The mendenhall glacier visitors center is at the end of glacier. Enjoy a whales guaranteed wildlife cruise aboard a deluxe catamaran, and then step ashore on a remote island to enjoy a delicious salmon bake feast in a spectacular wilderness setting. The mendenhall glacier has plenty of activities you can do yourself but there are a number of fun charter tours that help you get the most out of your visit. Mendenhall glacier also sitaantaagu is a glacier about. We started off with a bus ride to mendenhall glacier where we spent about 45 minutes viewing the glacier and going thru the visitor center before catching another bus to the the boat for the whale watching tour. Enjoy hotel pickup in downtown juneau, and then head over to mendenhall glacier, a glacier that stretches approximately 12 miles 19 km long. The glacier and surrounding landscape is protected as part of the 5,815 acres 2,353 ha mendenhall glacier recreation area, a federally designated unit of the tongass national forest. Dec 02, 2016 from either the ship or the booths, the activity that gets people closest to the face of the glacier is a canoe excursion on mendenhall lake. Tour includes whale watching cruise with onboard naturalist, wild alaskan salmon and allyoucaneat buffet at the gold creek salmon bake, transfers to and from the pier.
Enjoy complimentary binoculars and snacks and pass snowcapped peaks and islands dotting picturesque stephens passage. A delightful king crab meal awaits you at juneau s original eatery. Spend time on the glacier with our expert guides, all eager to show you the majestic backyard they call home. Book your tickets online for mendenhall glacier visitor center, juneau.
A narrated motorcoach ride to the worldfamous mendenhall glacier is the third event in your unforgettable day. Come face to face with one of the only road accessible glaciers, marvel at a humpback whale the size of 6 elephants, and top it off with a scrumptious allyoucaneat adventure featuring wild alaskan salmon grilled over an alder wood fire. The bus youd want is the blue mgt bus, runs about every half hour i believe, between the dock and the glacier visitor center parking lot. Drive toward mendenhall glacier in the tongass national forest. Mendenhall glacier is one of nearly 40 glaciers that flow from the juneau icefield. From across an icebergdotted lake you will see the magnificent glacier, a dynamic flowing force, carving its way seaward. This is an enthralling opportunity to witness two jewels in juneau the graceful elegance of humpback whales and the serene beauty of the mendenhall glacier.
Itll be the same with the other 2 cities, but juneau was where i enjoyed it the most. Juneau whale watching and mendenhall glacier combo tour. For a shorter and simpler adventure, check out our whale watching tour. Sadly, this juneau glacier is retreating increasingly fast as climate change warms the ocean. We are a party of 9 6 adults and 3 kids the youngest being 3 going in july on rcl and we would like to try whale watching and the mendenhall glacier. Whale watching and mendenhall glacier in juneau, alaska. Nugget falls, with mendenhall lake and shore in middle distance, with pioneering shrubs alder and willow in the foreground. Mendenhall glacier, whale watching and wildlife quest ju40. Dec 08, 2017 experience the best juneau has to offer with this whale watching and mendenhall glacier tour. Walk an easy permitted trail through the shelter of the forest to photograph the signs of glaciation. I have looked into the recommended on this board for private tours but each one seems to have a maximum of 6. The usda forest service mendenhall glacier visitor center is located in the mendenhall valley, 12 miles from downtown juneau. Continue to auke bay for your whale watching cruise.
Whale watching and mendenhall glacier combo tour from juneau. Tour includes whale watching cruise with onboard naturalist, red king crab leg meal, transfers to and from the pier. The milelong 19 km glacier ends at mendenhall lake and is easily viewed from the historic mendenhall glacier visitor center. It was named after physicist thomas mendenhall, who surveyed the border between canada and southeast alaska. Visit mendenhall glacier and go whale watching on this combo tour from juneau, alaska. The city and borough of juneau community development department cdd is looking for nine volunteers to serve on the douglaswest juneau area plan steering committee. Mendenhall glacier shuttle juneau tours, juneau traveller. Juneau excursions and tours gastineau guiding company. Step into alaska with one of these dedicated and knowledgeable local guides. Download 200 juneau alaska glaciers stock photos for free or amazingly low rates.
