MendenhallGlacier.com
Mendenhall Glacier beside Nugget Falls under a clear blue sky, with a visitor standing on the rocks

Your independent Mendenhall Glacier guide

Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska’s river of ice

A 13-mile glacier that ends in a lake just 12 miles from downtown Juneau, with a waterfall beside it and black bears fishing the creek below the visitor center. Hand-picked tours, honest advice and everything you need to plan your visit, whether you have a week in Juneau or six hours off a cruise ship.

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Why visit Mendenhall Glacier?

A glacier you can reach by city bus

Mendenhall Glacier flows out of the vast Juneau Icefield and ends in a lake on the edge of Alaska’s capital. Few glaciers anywhere are this easy to reach, and fewer still have this much to do around them.

You can watch the ice from the visitor center windows in the morning, walk to the foot of Nugget Falls before lunch, and land on the icefield by helicopter in the afternoon. In late summer black bears fish the salmon creek beside the car park, and humpback whales feed in the channels a short drive away.

It is also a glacier in fast retreat, so the view changes from year to year. We help you choose the right experiences, book them with confidence and get more out of each one.

  • 13 mi of flowing ice
  • 12 mi from downtown Juneau
  • 377 ft Nugget Falls
The blue-white face of Mendenhall Glacier meeting the lake below forested mountains

Traveller favourites

The best Mendenhall Glacier tours & experiences

Top-rated experiences booked through GetYourGuide. Most run from May to September and many include pickup from the cruise docks. Tap any tour for live prices and availability.

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Where to go

Mendenhall’s must-see places

Everything here sits within the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area in the Tongass National Forest. Here is where to start, and how much time to allow.

The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on a forested ridge below misty mountains Visitor center

Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center

The best seat in the house

Big windows look straight across the lake to the glacier face. Inside are exhibits, a short film and rangers who can tell you where the bears were seen today.

Nugget Falls pouring into Mendenhall Lake below a steep forested mountainside Easy walk

Nugget Falls

A 377-foot waterfall beside the ice

A flat, easy walk of about two miles there and back from the visitor center ends on a gravel beach at the foot of the falls, with one of the best ground-level views of the glacier.

Visitors on the Photo Point walkway as a double rainbow arcs over the glacier and lake Accessible path

Photo Point Trail

The classic glacier photo

A short, paved path from the visitor center to a lakeshore viewpoint facing the glacier. Come early or late in the day to avoid the busiest cruise-ship hours.

A black bear wading through Steep Creek among green plants Wildlife

Steep Creek

Black bears and spawning salmon

A raised boardwalk follows the creek near the visitor center. When the salmon run in late summer, black bears often fish just below the walkway.

Hikers on a forest trail high above the wide, white tongue of Mendenhall Glacier Hiking

West Glacier Trail

The hiker’s route above the ice

A rugged trail on the far side of the lake climbs through forest to open rock with huge views over the glacier. Allow most of a day and wear good boots.

Two kayakers paddling on calm Mendenhall Lake with the glacier in the distance Lake

Mendenhall Lake

Icebergs on a young glacial lake

The lake formed in the last century as the glacier retreated, and it is still growing. Paddle it on a guided tour, or walk its shore from the campground and East Glacier trails.

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Aerial view over the Mendenhall Valley and Juneau airport towards the glacier

Where to stay

From downtown hotels to cabins in the valley

Juneau has no road connection to the rest of Alaska, and its hotels are spread along a single coastal road. Picking the right area makes a real difference to your trip. We break it into four areas, with the trade-offs and direct hotel searches for each.

  • Downtown for the cruise docks, restaurants and the tram
  • Mendenhall Valley for the glacier and the airport
  • Auke Bay for a quiet harbor and whale tours
  • Douglas Island for views back across the channel
Read the accommodation guide Search Juneau hotels

Stories & updates

Latest from the blog

Seasonal updates, trail conditions and in-depth guides to getting more out of your visit.

Two visitors standing inside a Mendenhall Glacier ice cave beneath a ceiling of blue ice Glacier science

What happened to the Mendenhall ice caves?

Photos of the glowing blue caves still circulate online, but the caves that made them famous have changed. Here is why, and the safer ways to see blue ice today.

Mendenhall Glacier and snow-dusted mountains reflected in the still lake on a grey winter day Seasons

Visiting Mendenhall Glacier in winter

The crowds are gone and the light is low and soft. What to expect from October to April, what is open, and how to get there without a tour.

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Plan like a local

Free Mendenhall Glacier travel guides

A yellow helicopter parked on the snowfield of the Juneau Icefield under a clear sky

Tours & Tickets

Our pick of helicopter, dog sled, whale and paddle tours, with who each one suits best.

Aerial view of Juneau airport and the Mendenhall Valley, with the glacier between the mountains

Getting There

Cruise docks, shuttle buses, the city bus, taxis and parking, and how long each one takes.

The blue-white face of Mendenhall Glacier meeting the lake below forested mountains

Travel Guide

Month by month: crowds, weather, bears, whales and what is open.

Plan your Mendenhall trip

Make Mendenhall more than a photo stop

Land on the icefield, paddle among icebergs, ride with a sled-dog team or pair the glacier with humpback whales. Many tours fit inside a cruise-ship day. Compare tours and book in a couple of taps.

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Good to know

Visiting Mendenhall Glacier: your questions answered

How do I get to Mendenhall Glacier from the cruise ship?

The glacier is about 12 miles from the downtown cruise docks, roughly 20 to 30
minutes by road. Glacier shuttle buses run from the docks all summer, taxis wait
nearby, and the city bus stops in the valley about a mile and a half from the
visitor center. Allow at least three to four hours for the round trip and time at
the glacier. Our getting there guide compares
every option.

Can you walk on Mendenhall Glacier?

Not from the visitor center: the glacier face sits across the lake. To stand on the
ice, book a helicopter landing or a guided glacier trek, which include the safety
equipment you need. Walking onto the ice without a guide is dangerous, because of
crevasses, unstable ice and sudden collapses.

When is the best time to visit Mendenhall Glacier?

May to September is the main season, when the visitor center keeps its longest hours
and almost all tours operate. June to August is warmest and busiest. Late summer
brings salmon to Steep Creek and the best chance of seeing black bears. Winter is
quiet and beautiful, but many tours do not run. See
when to visit.

Is there an entrance fee?

During the summer season the US Forest Service charges a small fee to enter the
visitor center. The trails and viewpoints outside are generally free. Fees and
opening hours change, so check the Forest Service before you go.

How much time do I need at the glacier?

Two to three hours covers the visitor center, Photo Point and the walk to Nugget
Falls. Add an hour for Steep Creek and a longer trail, or plan a full day for the
West Glacier Trail.

Will I see bears at Mendenhall Glacier?

Black bears live in the area and are often seen fishing at Steep Creek when the
salmon run in late summer. Sightings are never guaranteed. Keep your distance, never
leave food out, and follow rangers’ directions on the boardwalk.