Mendenhall Glacier
Mendenhall Glacier
4.5
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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- tmnovak13 contributionsMendenhall and Nugget FallsMendenhall 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 cloudyVisited May 2023Traveled with familyWritten May 20, 2023
- khristystrangeGore, Oklahoma378 contributionsBeautiful locationWe 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 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten June 11, 2023
- derrickwg36Seattle, Washington3,940 contributionsAmazing Place to VisitMendenhall 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 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten June 17, 2023
- Arthur MHamilton, Canada1,044 contributionsLucky 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 2023Written July 1, 2023
- ScubaDave16Highland, Indiana974 contributionsworth 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 doingVisited June 2023Written July 2, 2023
- P BaileyManchester, United Kingdom109 contributionsIt's HugeThere 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 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten July 9, 2023
- 708RobinWest Sussex, United Kingdom1,461 contributionsA stunning glacierClimate 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 2023Written July 23, 2023
- Robert D2,718 contributionsEasily accessible glacierThe 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 2023Traveled soloWritten July 24, 2023
- Alibhais_from_TOToronto, Canada28 contributionsBeautiful SightBeautiful! 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 closeVisited July 2023Written July 27, 2023
- MickeyGW65Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania33 contributionsGorgeous GlacierMendenhall 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 2023Written 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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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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
811 reviews
Excellent
632
Very good
151
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26
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1
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1
Janet M
3 contributions
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
BGSBDL
Los Angeles, CA26 contributions
Is it best to plan on packing hiking boots or are these trails manageable in tennis shoes? I’m just thinking of the 50 lb weight limit on our luggage. Thank you!
Steven S
Indian Land, SC324 contributions
You want hiking boots. It was a little snow covered with some ice. You could do it in tennis shoes but I would recommend hiking boots
DarlenePortMoody_BC
Port Moody, BC81 contributions
We are thinking of renting a car in Juneau, how is parking at the Mendenhall Glacier? Is there plenty of parking with not too long of a walk to viewpoints? Thanks
Raun11
Florida52 contributions
Plenty of Parking.
YaoZhang
Vancouver, Canada
Hi Rick2019748,
could you please let me know how to get a bus at the port on our own for 25.00 round trip each? We are a group of 5 will be visiting Juneau at Aug 28. We would like to book our own trip to the Mendenhall glacier. For all the shuttle bus I searched online, They all charge $45 per person.
Thanks,
Yao
Karen M
Bossier City, LA23 contributions
Sorry, we were with a large group and all shuttles were handled by travel agency
alexfridman
Los Angeles, CA20 contributions
Hi, how much was the taxi ride and from where? Thanks.
NadiaDenman
Little Rock, AR33 contributions
We were on a cruise excursion when we went to Mendenhall. I’m not sure how much the taxi fare is. I’m sorry! Maybe try looking at the taxi fares in Juneau?
Magda S
Orlando, FL164 contributions
How much is a taxi from the cruise ship dock to Mendenhall Glacier? Are there taxis available at the Glacier to return back to the dock or does it have to be reserved?
ANCtoEYW
Wasilla, AK401 contributions
There are taxis in Juneau that can take you to the Visitor Center, but I am not sure how much they are. You might be better off financially if you rent a car for the day. Budget has some really great rates in Juneau.
iheartnashville
Goodlettsville, TN54 contributions
There’s a whale watching tour with the Glacier tour for $199 is that worth it?
James Browning
Batavia, OH51 contributions
Personally I think it was worth it. The whale watching tour had lunch included and we spent a couple of hours on the water where we watched a number of humpback whales.
iheartnashville
Goodlettsville, TN54 contributions
So there’s a tour for Mendall Glacier for $79 is it worth it? Or should I just go up myself on a bus?
James Browning
Batavia, OH51 contributions
If you're not doing a tour it would be easy to do by yourself. It was included in our package on our cruise tour.
maribelfruitstone
Miami, FL
Is there a cost to get into see the glacier?
Ryan A
Dubai, United Arab Emirates664 contributions
Hi, no it's free, but it's about 14 miles away so you can sign up a bus that goes, glacier Express tours was only $24, if you book on the ship its twice as much
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Claim your listingMENDENHALL GLACIER: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Mendenhall Glacier
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Mendenhall Glacier:
- Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour (From ₱20,164.01)
- Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Tour (From ₱13,423.95)
- Mendenhall Glacier Guided Hike (From ₱12,642.10)
- Juneau Shore Excursion: Mendenhall Glacier Guided Hike (From ₱12,642.10)
- Best of Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier, Whale Watching and Salmon Bake (From ₱15,670.64)
- Hotels near Mendenhall Glacier:
- (4.28 km) Pearson’s Pond Luxury Suites and Vacation Rentals
- (15.61 km) Alaska's Capital Inn Bed and Breakfast
- (7.21 km) Best Western Grandma's Feather Bed
- (7.47 km) Best Western Country Lane Inn
- (6.37 km) Auke Lake Bed & Breakfast
- Restaurants near Mendenhall Glacier:
- (15.91 km) Deckhand Dave's
- (15.60 km) Sandpiper Cafe
- (15.84 km) The Rookery Cafe
- (15.97 km) The Hangar On The Wharf
- (15.90 km) Devil's Club Brewing Company