Mendenhall Glacier Tours from Juneau 2026: Prices & Booking

Mendenhall Glacier tours

Choose your Mendenhall Glacier tour

In the centre, the most reviewed Juneau day: glacier trails and a whale cruise, 4.9 stars across more than 7,600 reviews. On the left, the cheapest bus to the ice; on the right, a canoe across Mendenhall Lake and a hike to the glacier face with every piece of gear provided.

Lowest price ★ 4.63 hours751 reviewsFull refund 24 h before

Mendenhall Glacier Express

Glacier onlyPark entryNarrated drive

The cheapest way to stand in front of the ice: a narrated round-trip bus ride from town, park entrance fees included, and time on the trail to Nugget Falls and the lakeshore.

What's included

About 3 hours round trip in an air-conditioned vehicle
Narrated transportation with a driver and guide on the bus
Park entrance fees included
No guide on the glacier trails (Forest Service permit rules)
Not included: tips

From$83per person Reserve

Most reviewed ★ 4.94.5 hours7,689 reviewsFull refund 24 h before

Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier

Glacier on footWhale cruiseSnacks

The classic Juneau day: time on the Mendenhall Glacier trails and in the visitor center, then a boat out to look for humpbacks, with snacks and commentary on board.

What's included

About 4.5 hours with round-trip transport from the cruise terminal
Time at Mendenhall Glacier, then a whale-watching cruise
Snacks, bottled water and live commentary on board
The operator guarantees whale sightings (see the listing for terms)
Not included: tips, and the $3 shuttle to the Goldbelt Tram building

From$249per person Reserve

Top rated ★ 5.05 hours1,493 reviewsFull refund 24 h before

Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure

Canoe on the lakeHike to the iceGear included

Paddle across Mendenhall Lake past icebergs, then hike with expert guides to the glacier face. Waterproof gear, helmet, snacks and a hot drink come with the price.

What's included

About 5 hours with transport from downtown Juneau
Guided canoe paddle on Mendenhall Lake and a hike near the glacier
Rain jacket and pants, waterproof boots, life vest, helmet, trekking pole
Bottled water, snacks and a hot beverage
Not included: tips and warm layers

From$330per person Reserve

More ways to see the glacier

A combo boat, a whale-only cruise, a jet boat, a canoe, a guided hike, sea kayaks and sled dogs

Glacier plus whales ★ 4.85 hours972 reviews

Compare

Which option suits you

The glacier sits in the Mendenhall Valley and the whale boats leave from Auke Bay, so what you pay for is where the day happens. Some tours show the ice from the viewing area, some paddle to its base, one lands on a different glacier.

Option	Where it happens	Best for	Length	Rating	From
Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier	Glacier trails, then a boat from the harbour	One day for ice and whales	4.5 hours	★ 4.9 (7,689)	$249	Book
Mendenhall Glacier Express	Visitor center and trail to Nugget Falls	The shortest, cheapest visit	3 hours	★ 4.6 (751)	$83	Book
Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure	Mendenhall Lake and the glacier face	Getting close to the ice	5 hours	★ 5.0 (1,493)	$330	Book
Glacier Park and Ultimate Whale Watch Combo	Glacier park, then Auke Bay	A two-hour boat on a heated jet boat or catamaran	5 hours	★ 4.8 (972)	$199	Book
Mendenhall Glacier and Whale Watching by Jet Boat	Glacier, then Auke Bay by jet boat	A smaller boat for the whale half	4.5 hours	★ 4.7 (247)	$189	Book
Ultimate Juneau Whale Watch	Auke Bay, glacier photo stop	Cheapest big-rated whale boat, glacier photo stop included	3 hours	★ 4.9 (1,206)	$156	Book
Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Tour	On Mendenhall Lake, at the glacier base	A perfect 5.0 paddle to the base of the glacier	4 hours	★ 5.0 (1,646)	$251	Book
Mendenhall Glacier Guided Hike	Trails above the lake, glacier overlook	A hard day with scrambling and gear provided	6 hours	★ 4.9 (133)	$249	Book
Small Group Sea Kayaking with Glacier Views	Salt water, glacier seen at a distance	Seals and eagles on calm salt water, dry suit included	3.5 hours	★ 4.9 (119)	$189	Book
Musher's Camp and Sled Dog Discovery	A mushing camp, no glacier	Husky puppies and a one-mile cart ride	2.25 hours	★ 4.7 (237)	$210	Book
Helicopter Tour and Guided Icefield Walk	Herbert Glacier, not Mendenhall	The priciest upgrade	2.5 hours	★ 4.8 (645)	$471	Book

Every tour here refunds in full if you cancel up to 24 hours before, except the sled dog camp, which cannot be refunded, and the helicopter, which needs three days. For reference, the Forest Service visitor center charged $5 per person in 2026 and children 15 and under paid nothing.