Right after the whale watching, we were given another ride to the mendenhall glaciers, which is 1 of 38 glaciers flowing from the massive 1,500squaremile ice field. Book your tour juneau whale watching tours and excursions. Juneau whale watching tours and excursions juneau tours. Whale watching, mendenhall glacier, and tracys king crab. Then, after your amazing experience whale watching in juneau alaska, its time to head to majestic mendenhall, the worlds only driveup glacier. While many people go to mendenhall glacier with a tour group or on a shore excursion, you can also get to the glacier on your own. But dont anticipate one, as whales have been spotted on every tour for the past 15 years. On a sunny day the glacier is beautiful, with blue skies and snowcapped mountains in the background. Whale watching and mendenhall glacier tour juneau, alaska. A bus took us to the mendenhall glacier viewing point and the visitor information center and got us back to the port as well. Whale watching and the mendenhall glacier, alaska this tour combines two of the best attractions in the juneau area the mendenhall glacier and whale watching. Trace the path of glacial succession and the natural history of the mendenhall glacier as you trek across it on this juneau day trip. The mendenhall glacier visitors center is at the end of glacier spur rd.
The mendenhall glacier s fame as a tourist attraction is largely tied to its accessibility. Mendenhall glacier is easy accessible from juneau and one fo the most popular attractions among cruise travelers. Instead, we purchased a daylong excursion with two events away from the city. Both routes run along mendenhall loop road but in opposite directions. We had a sunny day and temperatures approaching 70 deg. If youre doing whale watching too, some of the outfitters will drop you off at the glacier on the way back to the docks if you ask them to. Consider a day cruise that combines a visit to the glacier with a whale watching tour of auke bay, for example. Soaring high, you may pass the mendenhall towers, jagged rock sentinels that climb more than 7,000 feet, and the spectacular icefalls that overflow to form the mendenhall glacier. Bus to mendenhall glacier juneau forum tripadvisor.
From across an icebergdotted lake you will see the dynamic flowing force, carving its way seaward. The juneau city bus drops you over a mile from the glacier. Juneau mendenhall glacier, whale watching, salmon bake. Located in the juneau icefield, mendenhall glacier is about. Email or 18003235757 tour highlights see full tour description. The mendenhall glacier juneau excursion comes to an end with a stop at famous douglas island, a historic mining community, for photo opportunities and panoramic views across the ocean to downtown juneau. An alaskan trifecta of fun view the mendnenhall glacier s staggering ice walls before whale watching on a boat and finishing with a salmon dinner. A trip to the mendenhall glacier is an absolute must while in juneau.
Head northwest on egan drive, take a right onto mendenhall loop road which will turn into glacier spur rd. But dont let that title mislead you, this family operation is all about the customer experience. Its just so beautiful being around all that nature. Mendenhall glacier trek hiking tour in juneau, alaska. The mendenhall glacier is juneau s biggest attraction and a humbling sight.
Juneau whale watching and mendenhall glacier fodors travel. Juneau whale watching and mendenhall glacier fodors. Oct, 2017 juneau was my favorite out of the 3 cities. There are two things you definitely need to experience while youre in juneau. Travel planner free printed alaska trip planner and map. Combine two of the most iconic aspects of juneau, alaska with this whale watching and. Discover juneau s natural splendors as you board a waterjetpowered catamaran in search of whales before exploring the massive mendenhall glacier. One of 38 glaciers that emerges from the 1500 square mile juneau ice field, runs miles long into the mendenhall valley eventually ending in the mendenhall lake where it is primarily viewed today. When we were making a port stop at juneau, alaska, we decided to go on a guided tour to go whale watching and view mendenhall glacier. The glacier is located about 12 miles north of downtown juneau. The mendenhall glacier visitor center provides a highquality recreation experience with emphasis on glacial phenomena.
This day outing is perfect for food lovers and those seeking an allinclusive alaskan experience. We specialize in the finest juneau whale watching and hiking. Sep 26, 2017 a bus took us to the mendenhall glacier viewing point and the visitor information center and got us back to the port as well. Whale watching and the mendenhall glacier audley travel.
Whale watch and mendenhall glacier combo tour provided by. Experience the best juneau has to offer with this whale watching and mendenhall glacier tour. Alaska activity guide your expert travel companion in alaska. Winding along mendenhall lake, the closest trail to the glacier itself, youll find a stunning 377foot waterfall cascading into an iceberg lake with a. Mendenhall glacier and whale quest allen marine tours. The first event was an amazing visit to the mendenhall glacier. From the nugget mall, route 3 continues towards the mendenhall glacier and route 4 continues to auke bay. You can take a taxi from juneau, drive to the glacier with a rental car, or take the city bus to glacier spur road and walk the rest of the way 1. Take a comfortable motorcoach tour of historic juneau and get up close to the majestic mendenhall glacier, all in one fun and relaxing halfday excursion. Hop aboard to explore alaskas capital city, once the numberone mining town in the world, and take in its stunning place among mountain vistas and meandering waterways. Juneau mendenhall glacier lake canoe adventure excursion.
