Juneau Glacier Paddle and Trek 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!
Participation in 8-person canoe!
Two hour guided trek to and on the Mendenhall Glacier!
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 magnificent Mendenhall Glacier and Lake from a series of unparalleled vantage points, both on land and water, during this small group, exclusive multi-sport glacial adventure!

A 30-minute transfer by van from your downtown Juneau cruise pier brings you to the Mendenhall Valley and the start of your memorable experience. On the shores of Mendenhall Lake, you will meet your guide to start the first portion of your adventure - guided lake canoe. Your guide will help you gear up, give you a safety briefing and then introduce you to your 8-person canoe. Each canoe will have up to six guests and one guide in them. After some paddling instruction and tips, you are ready for phase one of this multi-sport glacial experience.

Pushing off into the silt-rich lake, you will point your bow in the direction of the mighty Mendenhall Glacier. Your informative guide will give you more information on the awe-inspiring sea of ice that lies ahead of you.

You will paddle past glowing blue icebergs of all shapes and sizes that have broken off the glacier. The silt off the glacier can turn the lake into a mirror and you can often see the reflections of the grand peaks of the Coastal Mountain Range in the surface. Overhead, gulls and arctic terns fly in and out of their nests along the cliffs, and along the shorelines, mountain goats, black bear, porcupine, river otter or sometimes beaver may be spotted. While paddling along the face of the glacier at a safe distance, you will also see the Nugget waterfall cascading down through the forest into the lake.

Near the glacier's edge, you will reach your beach landing point. Once your guide helps you out of your canoe, the adventure continues, as you trade in your paddles for backpacks and trekking poles. Following your guide, you will venture to the glacier's edge and onto the ice. Your expert guide will explain the natural history of the area as told by the changing glacial landscape.

Depending on the glacier's condition on the day of your excursion, your guide will chose the safest and most interesting areas to visit. They may include glacial runoff pools and streams and maybe even an ice cave. Total time including hike to the glacier is approximately two hours.

After your trek, you will return to your boats and paddle on the lake once more, taking time to experience this out of the ordinary adventure. After paddling back to your put in location on the shoreline, you will walk to your transportation, which will transfer you back to the Juneau cruise piers.