If you’re in Alaska and really want to experience the wonder of Mother Nature like never before, you need to check out the Mendenhall glacier. The only glacier accessible by road in all of Southeast Alaska, when you see the blue ice in person, you’ll be blown away.
This unreal experience is something everyone can enjoy, though it is obviously in the rugged wilderness, and to make the most of the experience while staying safe, I recommend doing a proper tour. I’ve gone ahead and shared the 5 top Mendenhall Glacier tours available that are all well worth the time and money. Let’s jump right in!
Be sure to see our reviews of Juneau Whale Watching Tours.
Best Mendenhall Glacier Tours
| Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Tour | Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour | Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and Ultimate Whale Watch Combo | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Departure: | Mount Roberts Tramway, 490 S Franklin St, Juneau | Goldbelt Tram, 490 S Franklin St, Juneau | Mount Roberts Tramway, 490 S Franklin St, Juneau |
| Start: | 11:00 AM, 2:30 PM | 9:00 AM, 3:00 PM | 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM |
| Duration: | 4 hours | 5 hours | 5 hours |
| Includes: | Round-trip transportation from the cruise ship docks in downtown Juneau, bottled water, snacks, and hot beverage, rain jacket, pants, boots, gloves | Transportation from downtown Juneau, Expert Wilderness Guides, Bottled water, snacks, and hot beverage, Rain Jacket & Pants / Waterproof Boots, Life Vest / Helmet / Trekking Pole | Round-trip transportation between port and boat harbor, 2-hour whale watching tour on 24-passenger jet boat or 49-passenger catamaran, naturalist on whale tour |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Mendenhall Glacier Tours For 2025
- Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Tour
- Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour
- Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and Ultimate Whale Watch Combo
- Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Paddle and Hike Juneau
- Mendenhall Glacier Guided Hike Juneau
Mendenhall Glacier Tour Reviews
1. Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Tour
- Duration: 4 hours
- Departure: Mount Roberts Tramway, 490 S Franklin St, Juneau
- Departure Time: 11:00 AM, 2:30 PM
- Includes: Round-trip transportation from the cruise ship docks in downtown Juneau, bottled water, snacks, and hot beverage, rain jacket, pants, boots, gloves
Let’s kick things off with the Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Tour, which is designed to take you beyond the typical crowd view that anyone can see! This tour hooks you up with round-trip transport straight from your cruise dock to the canoe launch sight at Mendenhall Lake, so you don’t have to worry at all about logistics.
Even if you’ve never had a paddle before, you’ll have an expert guide to make sure everything is taken care of while sharing exciting stories about the wildlife, valley, and more.
With groups capped around 10 people, you get an experience much more personal than a big bus tour – more ideal for experiencing serene nature without the hustle and bustle.
What’s crazy on this tour is that you get close enough to actually touch the glacier while focusing on being respectful and placing conservation at the forefront of the experience. If you’ve previously taken hiking tours of Mendenhall glacier, this is a wonderful alternative, as you get significantly different viewpoints!
With all rain gear, snacks, hot drinks, and just about everything else you could require for a comfy ride included, you get to simply focus on the awe-inspiring scenery around you. Not only that, but you’ll get a solid workout in doing some paddling – perfect if you’re traveling with a significant other, friends, family, or going it solo!
As you journey forward, your guide is there to share all kinds of cool facts about the lake, glacier, animals, and the surrounding area. There were around 10 of us in one canoe, so the paddling wasn’t crazy challenging, and it was quite satisfying to work together to earn such a magnificent reward. This is truly another kind of experience – intimate, personal, and one you’re sure to always remember.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour
- Duration: 5 hours
- Departure: Goldbelt Tram, 490 S Franklin St, Juneau
- Departure Time: 9:00 AM, 3:00 PM
- Includes: Transportation from downtown Juneau, Expert Wilderness Guides, Bottled water, snacks, and hot beverage, Rain Jacket & Pants / Waterproof Boots, Life Vest / Helmet / Trekking Pole
For one of the most immersive experiences possible, check out the Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour. The 5-hour excursion is perfect if you’re over the “view-from-a-distance” glacier tours, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, some of us want to get up close and personal!
This one has everything covered for you, so all you have to worry about is bringing yourself and a real sense of adventure! The tour kicks off by meeting your guide and the rest of your group at the Goldbelt Tram (or in front of your ship, if applicable), and from there you’ll get suited up with rainproof gear, boots, life vests, helmets, and trekking poles.
Of course, sometimes the weather doesn’t require all of that, but it’s nice to know that they’re prepared, down to the bottled water, snacks, and hot coffee and tea! You have everything you need to brave the unforgiving Alaskan elements, so you can focus on what you came there for.
Traversing the local wilderness is no joke, but with your expert tour guide, you can feel confident knowing you’re safe and in good hands who know exactly where to go. Start at Mendenhall Lake, where you’ll hop into a kayak and paddle on a jaw-dropping route that takes you gliding past various other icebergs, waterfalls, and towering mountains.
Then, take a load off at a remote beach, where you’ll take in all the beautiful scenery before going on a hike to see the glacier up close. It felt like we had VIP access, thanks to our tour guide’s expertise and connections!