Mendenhall Glacier

13 miles of ice, and a waterfall beside it.

Mendenhall Glacier flows out of the Juneau Icefield into Mendenhall Lake, inside the Tongass National Forest. The Forest Service runs a visitor center and a network of trails around the lake, and the grounds are open from 6 am to midnight all year. The glacier is the main sight, but Nugget Falls pours down the rock right beside its face.

Few glaciers sit this close to a city road. That makes it popular and, on a ship day, busy. What a tour changes is not whether you see the ice but how: from the viewing area, from a canoe at its base, or from a helicopter over the icefield. The ice caves that older blogs mention are now unsafe and are not part of any tour here.

13 mi

The length of the glacier, from the Juneau Icefield down to the lake, about 12 miles from downtown Juneau by road.

Nugget FallsMendenhall LakeJuneau IcefieldTongass National Forest

Nugget Falls cascading beside the blue ice of Mendenhall Glacier with a wooden viewing platform below — Nugget Falls beside the glacier, seen from the trail.

01

Do I need a tour?

No. The viewing areas and trails are open to everyone; only the visitor center building has a day-use fee.

02

How long is a tour?

Three hours by bus, four to five with whales or a canoe, six on the guided hike.

03

Which tour gets closest?

The canoe and the Ice Adventure reach the glacier face from the water; the helicopter lands on another glacier.

04

Who should skip a tour?

Anyone with a rental car or time for the bus. The lakeshore trail to Nugget Falls needs no booking.

The tour

How a Mendenhall Glacier tour works

This is the shape of a typical glacier and whale combo from the cruise docks. The Express bus, the canoe and the hike follow the same route to the lake at their own pace.

01

Pickup in town

Tours collect you at the cruise terminal or meet at the Goldbelt Tram building, with arrival and return timed around ship departures.

Start

02

The drive to the valley

About 12 miles to the Mendenhall Valley, with a driver who covers the glacier, the rainforest and the town on the way.

The drive

03

At the glacier

Walk the viewing area and the trail to Nugget Falls, step into the visitor center, or push off in a canoe for the base of the ice.

The ice

04

Whales, or back to town

Combos continue to Auke Bay for a boat after the glacier; the Express and canoe tours return you straight to the docks.

Finish

Plan your visit

Plan your Mendenhall Glacier tour

What the tours cost, what they include, what you pay on the day and what to bring.

Under $100: the Mendenhall Glacier Express bus at $83.
$150 to $200: the Ultimate Juneau Whale Watch at $156, the sea kayak and the jet boat combo at $189, and the glacier and whale combo at $199.
$200 to $260: the sled dog camp at $210, the flagship whale and glacier day at $249, the guided hike at $249 and the lake canoe at $251.
Premium: the Ice Adventure at $330 and the helicopter with an icefield walk at $471.
Prices are Viator from-prices in US dollars and move with the season.

Length: three hours for the Express bus and the whale boat, four to five for the combos and the canoe, six for the hike.
Group size: a bus for the Express tour, a heated boat for the combos, small guided groups for the canoe, hike and kayak.
Included: park entrance fees on the Express bus, snacks and water on the combos, rain gear, boots and a life vest on the canoe and Ice Adventure.
Whales: the flagship operator guarantees sightings; read the terms on the listing.
Not included: tips on all of them.

Visitor center: $5 per person in 2026, children 15 and under at no charge, and a pass is needed from 1 May to 30 September. The Forest Service proposed $15 in 2026, so check the current fee.
Express bus: park entrance fees are in the price; the bus has no guide on the glacier trails under Forest Service rules.
Flagship tour: a $3 shuttle to the Goldbelt Tram building is not included.
Public bus: $2 for adults, $1 for ages 6 to 18, plus a 1.5-mile walk from the stop.
Tips: not included on any tour; guides who run the whole day appreciate them.

