Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Tour from Juneau

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/7

Duration4h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

You paddle to the glacier itself, not hike to a viewpoint.

Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Tour is a 4-hour guided paddle across Mendenhall Lake in Tongass National Forest, starting from the cruise ship docks in Juneau. You gear up in waterproof rain jacket, pants, boots and gloves, receive paddling instruction, then spend about 2 hours on the water navigating to the face of the glacier under expert guidance. The guide handles transport to the West Glacier boat launch, provides a PFD and paddle, and brings bottled water, snacks and a hot beverage. Children from age 12 are welcome; you'll need a signed liability waiver and a high level of physical fitness for up to 2 hours of canoe paddling.

Step-by-step itinerary

Canoe tour to Mendenhall Glacier

Pick up at cruise ship docks
Transfer to West Glacier boat launch
Gear up and receive paddle lesson
Launch canoe on Mendenhall Lake
Paddle to Mendenhall Glacier viewpoints
Experience glacier up close from canoe

The Experience

The tour picks you up at the cruise ship docks in downtown Juneau and drives 30 minutes to the West Glacier boat launch in Tongass National Forest. Once there, you'll gear up in the provided waterproof gear—rain jacket, pants, boots and gloves—and go over safety and paddling basics with your guide before launching onto Mendenhall Lake. The paddle itself lasts about 2 hours, and the guide navigates the canoe to the best vantage points of the glacier's blue crevasses and seracs while you take in the landscape.

Steep cliffs line the lake, and you'll spot Arctic terns, mountain goats, porcupines and other wildlife as you move across the water. The guide positions the canoe close enough to the glacier face that you're seeing it from the water rather than from a distant shore—a perspective most visitors don't get. The cool air off the glacier is part of the experience, and the whole tour is canoeing only; there's no hiking component.

Roundtrip transport from the cruise ship docks, an expert wilderness guide, waterproof gear, a PFD, paddling instruction, bottled water, snacks and a hot beverage are all included. The tour runs 4 hours total. You'll need to be at least 12 years old, weigh between 90 and 240 pounds, and have the fitness level for up to 2 hours of continuous paddling. A signed liability waiver is required before departure.

What’s included

Waterproof rain jacket, pants, boots and gloves.
personal flotation device (PFD).
paddling instruction and expert wilderness guide.
bottled water, snacks and a hot beverage.
roundtrip transportation from the cruise ship docks in downtown Juneau to the West Glacier boat launch.

Good to know

Demanding physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Liquid Alaska Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want a guided paddle on Mendenhall Lake with a small group—the guide leads the route and handles safety, so you focus on paddling and wildlife spotting rather than navigating.