Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Paddle and Hike Junho

We had a spectacular time paddling Mendenhall Lake with Skye and Forrest! Not only were they excellent competent guides—appropriately focused on our safety—they were also a ton of fun and kept us laughing with interesting stories about the area and the wildlife. ABAK was a professional organization from start to finish! They met our group of 10 promptly and took us back to their office where they had all weather and safety gear set out for us. After we were outfitted, we went to Mendenhall Lake and launched our canoe. We paddled 45 minutes to a secluded beach, very close to the glacier, and were able to enjoy almost an hour there without any other people around. It was a fantastic trip! I could not recommend this excursion more highly!

Jasper, Twain, Heather, and Reina were the kindest and most knowledgeable about the area. We were with a group and they were 18 of us all 57 years of age to 86 years of age. They reviewed safety and gave us a tutorial on group canoeing and hiking. As we were hiking, they explained the plants and rocks and detail. Once we got to our stopping point at the base of the glacier, they fed us lunch. We canoe back with nine of us in each canoe, plus the guides. They were extremely hospitable. I did post a picture of the four of them from ABAK.

We had a great experience on the Canoe & Hike to Mendenhall Glacier! We were all outfitted with our rain gear, life jackets, water bottle and snack sack - and off we went on a short drive to the lake. Our guides were a lot of fun and shared interesting information along the way. Definitely a fun adventure to see the glacier up close!

I had a fine time on my recent trip with Above and Beyond Alaska. The weather was fantastic and the company worked with me on rescheduling to ensure that bad weather did not cancel my trip. I very much enjoyed the paddling while talking with the two excellent guides, one each way. They were informative, interested in their clients, and enthusiastic. The only down side for me was that the glacier is so-clearly diminished from when I had seen it some 20 years back. I knew this was the case, but seeing it up close again really brought that reality home. It was a grim but important reminder of what we humans are doing to our world.

We had an excellent outing, a canoe paddle and hike out to the Mendenhall Glacier. Our guides were Carla and Reina - they both did a fantastic job of getting us geared up and giving instruction on handling the canoe. They also gave expert commentary about the glacier that included history and changes in nature that affect the glacier, local waterways and the area community. Altogether a great experience.

Absolutely five stars for Alaska Above & Beyond. Our guides were the best — enthusiastic, deeply knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the glacier. Their energy made the entire experience unforgettable. The tour was worth every penny. Beautiful sights, stunning glacier views, and a well‑organized flow from start to finish. It’s such an incredible way to see Alaska up close and personal, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting. If you’re considering this excursion, don’t hesitate. It truly goes above and beyond.

Skye and Grant were great guides. They made sure we had all the right gears and guided us on our paddle and trek. They were both extremely knowledgeable of the geology and culture of the area, which made this the most educational tour we had on this trip! 🤩 And it was BEAUTIFUL! 😍 It was definitely more paddle, barely any walking. I am not sure if I would call it strenuous. We actually had everyone paddling, maybe that’s why it felt very easy.

Seeing the immensity of a glacier before it disappears due to global warming is one of the most wonderful experiences you can have. Paddling for 9 km. (6 miles), is well worth it to reach the other side of the lake and do a brief hike to see the ice wall that, although it is receding more and more, remains totally impressive.

Jasper and Heather are amazing guides and I totally recommend this tour. They had excellent equipment and even gave us water and yummy snacks in case we got hungry. We got really close to the glacier, saw some goats in the mountains, and the guides shared interesting information and answered a bunch of our questions.

An unforgettable experience getting so close to a glacier, albeit physical exertion required!! Hallie & Mike, along with the other guides brought the trip alive providing information & knowledge about what we were seeing & the local area. Despite it being a wet day, we still thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The wet weather gear provided was invaluable & the snacks & souvenir water bottle a lovely addition.