Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Tour & Icebergs

Paddle to Mendenhall Glacier's Face in a Traditional Canoe

You paddle a traditional Tlingit canoe across Mendenhall Lake to within safe distance of the glacier face, navigating past icebergs and watching for eagles, bears, and salmon. The trip includes all gear, a snack of Alaskan fare with hot beverage, and transport. Forest Service permits keep groups small, and the whole experience runs three to four hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Canoe adventure near Mendenhall Glacier

• Board traditional Tlingit-style canoe
• Paddle across Mendenhall Lake
• Navigate past icebergs and wildlife
• Approach Mendenhall Glacier face safely
• Skirt base of Nugget Falls
• Stop ashore for Alaskan snack
• Return paddle to starting point

The experience

You're standing at the dock in Juneau, and the guide (a local who's done this hundreds of times) is checking the weather and the glacier conditions. He mentions that the Forest Service only lets a handful of people out on the water each day, which is why you're here and most cruise passengers aren't. The canoe is already in the water, a 28-foot traditional Tlingit-style boat that sits low and stable, nothing like the kayaks you might have imagined. He hands you rain gear and a life jacket, and you realize this isn't a casual paddle. It's a real approach to one of Alaska's most active glaciers.

The paddle across Mendenhall Lake takes you past chunks of blue ice the size of cars, some of them calved off the glacier face just days before. The water is cold and clear, and your guide points out the birds: arctic terns nesting on the shoreline, eagles perched on the trees behind them. He's quiet for stretches, letting you hear the glacier itself, the sound of ice shifting and water moving underneath. You pass salmon in the shallows and, if you're lucky, you might see a bear on the bank, though the guide says the real show is what's ahead. The Mendenhall Glacier fills your view as you get closer, a wall of pale blue and white that's still moving, still calving, still alive in a way that photographs don't quite capture.

When you reach the beach near Nugget Falls, the guide pulls the canoe ashore and breaks out the snack: hot coffee or tea, reindeer sausage, salmon spread, cheese and crackers. It's simple food, but it tastes right here, with the glacier in front of you and the sound of the falls behind you. The return paddle is quieter somehow, maybe because you've already seen what you came for, or maybe because the cold is starting to settle in. The whole trip takes about three to four hours from start to finish, and by the time you're back at the dock, your shoulders know you've paddled, but your mind is still out on the water.

The canoe adventure to Mendenhall Glacier is limited by Forest Service permit, which is the only reason it stays this way: small groups, no crowds, just the sound of paddles and ice. If you're on a cruise ship, you'll need to give your ship's name and return time when you book, so the timing works around your departure.

What’s included

Your day includes transportation to and from the dock, a traditional Tlingit-style canoe with all modern safety gear (rain gear, life jacket, boots), paddling across Mendenhall Lake to the glacier face, a beach stop with an Alaskan-style snack of reindeer sausage, salmon spread, cheese, crackers, and a hot beverage or water for the return paddle.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 6 May 2027

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 19

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Alaska Travel Adventures Inc.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Mendenhall Glacier up close without arranging your own boat or navigating the lake yourself: the Forest Service permit and small group size are what make the close approach possible and keep the experience quiet.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

How many people go on the canoe at once?

The canoe holds 15 to 20 passengers. Forest Service permits limit the number of trips per day, so groups stay small.

What's included in the snack?

Hot coffee or tea on cold days, water, reindeer sausage, salmon spread, cheese, and crackers.

Do I need paddling experience?

No. The guide handles navigation and timing. You paddle, but it's not a technical skill: moderate fitness is the main requirement.

What if I'm on a cruise ship?

You can book this tour, but you'll need to provide your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time at booking so the return is guaranteed.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The tour operates in rain, and all gear is provided. Severe weather or unsafe glacier conditions may result in cancellation, covered under the Worry-Free Shore Excursion Guarantee.

How long is the whole trip?

About three to four hours, including paddling, the beach stop, and snack time.

Will I see wildlife?

Eagles, arctic terns, salmon, and goats are common. Bears and other wildlife may be seen but are not guaranteed.