While there, we had plenty of time for photo ops, and our guide shared interesting info about the vegetation and geology of the area! It’s just as educational as it is fun and adventurous, making it great for any age and experience level!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and Ultimate Whale Watch Combo
- Duration: 5 hours
- Departure: Mount Roberts Tramway, 490 S Franklin St, Juneau
- Departure Time: 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM
- Includes: Round-trip transportation between port and boat harbor, 2-hour whale watching tour on 24-passenger jet boat or 49-passenger catamaran, heated cabin with wide viewing windows, naturalist on whale tour, Water and a light snack aboard the whale boat
One of the things I was most excited about seeing when I first went to Alaska, was the whales. I knew that while it wasn’t an absolute guarantee, I had to try and see them, and this tour seriously delivered in every way. The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and Ultimate Whale Watch Combo is an epic getaway balancing wildlife with glacier-side tranquility.
Normally, if you try and plan an itinerary like this, it involves a lot of coordination and getting the timing exactly right – not to mention, you’ll likely end up spending more money than you would on this tour.
With this one, they drop you right from your cruise ship at the Mt. Roberts Tramway, picking you up in a cozy shuttle, and sending you on a 2-hour whale-watching cruise aboard a heated jet boat or 49-passenger catamaran.
Either way, you can count on plenty of room onboard, wide viewing windows, and amazing 360 deck views, so you have all the unobstructed photo ops in the world. What makes it even more special is a naturalist onboard, who’s there to share fascinating information about the wildlife and their natural environment, as well as pointing out humpbacks, orcas, seals, bald eagles, and more.
We got some absolutely insane videos and photos, and also had plenty of time to enjoy the included snacks, coffee, and soft drinks while listening to the chill commentary. After that, we were taken to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, where we got around 1.5 hours to do whatever we wanted!
We decided to go hike some trails, grab some glacier selfies, and just enjoy the stunning sapphire ice with some other group members. The shuttle ride back was smooth and relaxing, and that, combined with all the adventure I just had, made me quickly drift off.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Paddle and Hike Juneau
- Duration: 5.5 hours
- Departure: Hotel and cruise ship port pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 10:30 AM
- Includes: Bottled water, Snacks, Professional guide, All necessary paddling equipment, Rain gear and rubber boots, National Park fees, Paddling and safety instructions
If you’re into breaking a sweat in the outdoors, there’s likely no better place in the world to do it than in Alaska. The Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Paddle and Hike Juneau adventure is one of the best ways to do exactly that, all while taking in the breathtaking views Mother Nature has to offer.
Oh, and don’t worry if you just happened to bring shorts and flip-flops on your trip – they have literally everything covered! To kick things off, they’ll come pick you up right from your hotel or cruise ship port, making it so much more convenient!
Upon arrival, you’ll put on all necessary gear, including rain clothing, rubber boots, and get your paddles, and then you will receive your safety instruction. Even if you’ve never paddled before, you can count on expert guidance and safety at the forefront of the experience, so you’ll feel secure and be able to focus on this amazing adventure!
Get ready to canoe across Mendenhall Lake amid icebergs, waterfalls, and glacier-blue cliffs, while your guides point out wildlife, explain glacier retreat, and answer any questions you may have. Once you reach the glacier shoreline, it’s time to hop out and stretch the legs with a short trail hike to get jaw-dropping, close-up views like no other!
Snacks and hot drinks kept us nice and fueled up throughout the excursion, and because it’s a small-group experience, we felt more like longtime friends than passengers who’d just met that day.
I should mention that not just anyone gets up-close, intimate access to the glacier like this. Very few tours have permits to get this close, and you’re earning it with your group’s efforts of paddling across the lake! Count on all-in-one convenience, a cool workout with a phenomenal view, photo ops like no other, storytelling, wildlife, and so much more!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Mendenhall Glacier Guided Hike Juneau
- Duration: 6 hours
- Departure: Hotel and cruise ship port pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 11:30 AM
- Includes: Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop off, Hearty snack/bottled water , Backpack, rain jacket and pants — please advise supplier of rain gear sizing, Roundtrip transportation from designated meeting point
Would you like to go on one of the most stunning, insane hikes in the entire world? If you’re up for the challenge, check out the Mendenhall Glacier Guided Hike Juneau! Spanning 6 to 7 miles, you can expect a whirlwind of adventure, from all kinds of different terrain, including slipping and sliding around exposed glacier!
Of course, you can count on expert guides to ensure your safety, providing everything you need to stay comfortable and focus on the views all around you. I love a convenient hotel pickup, and that’s exactly what you’ll get here – no need to book separate transportation or pay extra just to get there.
Upon arrival, you’ll don your rain jacket and pants, backpack, and all other necessary gear. Fuel up and stay feeling good with a hearty snack and bottled water provided by the tour, heading up the 3-mile journey through the stunning Tongass National Forest!
As the world’s biggest temperate rainforest, you can count on seeing all kinds of plants and wildlife that you’ve never seen before! One of the highlights for me was seeing the beaver ponds and catching sight of a couple of moose, as well!
Of course, there’s nothing as satisfying as making your way up to that final ridge and being treated to awe-inspiring vistas of the Mendenhall Glacier’s iconic blue facade and ice river! I won’t lie that this is a more challenging hike, and is definitely the most challenging tour physically, of any on this guide.
However, the reward is equal to the effort put in, and you won’t regret it when you’re sitting up there soaking in these unforgettable glacial views! Not only that, but it’s incredibly educational, and you’ll learn a ton about the rainforest, glaciers, wildlife, and more.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
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The Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Tour is our Editors Choice for the best Mendenhall Glacier tour