Waterproof jacket and trousers. Juneau is a temperate rainforest and it rains in every month.
Closed shoes with grip. The lakeshore trail is uneven and wet near the falls.
A warm layer, hat and gloves. It is cold by the water even in July.
A camera strap and a dry bag for the canoe, kayak and boat tours.
Your Viator voucher downloaded in advance, as signal drops on the lake and on the boats.

May to SepWhale seasonHumpbacks feed in Auke Bay through the summer; operators list May to September.

9 am to 6 pmVisitor centerSummer 2026 hours, seven days a week; the grounds are open 6 am to midnight.

1 May to 30 SepPass neededVisitors must buy a day-use pass to enter the visitor center in season.

Every monthRainPack a shell. A wet day gives low cloud and a moodier glacier, and tours still run.

Ship daysBusierSeveral ships in port means a full viewing area from late morning; book the first slot.

WinterReduced hoursThe visitor center keeps shorter hours off season, so check the Forest Service page.

Where it is

Where the tours start

Downtown Juneau, then 12 miles north

Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, 6000 Glacier Spur Rd, Juneau, AK 99801

Most tours here meet at the cruise terminal or the Goldbelt Tram building at 490 S Franklin St, and the operator confirms the point by email. The whale boats leave from a harbour at Auke Bay, not from the glacier, and the hike and some private trips offer hotel pickup. Check the meeting section of the listing before you pay.

Drive time: about 30 minutes from downtown without traffic
Public bus: Capital Transit stop at Dredge Lake Road, then a 1.5-mile walk
Whale boats: depart Auke Bay, a separate stop from the glacier

Open the map

Around your trip

Everything else worth knowing

Timing, what guests wish they had known, what is nearby and the fine print.

May and June: the start of whale season and the driest stretch of a wet year.
July and August: the warmest weather and the longest days, but the most ships, so take an early slot.
September: fewer crowds, more rain, and whales still feeding.
Mornings: quieter viewpoints before the ship buses arrive around midday.

Read the inclusions, not the title. The Express bus covers park entry but has no guide on the trails, and a flagship extra is a $3 shuttle.
Pick a tour with a return time well before all aboard. Guests on ship days book around the departure.
Allow time for the trail to Nugget Falls: guests describe an easy walk down a scenic trail.
Skip anything promising ice caves. They are unstable and the Forest Service warns against them.
Bring a rain layer even in July; guests report a glacier covered in cloud on a wet day.

Nugget Falls: a waterfall beside the glacier, a short lakeshore walk from the visitor center.
Auke Bay: the harbour where whale boats leave, with sea lions on the channel buoys.
Mount Roberts Tramway: the Goldbelt Tram at the cruise docks, where several tours meet.
Juneau Icefield: the ice field behind the town, reached by helicopter.
Gold Creek: the historic gold-panning and salmon-bake sites in town.

Every Viator tour here except the sled dog camp refunds in full if you cancel up to 24 hours before; the helicopter needs three days.
Operators can cancel boats and flights for weather and will rebook or refund.
The Forest Service proposed raising the visitor center fee to $15 in 2026; check the page for the current fee.
Glacial outburst floods in late summer can close the lakeside trails for a few days, as happened in August 2025.

Guest reviews

What guests say

4.9 ★★★★★
7,689 reviews · Whale watching and glacier tour
live Viator & Tripadvisor figure

★★★★★
Beautiful drive on a state of the art bus, we saw so many bald eagles. Easy walk down a scenic trail to the gorgeous falls and views of the glacier. Archie, our guide was extremely informative and hysterical. Very enjoyable experience!
Mlissa T. · Mendenhall Glacier Express

★★★★★
The tour was very organized and gave you plenty of time at Mendenhall Glacier. It was a beautiful area and worth going and seeing. The bus then took us over to the marina where you got to the whale watching portion of the tour. [...] We were lucky enough to see a pod of orcas and multiple humpback whales.
Rochelle E. · Whale watching and glacier

★★★★★
Both the land part and the boat part was great! Friendly, informative guides. Saw lots of whales!
Annette H. · Whale watching and glacier

★★★★★
This was the best activity we did in Alaska. [...] The paddle across the lake was mildly challenging but nothing excessive for someone with a good level of upper body fitness, just enough to make you feel like you've earned the close up views of the glacier face.
Thomas S. · Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure

★★★★★
It was amazing to see the glacier up close! Yes, you'll probably get a little wet; but the rain jacket, pants, gloves and boots they provide are great quality. Be prepared to paddle the whole time.
Laura A. · Glacier lake canoe tour

