Juneau Shore Excursion: Mendenhall Glacier Guided Hike
Description
Experience the Mendenhall Glacier Guide Hike, a thrilling 6-7 mile adventure! Your journey begins with a 3-mile trek through the Tongass National Forest, the world's largest temperate rainforest. Your experienced guide will lead you through this wilderness, winding past beaver ponds and scrambling up exposed glacial terrain, where the trail fades into the wild. Upon emerging from the forest and reaching the final ridge, you'll be greeted by the breathtaking view of the Mendenhall Glacier's jagged facade and its ice river. Here, we savor panoramic views of the glacier, indulge in hearty snacks, and capture awe-inspiring photos. Gaze upon the glacier's deep blue crevasses, cascading icefall, surrounding mountains and Nugget Falls. This hiking tour is not for the faint of heart; it demands exceptional balance and sure-footedness. The trail includes 800 feet of elevation gain, through rocky, uneven, and slippery terrain. It's a memorable journey that promises unforgettable views.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Pick up at "C" Sign at the base of the Mount Roberts Tramway and van transport to main office for gear orientation and outfitting. Once outfitting is complete, guests will be transported to the West Glacier Trailhead.
Hiking to the glacier begins with 3.5 miles through towering Sitka spruce and hemlock in the largest temperate rainforest in the world.
Viewpoint, photography and snacks: enjoy the panoramic views of the Mendenhall Glacier!
Return 3.5 mile hike back through the Tongass National Forest.
Drop off back downtown. Thanks for joining!
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
The “C” Sign, located near the cruise ship docks directly between Mt. Roberts Tramway and the green Taku Smokeries building, is our centralized downtown meeting location for all clients in the downtown area, including the majority of cruise ship passengers. Clients staying at major hotels in the Mendenhall Valley may be picked up directly from their hotel. Clients with their own transportation need to contact our office to arrange a meeting location.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
- Minimum age is 10 years. For families with children between 8-9, we can customize a private trip.
- Please note, this tour requires a minimum of 4 to operate. If minimum requirement is not met, reservation is subject to change or cancellation.
- All clients must be in good enough shape, conditioned and capable of hiking up to 4 hours, covering about 7 miles roundtrip
- Clients need to wear sturdy hiking boots that provide good ankle support while hiking on uneven, rocky terrain . All clients will need to hike with a backpack the entire way on this trip.
- Due to the inherent risks involved, we do not permit pregnant guests to participant.
- This tour does not include trekking on the glacier or exploring around the glacier's edge, but will get groups to the glacier view vista.
- A specific amount of time spent at the glacier viewing area cannot be guaranteed. The amount time is dependent on the group's pace and weather conditions.
- With group departures we try to maximize our trip capacity and subsequently may need to alter the time to accommodate additional customers. If your trip's departure time changes we will notify you as soon as possible.
- Clients must disclose information regarding pertinent medical conditions/history, allergies and any type of restriction or limitation that might introduce a higher degree of challenge on this trip.
- RELEASE OF LIABILITY/ASSUMPTION OF RISK FORM: Every participant on the trip must sign a Release of Liability/Assumption of Risk form at the start of the trip. Alterations and/or deletions to the waiver are not permitted.
Reviews(71)
I highly recommend this excursion! We had 7 travelers in our group and besides the occasional group passing by on the way up, we had the entire trail and the Glacier viewing area to ourselves. Our guide Heather was super personable, knowledgeable and attentive to the group. The trail itself was pretty easy to navigate, with the exception of a few slick rock spots and the last part of the trail where you have to climb up/down some rocks to view the Glacier. But even then, going slow and being intentional with your hand/foot placements was just fine. Gorgeous view of the Glacier and Nugget Falls. Very appreciative of the generous snacks provided as well. This was our first excursion not booked through the cruise line and we had 0 worries about getting back on time as Hesther made it clear (and showed) they are pros with timing. 10/10!
Thank you for sharing such a detailed review! We’re thrilled Heather made your excursion safe, enjoyable, and stress-free, and that you got to enjoy views of the Glacier and Nugget Falls. It sounds like a perfect day spent in Juneau, and we truly appreciate your recommendation!
This was definitely a challenging hike with scrambling up and down slippery rocks. The views were incredible. We had an amazing time with Julia but we got soaked. The gear and snacks provided were definitely useful. Highly recommend this tour!
Thank you so much for this review! We're so glad you had a great time with Julia and a good view, and glad our gear could be a help in the rain!
This is a hike not for the faint of heart. We met our guide Forrest just off our ship and went by van to Above and Beyond. At their offices, we got outfitted- Backpacks, a Hiking Pole, Rain pants, and Jackets (if needed). We also got souvenir water bottles and a bag of trail snacks. We had brought our own set of poles and needed them! Once outfitted we headed to the "West Glacier Trailhead". I would not want to try and follow the trail without a guide. Alltrails lists the distance as 6.3 miles. You don't actually reach Mendenhall Glacier since it has receded. You do get a great view of it and of Mendenhall lake. I wonder if you can even see the glacier from the park's visitor center (not a stop). There are a couple of steep sections that Forrest got us carefully through. So happy with the hike and with our guide.
Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful review of your hiking experience with us! We're so glad you enjoyed the adventure and that Forrest was there to guide you safely through the more challenging sections of the trail. This hike is definitely one of the more rugged and rewarding ones in Juneau, and we’re happy to hear you felt well-prepared and supported throughout—from the gear to the views. While the glacier has indeed receded over the past several years, we’re glad you still got to take in the stunning sights of the surrounding wilderness. Thanks again for choosing us to be part of your Alaskan adventure.
This was a great hike, incredibly scenic and beautiful and we were blessed with excellent weather. Due to the small size of our group, we were able to push on beyond a normal turnaround spot and getting a bit closer to the glacier than might otherwise happen. Our guide Bella was fantastic and the support that I received from Jess at the office in advance was excellent. Highly recommended!
Thank you for your wonderful review of your hike! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the scenic beauty and the opportunity to get closer to the glacier due to the small group size. It's fantastic that Bella provided you with an excellent guiding experience. We also appreciate your kind words about the support you received from Jess. We hope to see you again soon!
Taylor was awesome. We had a lot of fun. You hike up to see the glacier, but you dont get to go on the glacier. But it was a cool hike overall and I enjoyed it.
Taylor will be so thrilled to hear the kind words you have to say about her! It truly is such a fantastic experience to get out into nature and experience the Mendenhall Glacier in all of it's glory. Although it is true that you don't physically get on top of the glacier itself, it is such a special experience to get as physically close via land as you are able to. We are glad that you had such a great experience with Above an Beyond Alaska and look forward to having you join us again soon for another Alaskan Adventure.
We had an awesome hike with Josh and Taylor. The pace is fast and there are some really challenging inclines and rock scrambles (I wore hiking pants, but I should have gone a step further and worn pants with more stretch). My family of 5 (hubby and I, two teens and a 12 year old) joined 8 other adults. We relished the gorgeous sights, learned a lot about the glacier and had fun chatting with each other and the guides. The glacier is receding rapidly, I'm glad we got to see it while we still could.
Thank you so much for the stellar review! We are so happy to hear that Josh and Taylor did a fantastic job, we will for sure pass the compliments along. Getting out on a adventure during vacation is always a treat and we are so glad that you chose to spend your time with us! Looking forward to seeing you again soon.
This was a great hike led by our guide Jeffrey. Jeff was very friendly and informative. The walk is quite strenuous, but Jeff made sure everyone was capable and wearing the right clothing. A waterproof and decent walking shoes/boots are a must.
Thank you for your review! We are so happy to know that you had a wonderful hike. We actually don't have a guide named Jeffery but we really appreciate the positive feedback!
This is why I came to Alaska! I would add more stars if I could. Best day of the whole cruise! Leeann and Kiana were our guides and were terrific young ladies with hiking experience and knowledge of the local flora to share. 7 wonderful hours out in stunning nature. I would comment that if you are not physically fit, and ALSO have good balance and climbing ability- DO NOT BOOK this! It was a 968 ft elevation gain hike. Read the information on their website and do not blindly book this on trip advisor. You will climb up and down large rocks, walk thru streams or water and mud, scramble up some short rock faces with your hands and slide down on your bum. This impacts the whole group of up to 12 hikers (max tour size) as one guide has to always remain with the hikers regardless if they are capable of continuing. This is not a flat walk in the woods for someone just pulling new hiking boots out of the box that morning. That said, the other thing to note is that the glacier is receding and no two trips will be the same. You aren't walking on the glacier and the ice caves of 2022 and before are now gone. It was fascinating to see the changes made over time by the glacier. I would totally do this trip again given the chance.
We really appreciate your review Donna! This trip is definitely strenuous and ever changing due to glacial recession. The terrain involved is not easy. We are so happy to know we were the highlight of your trip. For adventurous, outdoorsy people, this trek is an absolute dream! We hope to see you again.
Pretty intense hike at time. And im a backpacker... Still very fun. Got to see wildlife up and close. Including a bear that at times were as close as 25-30yards. Unfortunately, the glacier had receded to a point you cant get very close.
We are so thrilled you had a fun time adventuring with us! Seeing a bear that close is an unforgettable experience!
OMG. The team that went with us were wonderful and diverse personalities. We paddled with Abbey and Grant. The glaciers have softened ( over a yr ago) and tour grp from the cruise ship did not provide the updated information that the glaciers are no longer safe to walk upon. But we were close. The air so fresh and clean. The picture posted no longer accurate a chunk of ice left just the night before. We were even blessed with sighting of a harbor seal. Highly recommend
Thank you for your review and making us a part of your Alaskan adventure!
