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Lyft charges USD 27+ for a one-way journey to Mendenhall Glacier. Skip the line and get your tickets for the shuttle to Mendenhall Glacier. There are a few safety precautions to take when visiting Mendenhall Glacier.
Explore the Visitor Center
The streams and ponds near Mendenhall Glacier are home to beavers and river otters. These playful and industrious animals can often be seen swimming or building their dams and lodges. Look for signs of beaver activity, such as chewed trees and dams along the trails or near bodies of water. While exploring the Mendenhall Glacier area, keep an eye out for marine wildlife in Mendenhall Lake.
Public Transportation To Mendenhall Glacier Transport In Juneau
With the guidance of experienced professionals, you can create lasting memories and fully appreciate the beauty and significance of this natural wonder. When considering a guided tour, it’s advised to research and compare different tour operators to find a tour that suits your interests, budget, and preferred level of activity. Whether you prefer a leisurely tour with minimal physical exertion or an adventurous exploration of the glacier, there are options to suit every preference. Guided tours often offer added value in the form of additional activities and experiences. Depending on the tour, you may have the opportunity to partake in activities such as wildlife spotting, scenic hikes, or visiting other notable attractions in the area. Another convenient option is to book a spot on a tour bus that leaves downtown from a parking lot right next to the docks.
Shopping Near The Juneau Cruise Port
Regardless of your favorite cruise line, there are many Juneau cruising options available. The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center is located at the end of Mendenhall Lake, just a short walk from the glacier. The visitor center has a variety of exhibits and information about the glacier, as well as a gift shop and a cafe. The duration of a cruise ship excursion to Mendenhall Glacier will also vary depending on the cruise line and the length of the excursion. However, you can expect to spend anywhere from 2 to 4 hours on the glacier. When choosing a transportation option to get to Mendenhall Glacier from the cruise port in Juneau, there are a few things you should consider.
Binoculars or a camera with a telephoto lens can enhance your wildlife viewing experience without intruding on their natural habitat. Remember to follow any guidelines or regulations set by park authorities to help preserve the fragile ecosystem and ensure the safety of both visitors and wildlife. With these activities and attractions, Mendenhall Glacier offers a truly unforgettable experience for all those who visit.
Juneau Tours LLC
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You will find many things to see and do for every budget, from pricey excursions to self-guided adventures. Cruise ship passengers who have purchased shore excursions can meet their pre-booked tours and excursions at the end of the pier in Juneau. Tour guides wait with signs at the end of the pier, making it easy to locate your tour. If you’re considering forgoing an excursion to explore on your own, have no fear, there are plenty of affordable things to do near the cruise port in downtown Juneau. After getting off the bus, walk about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the Visitor Center, which takes approximately 30 minutes. You can follow the Google Maps walking directions from Dredge Lake Road to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.
Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center
Cruise Radio prioritizes well-balanced cruise news coverage and accurate reporting, paired with ship reviews and tips. The Mendenhall Glacier is one of the 38 major glaciers within the Juneau Icefield, an area of interconnected glaciers that rests behind the mountain rising above Juneau. The icefield is spread over 1,500 square miles and flows from the Taku River inlet to Skagway. But taking the bus to get to Nugget Falls is not for everyone, because it requires around 3 miles extra of walking, on top of the walk you will do on the actual Nugget Falls Trail.
Mendenhall Glacier From Cruise Port By Public Bus
If you choose to hike the entire loop, expect it to take approximately two hours. This is not the case when you’re viewing the glaciers in Glacier Bay National Park. If you want to know what to wear to Mendenhall Glacier, I suggest good walking shoes, some layers, and a lightweight waterproof jacket. This Juneau hot spot receives almost half a million visitors a year, and I’ve been one of them several times. Mendenhall is one of 38 glaciers flowing from the Juneau Icefield. If you’re traveling with more than two, it’s cheaper and quicker to grab a taxi.