★★★★★
This is a hard hike but so worth it. The guide Heather was so good at telling you where to place your feet and hands when it comes to the scrambling part. [...] Highly recommend if you want quite a challenge to reach views like no other.
Alyssa S. · Guided glacier hike

★★★★★
This Kayaking trip was amazing!! Our guide Jordyn was the Best!! She kept us safe, warm, and dry and showed us all the wildlife we were hoping to see! The many eagles were incredible but nothing could beat our many friendly seals swimming nearby!
Amanda F. · Small group sea kayaking

★★★★★
Thought I would be afraid, but never was. These people have it together. Very organized and efficient. I was confident in my pilot who was amazing, professional and very friendly. Wonderful experience.
Donna G. · Helicopter and icefield walk

★★★★★
Absolutely marvelous experience. We were very lucky to see many Humpback spouts and flukes, as well as more Orcas then, we saw on a previous excursion. [...] We also had great weather, which helped us enjoy the outing even more.
Pamela T. · Ultimate Juneau Whale Watch

A bigger day

Land on the ice from the air

Every other tour here is about Mendenhall Glacier. This one is a helicopter flight over the Juneau Icefield and a guided walk on Herbert Glacier, for guests who want to stand on the ice.

Helicopter Tour and Guided Icefield Walk

★ 4.8 · 645 reviews · 2.5 hours

Want the ice itself under your boots? Coastal Helicopters flies over the Juneau Icefield and lands on Herbert Glacier for a guided walk, with boots and raincoats provided. It is the priciest day here and a different glacier from Mendenhall, so book it as an upgrade rather than a replacement.

HelicopterGlacier walkGear provided

From$471per personReserve

The guide

Mendenhall Glacier tours, explained

Most people searching for a Mendenhall Glacier tour assume the glacier is behind a ticket. It is not. The viewing areas and the trail to Nugget Falls are open to everyone, and a tour sells the ride from town, a guide and the things you cannot do alone: paddle to the ice, hike to an overlook, look for whales. Knowing which you want is the whole decision.

What a Mendenhall Glacier tour covers

The core of the cheap tours is transport. A bus collects you downtown, drives the 12 miles to the Mendenhall Valley and gives you time at the visitor center, the viewing platforms and the walk down to Nugget Falls. The Express tour adds park entrance fees and a narrated drive, and, by Forest Service rule, no guide on the glacier trails.

The day gets bigger when a boat is involved. Combo tours spend time at the glacier and then drive on to Auke Bay, where a heated jet boat or catamaran goes looking for humpbacks. Pick the one you will enjoy for that many hours.

Travellers in rain jackets walking along the lakeshore trail toward Nugget Falls and Mendenhall Glacier — The lakeshore trail toward Nugget Falls.

Viewing, paddling or flying

The viewing-area tours are the popular ones: the ice is the same ice the canoe reaches, seen from further away, for far less. Paddling across Mendenhall Lake past icebergs puts you at the glacier base and explains why guests call it the best activity of an Alaska trip. The helicopter is a different thing altogether: it lands on Herbert Glacier, not Mendenhall.

A whale-watching boat with passengers on deck near a humpback in the waters off Juneau — A whale boat out of Auke Bay.

Before you book: check three things on the listing. Where does the boat leave from? Is park entry in the price? And what time are you back at the ship?

What actually costs money

Only the visitor center asks for a day-use fee, $5 per person in 2026 with children 15 and under at no charge, and a pass is required from 1 May to 30 September. The grounds, the viewing areas and the lakeshore trails open 6 am to midnight. The Forest Service proposed a higher fee in 2026, so check before you go.

If you would rather go alone, our guide to reaching the glacier from the cruise port sets out the bus and walking times.

Two paddlers in a canoe on Mendenhall Lake near blue icebergs with the glacier behind — Canoeing past the icebergs below the glacier.

Compare the tours

FAQ

Questions before you book

Straight answers to what travellers ask most about Mendenhall Glacier tours.

Do you need a tour to see Mendenhall Glacier?

No. The Forest Service grounds around the visitor center are open from 6 am to midnight, and the lakeshore trails to the viewpoints and Nugget Falls start there. A tour sells the ride and the guide. Only the visitor center building asks for a day-use fee, $5 per person in 2026 with children 15 and under at no charge. Read the visitor center guide.

