Mendenhall Glacier
Mendenhall Glacier
4.5
Points of Interest & LandmarksGeologic Formations
About
Mendenhall Glacier is one of the most beautiful and accessible glaciers in the U.S., loved for its dazzling blue glacial ice that stretches for 13.6 miles. Start at the Visitor Center to learn about the area's ecosystem and wildlife, then follow the Photo Point Trail up to an overlook for the best views of the glacier, before heading on a hike to the popular Nugget Falls. The glacier is accessible all year round, but is best visited from May to October for the most pleasant weather. Visit the glacier as part of a tour, which can include a whale-watching cruise, a glacier hike, and canoeing at Lake Mendenhall. – Tripadvisor
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  • tmnovak
    13 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mendenhall and Nugget Falls
    Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls go hand in hand. It’s a pretty easy hike with kids. Our kiddos range from age 12-4 plus we had my folks, grandma and great uncle with us. The hike is pretty as you walk through a coniferous forest, over trickling creeks and along the bay. If you’re lucky you may find some floating glacier ice along the shore! Trip Tip: Mendenhall Glacier appears more blue when it is cloudy
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written May 20, 2023
  • khristystrange
    Gore, Oklahoma378 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful location
    We really enjoyed our time at Mendenhall Glacier State Park. It was interesting to see how the glacier has melted over the years (short movie in the main headquarters). There are several places to get great photos. You can take a short walk to the glacier outlook, a short walk down stairs to the “beach” or a longer paved walk to the waterfall. The vegetation was beautiful this time of year.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 11, 2023
  • derrickwg36
    Seattle, Washington3,940 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing Place to Visit
    Mendenhall Glacier and the cascades are a surreal place to visit. The glacier and cascades are a once in a lifetime sight. The view will put you at awe, and the surroundings are utterly peaceful. This is a place you must visit in Juneau, Alaska.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 17, 2023
  • Arthur M
    Hamilton, Canada1,044 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lucky Juneauites who live with a glacier on their backyard!
    This is one of the most easily accessible glaciers in the country, and continent-wise, maybe just second to Athabasca Glacier in Alberta. The glacier is easily accessible by shuttle buses, by taxi (with a national park surcharge), or by Uber and local transit which drop you off a mile away since they don't have National Forest Service permits. The ideal trails when short on time are the Photo Point and the Nugget Falls trails. The Nugget Falls do not come from Mendenhall glacier, but comes from the same icefield as Mendenhall's, so it is drinkable! The glacier itself is marvelous, so if this is your first glacier, you will definitely be impressed!
    Visited June 2023
    Written July 1, 2023
  • ScubaDave16
    Highland, Indiana974 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    worth seeing. take the hike to nugget falls.
    we took this tour along with the glacier gardens as a package from the cruise ship. the bus dropped us off at the visitor center and left us specific instructions as to when an where to meet to get back to the ship. unfortunately this was an extremely busy day and there were dozens of buses so it was a little chaotic and our return was a bit delayed. There is a visitor center and a glacier viewing area right near the parking lot. there is also a mile or so trail to get to nugget falls. the trail is quite easy and worth the walk. it is not possible to walk on or near the glacier itself. i would have liked to have seen the visitor center but we were given warnings of the dire consequences of missing the bus. then we had to wait 15 minutes for our bus so we could have actually seen it. oh well. worth doing
    Visited June 2023
    Written July 2, 2023
  • P Bailey
    Manchester, United Kingdom109 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    It's Huge
    There are a number of tours from Juneau to Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall Glacier; we took a half day tour from the Queen Elizabeth that gave us 2 to 2-1/2 and hours at the venue. The view of the glacier is ever present, don't worry about getting a good photo with no-one else in sight as there are dozens of great photo opportunities. Walk to Nugget Falls first for a truly amazing view of the falls from the beach - yes the beach. On the walk back to the visitor centre you will probably take a thousand pictures of the glacier.. that is magnificent. Scary to think it was a mile longer a hundred years ago. The lake is beautiful; all in all a once in a lifetime opportunity.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 9, 2023
  • 708Robin
    West Sussex, United Kingdom1,461 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A stunning glacier
    Climate change is shrinking this Glacier. We came here on our visit to Juneau and is a must to see. There is a short hike you can do here as well and a short film to watch about the glacier. Well worth a visit. A long lens camera will give you the best pictures if you have one.
    Visited July 2023
    Written July 23, 2023
  • Robert D
    2,718 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Easily accessible glacier
    The Mendenhall Glacier is about a half hour's drive from Juneau and is well worth seeing. Go to the National Park Visitor Center to see a short movie and the exhibits. Photos from the same spot over the years show how the glacier is receding. There are nice views from the visitor center, but you should follow the short trail to the aptly named Photo Point.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written July 24, 2023
  • Alibhais_from_TO
    Toronto, Canada28 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful Sight
