Juneau offers exceptional photo opportunities for cruise passengers, including Mendenhall Glacier and its visitor center, the downtown waterfront with cruise ships backdropped by mountains, Mount Roberts Tramway for aerial views, historic South Franklin Street’s colorful buildings, and whale-watching excursions in the Inside Passage. The nearby Nugget Falls and Tracy Arm Fjord provide stunning natural backdrops.
Quick Facts for Photography in Juneau
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Port Time | Most cruises dock 7-9 hours |
| Distance to Mendenhall | 13 miles (20-25 minutes by taxi/bus) |
| Best Light | Morning (8-11am) and late afternoon (4-7pm) |
| Weather | Rain likely; bring lens cloth and protective gear |
| Tram Operating Hours | Opens early morning, check seasonal schedules |
| Whale Season Peak | May through September |
Want to know more about exploring Alaska cruise ports?
Downtown Waterfront and Harbor Shots
The cruise ship dock area itself provides surprisingly dramatic photography opportunities that many passengers overlook in their rush to excursions. The working harbor buzzes with floatplanes taking off every few minutes, and those seaplanes against the mountain backdrop make for quintessentially Alaskan images.
The best vantage point is actually from the end of the dock looking back toward town. You’ll capture the colorful buildings of downtown Juneau with Mount Juneau rising directly behind them. Early morning when your ship first docks offers softer light and fewer tourists cluttering your frame.
Pro tip: Don’t pack away your camera when boarding. Some of the most dramatic shots happen as your ship departs in the evening with the low sun illuminating the mountains.
Mendenhall Glacier Photography Guide
Getting to Mendenhall Glacier requires about 40-50 minutes round-trip travel time plus however long you spend there. Budget at least two hours total if you want more than just the obligatory glacier selfie.
Best Viewing Locations at Mendenhall
- Visitor Center Viewing Platform: Wheelchair accessible with unobstructed glacier views across Mendenhall Lake. Gets crowded between 11am-2pm.
- Photo Point Trail: Easy 0.5-mile path that brings you closer to the glacier’s edge with Nugget Falls visible in the same frame. This is where the postcard shots happen.
- Nugget Falls Trail: One mile each way but worth it for close-ups of the 377-foot waterfall with glacier ice in the background. The mist creates interesting lighting effects.
- Steep Creek: July and August only, when salmon run and black bears come to fish. Located near the visitor center with viewing platforms.
Technical Considerations
Glacier photography presents unique challenges. The bright ice can fool your camera’s light meter into underexposing your shots. Use exposure compensation of +1 to +1.5 stops or shoot in manual mode. A polarizing filter cuts glare from the ice and water while making the blue tones more vivid.
That stunning blue color in glacier ice only appears in certain lighting conditions and angles. Overcast days actually work better than harsh sunshine for capturing those ethereal blue tones.
Mount Roberts Tramway for Aerial Perspectives
The Mount Roberts Tramway launches right from downtown and climbs 1,800 feet in about six minutes. This is your easiest route to elevated photography without hiking steep trails in limited port time.
From the top you’ll shoot down onto Gastineau Channel with cruise ships looking like toy boats. The viewing platforms face multiple directions so you can capture Douglas Island, the downtown area and surrounding peaks in the same visit.
The challenge here is shooting through windows or dealing with protective railings that can obstruct your lens. Arrive early before crowds form and you can position yourself at the best spots. A wide-angle lens (16-35mm range) works better than telephoto in the confined viewing areas.
The Nature Center at the summit has large windows that can serve as impromptu shooting positions. Just watch for reflections and press your lens hood against the glass.
Historic Downtown Architecture and Street Photography
South Franklin Street delivers colorful Victorian-era storefronts that photograph beautifully, especially the Red Dog Saloon and nearby buildings with their weathered wooden facades and hand-painted signs. This is also covered in detail in our walking guide to Juneau.
The Alaska State Capitol building sits just a few blocks uphill from the cruise docks. Its modest appearance surprises most visitors expecting something grander, but the columned entrance with mountains behind makes for interesting civic architecture shots.
Street photography works well here because tourists are everywhere and locals are accustomed to cameras. The mix of cruise passengers, fishermen, and business people creates dynamic scenes. Just be respectful and ask permission before photographing individuals in close-up portraits.
Wildlife Photography Opportunities
Juneau’s location makes it prime territory for marine wildlife encounters. Humpback whales feed in the nutrient-rich waters around the port from May through September. Book a wildlife viewing excursion or simply watch from shore near the cruise terminal, especially early morning.
For detailed techniques on capturing wildlife shots, check out our comprehensive Alaska wildlife photography guide.
Wildlife Photography Essentials
- Lens requirements: Minimum 200mm for whales from boats, 300mm or longer for distant wildlife
- Shutter speed: Keep it at 1/1000 second or faster to freeze breaching whales and bird flight
- Continuous shooting mode: Wildlife doesn’t pose; you need burst mode to catch the action
- Weather sealing: Boat spray and rain are constants; protect your gear with rain covers
- Stabilization: Essential on moving boats where tripods are useless and often prohibited
Bald eagles perch throughout downtown Juneau, often on pilings near the docks. They’re so common that locals barely notice them, but they make spectacular subjects. A 70-200mm lens can capture frame-filling eagle portraits without disturbing the birds.
Tracy Arm Fjord Considerations
Some cruise itineraries include sailing through Tracy Arm Fjord rather than docking at Juneau, or it may be offered as an excursion option. This narrow fjord features towering granite cliffs, waterfalls cascading hundreds of feet, and the twin Sawyer Glaciers at its terminus.