How much does a Mendenhall Glacier tour cost?

On Viator in 2026: the Express bus at $83, whale-only boats from $156, glacier and whale combos from $189 to $249, the lake canoe at $251, the guided hike at $249, the Ice Adventure canoe and hike at $330 and the helicopter with an icefield walk at $471. Read the price guide.

How far is Mendenhall Glacier from downtown Juneau?

About 12 miles, roughly half an hour by road. The glacier flows into Mendenhall Lake in the Mendenhall Valley, north of the cruise docks, and the whale boats leave from a separate harbour at Auke Bay. See getting there from the cruise port.

Can you take the public bus to Mendenhall Glacier?

Yes. Capital Transit routes 8, 3 and 4 stop at Dredge Lake Road, $2 for adults and $1 for ages 6 to 18, with exact cash or the Token Transit app. From there it is a 1.5-mile, 30-minute walk on a paved path to the visitor center, with no restrooms on the way.

Can you go into the Mendenhall ice caves?

Not on a reputable tour. The caves and the ice near the glacier face are unstable, and the Forest Service has warned that they can collapse at any time. Guided trips here walk to the ice from the lake or the trail and keep a safe distance. Read the canoe, kayak and hike guide.

Is it better to combine the glacier with whale watching?

If you have a full morning or afternoon, yes: the combo tours run the glacier on land and a boat for humpbacks in about 4.5 to 5 hours with one transfer and no second booking. If you only have three hours, pick one. See the combo guide.

What is the best time to visit Mendenhall Glacier?

May to September, when the visitor center is open daily (9 am to 6 pm in summer 2026) and humpbacks are feeding in Auke Bay. Juneau is a rainforest, so expect rain in any month and book a rain-proof tour rather than waiting for a perfect day.

How long are Mendenhall Glacier tours?

Three hours for the Express bus, 3 to 4.5 hours for whale boats and sea kayaks, 4 to 5 hours for glacier and whale combos or the canoe, 6 hours for the guided hike and about 2.5 hours for the helicopter. Most start downtown and are timed around cruise-ship schedules.

What should I wear and bring to Mendenhall Glacier?

Waterproof jacket and trousers, closed shoes with grip, a warm layer and a hat. It is cold by the water even in July. Canoe and ice trips supply boots, rain gear and a life vest; for the bus and boat tours bring your own.

Is the glacier worth it if I only have one day from a cruise ship?

Yes, and almost every tour here is built around ship times, with pickup at the cruise terminal or the Goldbelt Tram building. Take the Express bus for the shortest option, the glacier and whale combo for a full day, or the helicopter for the ice itself.

Do Mendenhall Glacier tours go to the glacier itself?

Most show it from the viewing area and trails at the lake. The canoe, Ice Adventure and guided hike get closer; the helicopter lands on Herbert Glacier, not Mendenhall; and whale-only boats include a glacier photo stop that depends on weather.

What if a tour is cancelled?

Every tour on this page except the sled dog camp refunds in full if you cancel up to 24 hours before, and the helicopter needs three days. The sled dog camp is non-refundable. If the operator cancels for weather, Viator offers a new date or a refund.

Mendenhall Glacier Tours

Choose your Mendenhall Glacier tour

Mendenhall Glacier Express

Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier

Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure

More ways to see the glacier

Glacier Park and Ultimate Whale Watch Combo

Ultimate Juneau Whale Watch

Mendenhall Glacier and Whale Watching by Jet Boat

Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Tour

Mendenhall Glacier Guided Hike

Small Group Sea Kayaking with Glacier Views

Musher's Camp and Sled Dog Discovery

Which option suits you

13 miles of ice, and a waterfall beside it.

Do I need a tour?

How long is a tour?

Which tour gets closest?

Who should skip a tour?

How a Mendenhall Glacier tour works

Pickup in town

The drive to the valley

At the glacier

Whales, or back to town

Plan your Mendenhall Glacier tour

Where the tours start

Downtown Juneau, then 12 miles north

Everything else worth knowing

Ice, rainforest, and a whale tail at the end.

What guests say

Land on the ice from the air

Helicopter Tour and Guided Icefield Walk

Mendenhall Glacier tours, explained

What a Mendenhall Glacier tour covers

Viewing, paddling or flying

What actually costs money

Plan it properly

Questions before you book

Pick your date, see the glacier.