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Juneau Shore Excursion: Mendenhall Glacier Trek

Overview
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.
City: Juneau
Fri 20 Jun
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You can choose the date already on the booking website
Starting at $234.09
Fri 20 Jun
Starting at $234.09
Make a reservation
What's Included
Bottled water
Professional guide
Hearty snack
Forest Service Permits
Backpack, rain jacket and pants -- please advise supplier of sizing
Additional Info
  • 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.
What To Expect
1
Goldbelt Tram
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.
2
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.
3
Mendenhall Glacier
Viewpoint, photography and snacks: enjoy the panoramic views of the Mendenhall Glacier!
4
West Glacier Trailhead
Return 3.5 mile hike back through the Tongass National Forest.
5
Goldbelt Tram
Drop off back downtown. Thanks for joining!
Show 2 more stops
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Traveler Photos
Reviews (68)
DavidP2012
Aug 2024
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!
Response from Host
Sep 2024
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!
Tour40612454519
Jul 2024
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.
Response from Host
Jul 2024
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.
93lindseyn
Jun 2024
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.

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