Mendenhall Glacier Hike Juneau: 7-Mile Trek & Glacier Views

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/8

Duration6h

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

The trail gets steeper than the photos suggest—and that's where the glacier appears

You hike 7 miles through Alaska's largest temperate rainforest, gaining 800 feet of elevation over rocky, slippery terrain, to reach a ridge overlooking Mendenhall Glacier's blue ice face and Nugget Falls. Your guide leads the pace, provides snacks and water, and handles transport from your hotel. Plan for 4 to 5 hours on the trail if you're fit and conditioned for steep hiking with a backpack.

Step-by-step itinerary

Mendenhall Glacier guided hike adventure

Drive 12 miles from downtown Juneau
Hike 3 miles through Tongass National Forest
Pass beaver ponds and glacial terrain
Scramble up exposed rocky, slippery trail
Reach ridge with panoramic glacier views
Enjoy snacks and take photos
Observe glacier crevasses, icefall, Nugget Falls

The Experience

The first surprise is how fast the forest closes in. You start on what looks like a normal trail near Juneau, but within the first mile the Tongass National Forest—16.7 million acres of temperate rainforest, larger than ten U.S. states—swallows the path. Your guide points out beaver ponds and the way the trail narrows as you climb. The elevation gain is 800 feet over rocky, uneven ground, and you feel it in your legs, not your lungs, if you're conditioned for it. Most people underestimate that part until they're halfway through.

The Mendenhall Glacier hike covers about 7 miles roundtrip, and the real payoff comes at the final ridge. When you emerge from the forest, the glacier's jagged facade hits you all at once—deep blue crevasses, cascading icefall, Nugget Falls dropping off the mountainside. The glacier sits just 12 miles from downtown Juneau and is the only one in Southeast Alaska you can reach by road, which is why it draws hikers who want ice without a multi-day expedition. You'll spend time at the viewing area taking photos and eating the hearty snacks your guide brings, though how long you linger depends on the group's pace and the weather that day. Some afternoons the light on the ice is sharp and clear; other times clouds roll in fast.

This isn't a casual walk. The terrain demands sure-footedness and real balance—scrambling over exposed glacial rock, slippery patches, uneven footing the whole way. You'll hike with a backpack the entire time, and you need sturdy boots with ankle support. The tour requires a minimum group of four to run, and if you're traveling with kids aged 8 or 9, the operator can arrange a private trip instead of waiting for a larger group. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you don't arrange your own transport to the trailhead. The guide handles the route, the pace, and the safety calls—which matters on terrain that can shift with weather.

One thing to know upfront: this hike doesn't include walking on the glacier itself or exploring around its edge. You get to the vista where you can see it clearly, photograph it, and understand its scale, but you're viewing from the ridge, not stepping onto the ice. If you have spinal injuries, are pregnant, or have cardiovascular concerns, this tour isn't the right fit. The operator asks you to disclose any medical conditions or limitations before you book, because if you can't finish the trek due to undisclosed health issues or insufficient fitness, there's a $250 rescue fee per person. That's not a threat—it's a real cost if a helicopter has to pull someone out—so be honest about your conditioning going in.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional guide leading the entire hike, a backpack and rain jacket and pants (sized to your specifications), hearty snacks and bottled water during the glacier viewing break, and roundtrip transportation from the designated meeting point.
You provide sturdy hiking boots with good ankle support.
All participants must sign a liability waiver at the start of the trip.

Good to know

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

Operated by Above and Beyond Alaska

Is this one for you?Right for hikers with solid fitness who want to see Mendenhall Glacier's blue ice and surrounding peaks without a multi-day expedition. Expect 4 to 5 hours of steep, rocky terrain with a full backpack—that's what gets you to the glacier vista and back in one day.