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Juneau Shore Excursion: Private Mendenhall Glacier Guided Hike
Select Date and Travelers
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn More
8 Hours
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Overview
Embark on a private guided hike through the Tongass National Forest, the world's largest temperate rainforest. Your 4-mile journey begins hiking past towering Sitka spruce and hemlock trees. Ascend the trail to encounter rugged wilderness with steep terrain, rock scrambles, and undefined paths. Emerging from the forest, you behold the Mendenhall Glacier. Your guide leads a hike along the rocky moraine, revealing the glacier up close.
Explore this ancient ice age wilderness from the glacier's edge. This exploration allows you to observe ice features such as crevasses, ice fall at the toe of the glacier, and deep blue depths of this river of ice. The glacier is constantly changing, making each day a unique adventure. While this tour does not trek on the glacier, it brings you to the edge, where you can enjoy front-row views. Your private guide can tailor this strenuous hike to your group's needs, whether you want to go faster, slower, or spend more time in the stunning scenery.
What's Included
- Bottled Water
- Professional, Private Guide
- Forest Service Permits
- Backpack, rain jacket and pants -- please advise supplier of sizing
- Hearty Snack
- Gratuities
Meeting And Pickup
Meeting point
The “C” Sign, located near the cruise ship docks directly between Mt. Roberts Tramway and the green Taku Smokeries building, is our centralized downtown meeting location for all clients in the downtown area, including the majority of cruise ship passengers.
End Point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
When your cruise ship docks in Juneau Port, travel by minibus to Trailhead, a small town roughly 30 minutes’ drive away. Your guide will have brought along some vital pieces of climbing gear (snacks, water, ropes, chalk, crampons and belays) so you can use your time here to pack them, while listening to a short briefing about the day’s itinerary.
Then, set off on your hike, following your guide at a steady pace along a 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) trail through the lush rainforest toward Mendenhall Lake. The first mile of your trail is relatively easy as the forest trails are well maintained, but then the difficulty ramps up for the remaining three miles as you hike over bedrock and scramble along steep paths zigzagging up the hillside. It’s no easy route, but one that adds to the aura of bliss when you hit the top!
After arriving at Mendenhall Lake, stop to get your breath back and admire the serene yet savage glacial scenery, admiring the calmness of the frozen lake juxtaposed against Mendenhall Glacier’s dramatic peak. Drink it in as you enjoy your bagel snack, and then put on your crampons or climbing gear for the second part of your hike: a 1.5-hour glacier walk or top-rope climbing session.
Both options are overseen by your guide, who will give you all the tips you need to get the most out of your time on the glacier! If you choose to do the walk, then look out for stunning glacial rock formations as you hike around the glacier. Alternatively, try ice climbing on an easy glacier wall as your guide belays you – no previous climbing experience is necessary.
Leave the glacier and head back along the walking trails, making your way back to Trailhead. The route back down lasts roughly two hours, passing along similar terrain as on route up. Say goodbye to the rough and rocky landscape at the bottom and then return to Juneau Port, where your cruise excursion ends.
Worry-free Shore Excursion:
We will ensure your timely return to Juneau Port for this activity. In the rare event your ship has departed, we will arrange for transportation to the next port-of call. If your ship is delayed and you are unable to attend this activity, your money will be refunded. See our terms and conditions for full details.
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
- A maximum of 12 people per booking
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- All clients must be in good enough shape, conditioned and capable of hiking up to 6-6.5 hours, covering about 9 miles roundtrip.
- Cruise-ship passengers must provide hotel or ship name at time of booking
- Minimum age is 8 years
- 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.
- You must include the following in the comments section when booking: raingear & shoe sizes for each passenger, (for adult men and women, S-XXL and youth, S-L) and any pertinent medical information. Smallest shoe size that can be accommodated is Youth 2 and largest is Adult 14.
- Glacier Access and feature exploration: The Mendenhall Glacier is receding daily. Because the glacier is in a state of constant change, not all features may be present or accessible. We will explore the edges of the glacier safely from the bedrock. This tour does not include trekking on the glacier.
- Clients need to wear sturdy hiking boots that provide good ankle support while hiking on uneven, rocky terrain & trekking on the glacier. 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.
- 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.
- A specific amount of time exploring the edge of the glacier cannot be guaranteed. The amount of time at the glacier is dependent on the group's pace and weather conditions.
Operated by Above and Beyond Alaska
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
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