Photography here happens entirely from the ship. Position yourself on the bow or forward decks for head-on perspectives as you enter the fjord. The port and starboard sides offer different views, so you’ll want to move around rather than claiming one spot.
Ice floating in the water (called bergy bits and growlers) provides foreground interest for glacier shots. The challenge is that everyone else wants the same angles, so deck space gets competitive during prime viewing times.
Weather and Light Management
Juneau receives substantial rainfall and overcast conditions dominate. Rather than fighting this, embrace it. Cloudy skies provide soft, even light that’s actually preferable for many subjects including forests, waterfalls and glacier details.
Pack microfiber cloths because your lens will get wet. Rain drops on the front element ruin shots, and you’ll constantly wipe your glass. Keep lens cloths in multiple pockets so they’re always accessible.
Summer brings extended daylight with usable light from about 5am until 10pm. This means you can shoot earlier or later than you might elsewhere, though your cruise ship schedule still constrains you.
Bonus Tips
- Bring extra memory cards and batteries; cold temperatures drain batteries faster than you expect
- The gift shop near the tram base sells disposable rain ponchos that can protect camera bags in sudden downpours
- Taxi drivers know which spots have current wildlife activity; ask them what’s been seen lately
- Ship photographers often scout locations pre-dawn; watch where they set up for ideas
- Download offline maps before leaving the ship since cell coverage can be spotty away from downtown
- The pedestrian bridge near the library offers elevated views of the boat harbor without hiking
- Polarizing filters help with all the water and wet surfaces but reduce light by about 2 stops
- Back up photos to cloud storage or a second device before leaving port; losing an entire port’s photos is devastating
- Tour boats and excursion groups create predictable movement patterns; time your shots between groups for cleaner scenes
Gear Recommendations for Limited Port Time
Cruise passengers face unique constraints. You’re walking considerable distances, have limited time and can’t return to your cabin easily for different equipment. This demands careful gear choices.
Ideal Kit for Juneau
- One versatile zoom: A 24-200mm or similar covers most situations without lens changes in wet weather
- Weatherproof camera bag: Rain covers or waterproof bags protect gear during sudden showers
- Smartphone: Don’t underestimate phone cameras for quick shots and they’re always accessible
- Lightweight tripod or monopod: Only if you’re planning specific long-exposure waterfall shots; otherwise it’s dead weight
- Lens hood: Essential for reducing rain on the lens and improving contrast
Leave the massive telephoto and multiple camera bodies on the ship unless you’re on a dedicated photography excursion. You’ll regret hauling extra weight through town and on trails.
Common Questions and FAQ
Can I get good photos without booking an expensive excursion?
Absolutely. The downtown waterfront, South Franklin Street architecture and Mount Roberts Tramway are all accessible independently. Even Mendenhall Glacier is reachable by taxi or public bus. The main advantage of guided photo tours is having a knowledgeable guide who knows current wildlife locations and optimal shooting spots, plus transportation is handled for you.
How much time should I allocate for Mendenhall Glacier photography?
Plan for 2.5 to 3 hours total including travel time. This allows 90 minutes at the glacier for walking to viewpoints and taking photos without rushing. If you want to hike to Nugget Falls, add another hour.
Will I see the Northern Lights from my cruise ship in Juneau?
Extremely unlikely during cruise season. Aurora viewing requires darkness, and summer nights in Juneau have extended twilight without true darkness. Northern Lights are primarily a winter phenomenon in Alaska when cruise ships don’t operate.
Is drone photography allowed at Juneau photo spots?
Mendenhall Glacier is within Tongass National Forest where drone use requires permits and has strict restrictions. Downtown Juneau prohibits drones near the harbor and cruise facilities. Mount Roberts Tramway area doesn’t allow drones. Unless you’ve researched specific permissions in advance, leave the drone on the ship.
What’s the biggest mistake cruise passengers make with Juneau photography?
Trying to see everything in one port day and ending up with nothing but rushed snapshots from bus windows. Choose two or three locations maximum and spend quality time at each. A few excellent images from two spots beat dozens of mediocre shots from six locations.
Are there any restrictions on photographing at the cruise terminal?
General photography is fine, but security may restrict photos of specific infrastructure or security checkpoints. Commercial photography requires permits. The working docks are active industrial areas so follow posted signs and crew instructions.
Personal Experience
When our cruise ship pulled into Juneau last summer, I had maybe six hours to capture the magic of Alaska, and I wasn’t about to waste a minute. I headed straight to the Mount Roberts Tramway because everyone said the views from up there were unbeatable – and they were right. The ride up gives you sweeping shots of the Gastineau Channel with cruise ships looking tiny below, and once you’re at the top, the panoramic views of mountains and waterways are absolutely stunning. I spent about an hour up there, and the natural light in the late morning was perfect for photos.
After that, I grabbed a cab to Mendenhall Glacier, which is about 20 minutes from downtown. This is where you really feel like you’re in Alaska – standing in front of this massive wall of blue ice with Nugget Falls thundering in the background. The viewing platforms near the visitor center are great, but I walked the short Photo Point Trail to get closer shots of the glacier framed by the lake. On my way back to the ship, I got lucky and spotted a couple of humpback whales feeding near the harbor entrance. My zoom lens came in handy there! The key is prioritizing just two or three spots rather than trying to see everything, so you actually have time to take decent photos instead of just snapping pictures through a bus window.