at the park. . Similar experiences. Combine this with a visit to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor's Center for an excursion of a lifetime. The driver was Informative and good. Glacier Bay National Park, with its incredible collection of tidewater glaciers and 3 million acres of wilderness, is just a short trip to the west. Explore Mendenhall Glacier on this exclusive adventure tour into the Alaskan Wilderness. On your way to the ice, you will be surrounded by breathtaking scenery of mountain peaks nestled in the Tongass National Forest. For even more to do in Juneau, check out our list of thebest things to do in Juneau. The payoff was nice though you don't get too far out on the glacier, very few groups will get to go where you do. Its active face regularly calves big icebergs and brash into its lake. Explore Mendenhall Glacier on this exclusive adventure tour into the Alaskan Wilderness. Enjoy the spectacular sight of the waterfall spilling into an iceberg-filled lake, with the glacier in the background. Looking to do the Glacier and Whale watching. Car, train, or group tour. The two stop points in Juneau were ok It's up to you! 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