This is an enthralling opportunity to witness two jewels in juneau the graceful elegance of. United states juneau whale watching and mendenhall glacier we have a full day in juneau and would like to book a combination whale watching and mendenhall glacier. No visit to juneau is complete without a closeup look at the mendenhall glacier one of alaskas most popular attractions. Gastineau guiding company juneau whale watching tours and. Follow glacier spur until you see mendenhall loop road yes, again on your left, turn left and then continue on it. There are many helicopter tours providing spectacular aerial views of ice. Mendenhall glacier from hal cruise dock juneau forum. Between seeing the mendenhall glacier, to leisurely exploring downtown juneau and discovering a few great eats along the way, our day in juneau was simply perfect. United states juneau whale watching and mendenhall glacier we have a full day in juneau and would like to book a combination whale watching and mendenhall glacier tour. Juneau public transportation regular and express bus.
The private mgt shuttle runs between the cruise docks and the glacier, and takes you right to the visitor center parking lot. At the core of our juneau tours and excursions is a passionate guide who opens a doorway to the wild places that will stir your soul. Maximize your time in juneau visit the spectacular mendenhall glacier and our largest local residents the humpback whale. The city bus drops visitors a mile and a half from the visitor center. After departing the pier, you will be driven for approximately 30 minutes to the mendenhall. Visitors may reach the visitor center by city bus, taxi, tour bus or rental car. This post was created for away we go with carnival, the destination for getting in the getaway state of mind. Enjoy hiking trails that run along surrounding terrain, including a moderately easy and wellmarked trail to nugget falls. Juneau whale watching alaska cruise critic community. If you can spend at least a halfday, there are many ways to get up close to this majestic glacier. New juneau whale watching custom boats depart from juneaus auke bay harbor and. After departing the pier, you will be driven for approximately 30 minutes to the mendenhall valley and the trailhead.
The inside passage waters near juneau support a very healthy. The juneau icefield research program has monitored the outlet glaciers of the juneau icefield since 1942, including mendenhall glacier. Your photo guide works to inspire and educate while leading you to explore the trail of time capturing the natural history of the glacier. Visitors can reach the glacier park from mendenhall loop rd. Note the brownish carpet of mosses, lichens and short sedges in the spaces between the shrubs. Formed during the little ice age, which began about 3,000 years ago, the glacier is fed from an icefield high above juneau. Mendenhall glacier trek hiking tour in juneau, alaska book now. After looking at the different ways to get to mendenhall glacier. Or, if youd rather learn more about the city than the wildlife, consider the mendenhall glacier and juneau city combo tour. My family of 5 husband, myself, kids 16, 12 and 8 will be arriving in juneau in mid august on a cruise. Juneau mendenhall glacier, whale watching, salmon bake tour 2020.
We want to hike the mendenhall glacier trail and do a little shopping in juneau. Aboard the coach, your driver guide narrates as youre transferred to the harbor to board our custommade whale watching boat. You can find this 12milelong body of ice only some miles from juneau, and tours of the glacier are very easy to arrange in the alaskan capital. We had booked this just a day before at the cruise excursions helpdesk since we realized well have a long day in juneau.
Juneau alaska glaciers stock photos download 200 royalty. Your experience will be indepth, authentic, genuine and personalized. How to get to mendenhall ice caves the adventures of lil nicki. The mendenhall glacier has receded almost two miles since 1958, while previously it had receded only 0. Be among the select few to travel by canoe for an unprecedented mendenhall lake experience near the face of the majestic mendenhall glacier on this shore excursion from juneau, alaska. You will then arrive back to the main cruise ship terminal. Emerald princess alaska would recommend it for anyone that likes to take pictures. Committee members can either live, work, recreate, own property, or own a business within the project area, which extends from the culdesac at st. Later, we took the evening whale quest booked through princess. Be amazed by the mile 21kilometer mendenhall glacier, and take to the water on a whalewatching cruise. Youll enjoy a professional instructional slide show in the vehicle en route to the mendenhall glacier. About us in its 15th year of operation, alaskanowned company juneau tours and whale watch weighs in as the largest independent tour provider in southeast alaska. Besides seeing the glacier, you can either go to the nugget creek falls or photo point trail. Learn about its formation from the visitors center.