Mendenhall Glacier from Your Alaska Cruise

Mendenhall Glacier is a 13-mile-long glacier located near Juneau, Alaska, accessible from most Alaska cruise itineraries. Visitors can view the glacier from the visitor center, hiking trails, or via helicopter tours. The glacier features blue ice formations, waterfalls, and opportunities to spot wildlife including bears and eagles in the surrounding Tongass National Forest.

Quick Facts About Mendenhall Glacier

Want to know more about Alaska cruise ports and what to expect beyond just Juneau? We’ve got comprehensive guides for all your stops.

Getting to Mendenhall Glacier From Your Cruise Ship

Here’s something most first-time cruisers don’t realize: you have several options beyond the cruise line’s official excursions, and some are considerably cheaper. The trick is knowing which option matches your energy level and budget.

Transportation Options

• Cruise line shore excursions: The easiest but priciest option. Buses wait right at the dock and guarantee you’ll make it back to the ship on time. You’re paying for convenience and peace of mind.
• Independent bus tours: Companies like M&M Tours and Juneau Tours pick up near the docks and cost about half what cruise lines charge. Book ahead online because they fill up fast.
• Public bus (Capital Transit): Route 3 runs from downtown to Mendenhall Valley. Costs about $2 but requires a mile walk from the bus stop to the glacier. Only recommended if you’re on a tight budget and have plenty of time.
• Taxi or rideshare: Expect $80-100 round trip. Can work well if you split costs with fellow cruisers you meet onboard.
• Rental car: Available near the port but honestly overkill for just visiting the glacier unless you’re planning a full day exploring Juneau and its surrounding attractions.

Pro tip that veteran cruisers know: if you book an independent tour, make sure it departs and returns at least 90 minutes before all-aboard time. Cruise ships will absolutely leave without you and getting to the next port on your own dime is spectacularly expensive.

What to Do at Mendenhall Glacier

The Visitor Center (Free with Entrance Fee)

Don’t skip this just because you’re eager to see ice. The center has massive floor-to-ceiling windows with arguably the best glacier views you’ll get without hiking. The exhibits explain why the ice looks blue (spoiler: it’s about light absorption and ice density) and show historic photos of where the glacier used to reach decades ago. It’s sobering and fascinating.

The gift shop is actually worth browsing – they stock field guides and local art you won’t find in the typical cruise ship shops downtown.

Easy Viewing Options

• Photo Point: A short 300-yard paved trail from the parking lot leads to viewing platforms. Wheelchair and stroller accessible. This is where you get the classic postcard shot.
• Steep Creek Trail: A quarter-mile boardwalk loop where you might spot bears fishing for salmon in July and August. Rangers post bear sighting updates on a whiteboard near the trailhead.

Hiking Trails Worth Your Time

If you’ve got decent mobility and a few hours, the trails offer perspectives you simply can’t get from the visitor center. Check out our complete walking guide to Juneau for more hiking options.

• Nugget Falls Trail (2 miles round trip): The must-do hike if you’re only picking one. Relatively flat and easy, it takes you right to the base of a 377-foot waterfall with the glacier as your backdrop. The mist from the falls can soak you on windy days so pack a light rain jacket. Budget 60-90 minutes including photo stops.
• Trail of Time (0.5 miles): Markers show where the glacier’s face was in different decades. It’s like watching time-lapse photography with your feet. Connects to other trails if you want to extend your walk.
• East Glacier Loop Trail (3.5 miles): Moderate difficulty through rainforest with glimpses of the glacier through trees. You’ll likely have this trail mostly to yourself while crowds cluster at the visitor center.
• West Glacier Trail (3.4 miles one way): This is for serious hikers only. Steep, muddy and strenuous but gets you to the glacier’s edge. Most cruise passengers don’t have time for this but if you do and you’re fit, it’s unforgettable. Requires bear awareness and proper gear.

Tour Options From Basic to Bucket List

Helicopter and Ice Walking Tours

These are the tours that’ll drain your wallet and fill your camera roll. Helicopters land you on the glacier itself where you can walk on ancient ice and peer into crevasses that glow electric blue. The experience typically lasts 3-4 hours total with 60-90 minutes on the ice.

What they don’t advertise: weight restrictions are real and they will weigh you. Flights get cancelled for weather and fog more often than you’d think especially in the morning. Book early in your cruise if possible so you can reschedule for another port day if needed. For more incredible glacier experiences, see our guide to the best glacier experiences in Alaska.

Kayaking Adventures

Paddling Mendenhall Lake puts you at glacier level with seals, waterfalls and icebergs floating past. Tours range from 2.5 to 4 hours and no experience is necessary though you will get wet. Guides provide dry suits which are less flattering than a hospital gown but keep you warm.

The downside nobody mentions: your arms will be sore the next day. Like really sore. But watching ice calve from your kayak is worth the temporary pain.