A scenic tour costs $25 per person, while a glacier hiking tour costs $35 per person. The drive from Juneau cruise port to Mendenhall Glacier takes approximately 30 minutes. You’ll need a good pair of hiking shoes and a lightweight jacket because the climate can change quite a bit. The 3.5-mile looping trail is a moderate hike with stairs and switchbacks through a beautiful rainforest. If you’re worried about time and trying to do multiple things in the capital, sometimes it pays to take a tour.
If you want to combine your visit to the glacier with Juneau’s other must do activity, whale watching, Juneau Tours offers a combo that takes you to both in one tour. This tour is not offered on ships and you do need to book in advance as this is a popular option. The easiest and most straightforward way to get to Mendenhall Glacier from your cruise ship is to book a shore excursion that includes a visit to Mendenhall Glacier. This will also give you a short tour of Juneau and a guaranteed seat on a bus at a guaranteed time. The Visitor Center is about 12 miles from downtown Juneau, where Juneau’s cruise ship docks are located. Juneau’s helicopter tour and guided icefield walk is a must-do for anyone visiting Alaska.
Most visitors have glaciers as one of their must see experiences while visiting Alaska and the Mendenhall Glacier is a unique and easy place to see one. For example, you can see the suggested bus route if you want to be back to the cruise port by a certain time or if you want to leave at a certain time. The bus stop closest to the Juneau cruise port to the bus stop closest to the Mendenhall Glacier will be around 45 minutes. There is a bus stop that is kind of near the Juneau cruise port, and from there, you’ll take a direct bus to get you close to the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. You can get to Mendenhall Glacier from the Juneau cruise port by tour, shuttle, or bus.
We boarded our bus and were back in downtown Juneau in about 15 minutes. We had some time to do a little light shopping and exploring in Juneau before getting back on the ship and heading to the next Alaskan Port, Ketchikan. If you’re planning an Alaska cruise, check out our full guide to Cruise Ports in Alaska. If you will be driving yourself, there is a parking lot near the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. You will pass the visitor center on your way to Nugget Falls, so you can go before you start the Nugget Falls Trail, or you can save it for afterwards. I walked at a relatively leisurely pace and spent a little bit of time at Nugget Falls, and I had around 1.5 hours in Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area.
Now that we have an overview of Mendenhall Glacier, let’s delve into the different options for getting there from the cruise port. If you’re planning to hike, waterproof footwear and possibly rain pants are a good idea. You’ll also want to make sure you have sunglasses (even if it’s rainy!) as the weather often changes several times a day. The visitor center has done an excellent job of sharing the impact of climate change on Alaska’s glaciers and the Mendenhall Glacier in particular. You can book the tour on your ship or independently if you’re not on a ship, but make sure to book in advance! Expect this experience to last around 3-4 hours and cost around $300 per person.
There are several different ways to see Mendenhall Glacier, including by hiking, biking, taking a boat tour, or taking a flightseeing tour. The most popular option is to hike to the glacier, which takes about 2 hours round-trip. Hiking trails range from easy to difficult, so there is a hike for everyone.
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The coolest part about this hike is that you can get almost close enough to the falls to touch them. The second feature of your trip to Mendenhall Glacier is the chance to see Nugget Falls. This roaring glacier waterfall would be an attraction on its own if not for the giant glacier next door. This is the best place to see a glacier is during a cruise stop in Juneau Alaska. Seeing an actual, real-life, glacier has always been on my bucket list.
A paved, flat .6 mile trail leads to Photo Point with a head-on view of the face across the lake against a coastal mountain panorama. Five other trails feature short hikes near the visitor center, including the one-mile trail to Nugget Falls along the shore. The Trail of Time, a .5-mile paved interpretive walk, features signs marking the glacier’s recession. The 3.5-mile East Glacier Trail loop has 500 feet of elevation gain, offering a elevated views of the ice and surrounding terrain. Located in the Mendenhall Valley, approximately 12 miles from downtown Juneau, Mendenhall Glacier is a popular tourist destination for Alaska cruise ship passengers.
