Juneau Glacier Lake Paddle Excursion

Air-conditioned and licensed round trip transportation from your Juneau cruise pier area!
English speaking, local and trained Juneau shore excursion guides!
Van transfer to Mendenhall Lake!
Use of two-person sea kayak!
All equipment and gear required!
Lake paddle near the face of Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls!
Water and healthy snack!
All fees and taxes included!
Escape the cruise ship shore excursion crowds and enjoy unique sights of Juneau and surrounding area!

Experience the famous Mendenhall Glacier from a perspective that few others ever get to see, from your two-person kayak on Mendenhall Lake.

Departing from the cruise ship docks in downtown Juneau, your small intimate group will be transferred to the Mendenhall Valley, approximately 30 minutes drive from town. Upon arrival at the kayak base, it is a short walk to the put in location where you will meet your guide. They will help gear you up and give you a safety briefing. A few final adjustments to your shared, two-person kayaks and you will be ready to launch. Paddling experience is not required, just a sense of adventure and good physical health...your guides will demonstrate what to do and give you tips.

Paddling along the shoreline of Mendenhall Lake, through the silt-rich water, you are not sure which way to look. Along the shore, you may spot wildlife such as black bear, porcupine, river otter or beaver. Above, birds, including eagles, arctic terns and gulls catch the breezes coming off the glacier. Ahead of you, winding down a valley rimmed with snow-capped mountains is the mighty Mendenhall glacier.

Your guide will lead you on a weaving path between the floating icebergs, giving you an unparalleled viewing angle of the immense river of ice of Mendenhall Glacier ahead of you. Although for safety reasons you cannot get up next to the glacier face, as large chunks of ice are daily breaking off (calving) into the water below, but your guide will take you as close as is safely possible that day. Compared to the crowds at the visitor's center a mile across the lake behind you, you definitely have safe, front row seats. A waterproof camera will help you capture the images to take back home - see note for some tips.

After viewing the glacier, your guide will continue along the lake to Nugget Waterfall, fed from mountain snow runoff and plunges into the lake not far from the glacier. Your water location gives you another great perspective that people on land just can't see.

From here, you will paddle back across the lake to your put in location on shore. Total time on the lake is approximately 3 hours. A short walk takes you back to the transportation and a 30-minute drive delivers you back downtown at your Juneau cruise pier.