    Beautiful! A must see. I wish we had more time to do some of the trails around but even the walk from the visitor's centre to Nugget Falls was great - well marked and accessible (except for the end which I doubt a wheelchair would easily be able to go through) Nugget Falls was just amazing! I don't think I have seen any other falls this up close
    Visited July 2023
    Written July 27, 2023
  • MickeyGW65
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania33 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Gorgeous Glacier
    Mendenhall is a short taxi ride out of Juneau. We contracted with a taxi for out/back service with 2 hours at the glacier. We were able to hike out to Nugget Falls and enjoy the film at the visitor center with plenty of time. The hike is very easy and gives you a great view of the glacier standing at the bottom of the falls.
    Visited July 2023
    Written July 27, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles811 reviews
Excellent
632
Very good
151
Average
26
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Janet M
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
Amazing to see ! Natures beautiful
Creation ! Sad it’s getting smaller each year definatly go and visit before it disappears ! Visit centre worth a view
Written January 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stewarts Vacation
1,035 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Couples
This is a brilliant glacier to visit, easily accessible from Juneau. There is a large Visitor Centre with a small charge to enter, however, we skipped this in order to spend our time outdoors: 1) walking to view the glacier from all angles, 2) walking to Photo Point, 3) doing the loop walk to Nugget Falls and 4) walking the Steep Creek Trail boardwalk. Sadly, as with many of the glaciers worldwide, Mendenhall Glacier is also receding at an alarming rate. Well worth a visit while it is still so clearly visible. Apparently by 2050, it might no longer be visible from the Visitor Centre!
Written November 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Fay W
New York City, NY2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Solo
The glacier is a must see when visiting Juneau. It is right outside from the cruise ports. I went late in the season, so there was no whale watching. But I recommend getting a tour that visits both
Written October 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cam W
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Family
Wonderful scenery , rainy day but still worth the trip. Walk to the falls was very easy and pleasant.
Written October 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GoVols79
Chattanooga, TN2,894 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
Mendenhall Glacier was our first stop in Juneau during our cruise. We took a tour bus that featured commentary of the city and a brief drive through downtown before heading out to the park. There is a cheaper public transportation option but we liked knowing we had a guaranteed seat and a predictable schedule. The park was crowded as expected but it didn’t hinder our first of many glacier experiences. We hiked out to Nugget Falls and spent some time in the Visitor Center. It was a little rushed but it also gave us time for other activities while in Juneau.
Written September 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ann H
York, UK2,464 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
Having never been near a glacier in real life, we didn't really know quite what to expect but as we came round a bend in the road in our tour bus and it was pointed out on the left, it was an incredible site. The blue hues of the ice against the sun were stunning and we were lucky to have been there on a day when it was not raining. There is a visitor centre and walks to view points so some great photo opportunities. We went as part of an excursion from our cruise ship so had a limited amount of time. So beautiful!!
Written September 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rockiroads
Oshawa, Canada1,271 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
I am sure we reviewed this under "The Mendenhall Glacier visitor center" but it is basically the same review. Great photos, good walking tour, bring waterproof clothes and be ready to walk. We got on this trip through a kiosk at the Port of Juneau which was way cheaper than the price on the trip. Plus, you got to see man other things on the way The photos I have enclosed are taken by a cheaper cell phone camera and still came out great.
Written September 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

WTH9
Philadelphia, PA583 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
Weather grounded our helicopter landing on the glacier but we enjoyed hiking to nugget falls, exploring the area and visitor center just as much. Plenty of spots for great photos. Arrive later in the day to avoid the early morning tour bus rush from the cruise ships.
Written September 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Leslie Y
Winter Garden, FL27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023
The best bargain is the $2 (cash) per person each direction city bus tour to the bus stop 1 mile and 1/2 from the entrance to the Visitor Center. The bus runs every 30 minutes and the ride gave us an opportunity to see local Juneau residents and a basic tour of the area on our way to the glacier. We took family pictures with the glacier as our backdrop, and we had a drink of the glacial water. Our adult daughters are experienced hikers and brought their water sterilizing filters for this purpose!
Written August 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

WesOrmond
Ormond Beach, FL218 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023
Mendenhall Glacier is a short drive from Juneau and easy to find. The visitor center is very informative and their are several nice hikes from the visitor center that take you to the base of the falls and other areas. The hikes are very moderate and appropriate for all ages. Pretty views of the glacier even though it's still a pretty good distance away.
Written August 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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MENDENHALL GLACIER: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Mendenhall Glacier

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