Canoe Adventures

Less tippy than kayaks and you can bring younger kids. These guided paddle trips focus more on natural history and wildlife watching than covering distance. Perfect if someone in your group is nervous about kayaking.

Wildlife Watching Tips

The Mendenhall area sits in the Tongass National Forest which means wildlife encounters are common. For a comprehensive look at what you might see, check out our guide to glacier viewing and wildlife.

• Black bears: Most active July through September at Steep Creek when salmon are running. Stay on designated paths and make noise. Rangers patrol regularly during peak bear season.
• Bald eagles: Perch in trees around Steep Creek. Look for white heads in the spruce trees – they’re bigger than you expect.
• Porcupines: Often waddle across trails in late afternoon. Adorable but give them space.
• Harbor seals: Bob around icebergs in Mendenhall Lake. Bring binoculars for better views.

What to Wear and Bring

Alaska weather is moody and Juneau gets more rain than Seattle. Dressing in layers is cruise veteran gospel and absolutely applies here.

Essential Items

• Waterproof jacket (not water-resistant – actually waterproof)
• Comfortable waterproof hiking boots or shoes with good tread
• Layers including a warm fleece or down jacket
• Hat and gloves if you’re doing helicopter tours – it’s cold on the ice even in summer
• Sunglasses – glacier glare is intense and can cause headaches
• Sunscreen – you can burn even on cloudy days with snow reflection
• Refillable water bottle
• Small backpack for layers you’ll shed

Camera Gear Considerations

Your phone camera will work fine for most shots but bring a portable charger because cold drains batteries fast. If you have a real camera, a polarizing filter cuts glare from ice and water. Ziplock bags protect electronics from sudden rain.

Here’s something photographers rarely mention: the best light for glacier photos is actually overcast days. Bright sun creates harsh shadows and washes out the blue ice. So if you wake up to gray skies, don’t despair – your photos might actually turn out better.

Timing Your Visit

Most shore excursions in Juneau start running people to Mendenhall around 8am and the crowds peak between 10am and 2pm. If your ship docks early, grab breakfast quickly and catch one of the first shuttles out. You’ll have trails practically to yourself and better chances for wildlife.

Alternatively, late afternoon after 3pm thins out considerably. The lighting gets warmer and more dramatic though you’ll have less time before needing to head back.

Bonus Tips Only Cruise Insiders Know

• The bathrooms at the visitor center are the last good ones you’ll find. Use them before hitting trails even if you don’t think you need to.
• Cell service is decent at the visitor center but gets spotty on trails. Download maps or take photos of trail signs before you wander off.
• The gift shop sells glacier ice cream made with actual glacier ice (collected from icebergs in the lake). It’s touristy but also delicious and makes for good stories back home.
• If rain cancels your glacier helicopter tour, ask about switching to a Tracy Arm Fjord flight instead. Some companies offer this flexibility and Tracy Arm Fjord is equally stunning.
• Pack snacks. The visitor center has a small cafe but it’s overpriced and uninspiring. A protein bar and apple in your bag beats $8 sad sandwiches.
• The glacier calves most actively during warmer parts of the day. If you’re patient and quiet at viewing areas you’ll likely witness ice breaking off with a thunderous crack.
• Ask visitor center staff about recent bear sightings. They track this information and can tell you which trails have been most active that day.

Families With Kids

Mendenhall works surprisingly well for families despite what you might fear about keeping kids entertained at a giant chunk of ice. For more ideas, explore our family activities guide for Juneau.

The visitor center has a Junior Ranger program where kids complete an activity booklet and get sworn in as Junior Rangers with an official badge. It’s free and keeps them engaged while you read exhibits.

The Nugget Falls trail is manageable for kids as young as five or six who are used to hiking. The waterfall payoff keeps them motivated. Pack trail snacks and frame it as an adventure rather than a nature walk.

Avoid helicopter tours with kids under eight. They get bored during the safety briefing and aren’t allowed to wander much on the ice which leads to whining. Save your money for activities they’ll actually enjoy.

Comparing Mendenhall to Other Alaska Glaciers

If you’re doing a full Alaska cruise you’ll see multiple glaciers and might wonder if Mendenhall is worth your limited port time in Juneau. Here’s the honest comparison.

Hubbard Glacier is bigger and more active with frequent calving but you view it from the ship. You can’t hike to it or touch it. It’s impressive but passive.

Mendenhall offers hands-on experiences – you can hike near it, kayak with its icebergs, or land on it via helicopter. The trade-off is it’s smaller and has retreated significantly so it’s not as massive as it once was.

For pure accessibility and variety of ways to experience a glacier, Mendenhall wins. For sheer overwhelming scale viewed from a ship deck with a cocktail in hand, Hubbard takes it.

The Retreat Reality

Something worth understanding before you visit: Mendenhall has retreated about two miles since the mid-1700s with retreat accelerating in recent decades. The visitor center exhibits show this clearly with historic photos and glacier position markers.

This isn’t meant to be depressing but rather to add urgency. What you see today won’t look the same in twenty years. The “see it while you can” cliché actually applies here.

Some visitors find this adds poignancy to their experience. You’re not just seeing a glacier – you’re witnessing a moment in geological time that’s actively changing.

Making the Most of Limited Port Time

Juneau port stops typically run 8-10 hours. If the glacier is your priority here’s how to maximize your time:

• 4-hour port stop: You’re tight on time. Book a cruise line excursion that handles transportation and timing. Stick to the visitor center and Nugget Falls trail.
• 6-hour stop: Book an independent tour or taxi. You’ll have time for the visitor center, Nugget Falls, and possibly Steep Creek if bears are active. Skip downtown shopping.
• 8+ hour stop: Now you can do the glacier in the morning and still have time to explore downtown Juneau or add a second activity. Consider a half-day glacier tour plus walking around downtown Juneau in the afternoon.

When Weather Doesn’t Cooperate

Juneau averages 230 days of precipitation annually. You’re probably going to get rained on. The glacier is actually dramatic in rain with mist and clouds adding atmosphere. Waterfalls run fuller and the rainforest smells incredible.

Dense fog is the real problem – it obscures views and grounds helicopters. If you arrive to pea soup fog, ask visitor center staff about typical burn-off times. Sometimes waiting an hour makes all the difference. Or embrace the mystery and hike anyway – the glacier appearing through lifting fog is genuinely magical.

Common Questions and FAQ

Can I touch the glacier itself without booking a tour?

No. The glacier face is across Mendenhall Lake and there’s no safe way to reach it on your own. The closest you’ll get from trails is Nugget Falls which gives you a near view. To actually walk on glacier ice you need a helicopter tour or an advanced ice climbing excursion with proper equipment and guides.

Do I need to book glacier tours before my cruise?

Helicopter tours absolutely yes – they sell out weeks in advance especially for summer sailings. Basic transportation to the visitor center you can sometimes book day-of but you’re gambling on availability. Kayaking and hiking tours should be booked at least a week ahead to ensure spots.

Are there bears on the trails?

Black bears frequent the area particularly at Steep Creek from July through September during salmon runs. Attacks are extremely rare but you should know basic bear safety – make noise while hiking, don’t approach bears, and stay on designated trails. Rangers close trails temporarily if bears are too close. This is normal and for your safety.

What if I have mobility issues?

The visitor center and Photo Point viewing area are fully wheelchair accessible with paved paths and ramps. The platform gives excellent glacier views. Nugget Falls trail is not wheelchair accessible due to rocks and roots but people with moderate mobility using walking sticks manage it slowly. Helicopter tours can accommodate some mobility limitations – call operators directly to discuss your specific needs.

Is the entrance fee charged per person?

It’s $5 per person or $8 for a family (2 adults and kids under 16). The fee supports the visitor center and trail maintenance. Some organized tours include this in their price while others don’t so check when booking.

Can we see the Northern Lights from Mendenhall?

During cruise season (May through September) Alaska has nearly 24-hour daylight so no Northern Lights are visible. The Aurora appears during dark winter months when cruise ships aren’t operating and the visitor center is closed. If Northern Lights are your goal you need a different type of Alaska trip entirely.

Will there be other cruise passengers there?

Oh yes. On days when multiple ships are in port Mendenhall sees thousands of visitors. This is why timing matters – early morning and late afternoon are significantly less crowded. The trails are less packed than the visitor center so if crowds stress you out, head for Nugget Falls where people naturally spread out.

What’s the temperature at the glacier?

Summer temperatures at Mendenhall typically range from 50-65°F but can dip into the 40s especially near the water or on overcast days. If you’re doing a helicopter tour and landing on the ice, it feels 10-15 degrees cooler with wind chill. Always bring more layers than you think you’ll need.

Personal Experience

Standing at the viewing platform near Mendenhall Glacier, I couldn’t believe something so massive could also feel so alive. The blue ice seemed to glow from within, and every few minutes we’d hear a crack echo across the valley – the glacier shifting and calving right in front of us. My kids were glued to the spot, waiting to see chunks of ice break off into the lake below. We spent way longer there than planned because everyone in our group kept saying “just five more minutes” whenever someone suggested heading back to the ship.

The trail down to Nugget Falls was totally worth the walk, even though it was a bit muddy. Getting that close to the waterfall with the glacier looming behind it made for some incredible photos, but honestly, I spent most of the time just taking it all in without my phone. The Visitor Center had some great exhibits about how much the glacier has retreated over the years, which added a whole new perspective to what we were seeing. If your cruise stops in Juneau, make sure you leave enough time for this – it’s the kind of place where you actually want to linger instead of rushing through.