Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier & Whale Watching with Nugget Falls Hike

Glacier, Waterfall & Whales in One Juneau Morning

You drive to Mendenhall Glacier, spend nearly two hours exploring the Visitor's Center and hiking to Nugget Falls at your own speed, then board a small jet boat from Auke Bay Harbor to search for whales with a local captain. Binoculars, snacks, and hot drinks are included, and the whole day moves without long waits between stops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore glacier and whale watching

• Drive through Juneau city
• Hike to Nugget Falls
• Visit Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center
• Whale watching from Auke Bay Harbor

The experience

You're driving through Juneau on a guided bus, heading toward the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area with an hour and forty-five minutes ahead of you to move at your own pace. The Visitor's Center sits there first: a quick stop to understand what you're looking at, the scale of the ice, how fast it's retreating. Then the trail to Nugget Falls opens up, and most people take forty-five minutes round trip, though if you're slower with a camera or just want to breathe in the rainforest without rushing, that's fine too. The hike isn't steep. You're walking through moss and hemlock, and the waterfall gets louder as you get closer.

After that, you transfer straight to Auke Bay Harbor: the company prides itself on quick handoffs between vehicles, so there's no dead time sitting around. The jet boats are small, which matters more than it sounds. They're built to be gentle on marine mammals, and because the groups stay intimate, you're not crammed in with forty other people. The captains are local and know where the whales have been moving. Humpbacks, orcas, sea otters: what shows up depends on the season and the day, but the boat goes out looking, and the binoculars are already in your hands.

The company has been running this since 1994, and they hire from Juneau itself, which means your guide actually lives here and isn't just passing through. You get a snack bag, hot chocolate, and coffee on the boat. It's the kind of detail that sounds small until you're out on the water in Alaska and someone hands you something warm.

What’s included

Your day includes a guided bus drive through Juneau, access to the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, time at the Visitor's Center, a self-paced hike to Nugget Falls, a mammal-friendly jet boat departure from Auke Bay Harbor with an experienced local captain, binoculars, a snack bag, hot chocolate, and coffee.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 24 Apr 2027

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Please meet us outside the Goldbelt Tram building, on the street side. Look for a Dolphin representative with a blue sign with yellow letters.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.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 48h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Dolphin Jet Boat Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want glacier, waterfall, and whale-watching in one morning without arranging separate transport or timing the stops yourself: the fixed itinerary and quick transfers between vehicles mean you see three major things without the logistics.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

How long is the hike to Nugget Falls?

Most people take about 45 minutes round trip. The trail is easy, and you can go slower if you want to stop for photos or rest.

What kind of whales might I see?

Humpbacks and orcas are common in Juneau waters. Sea otters and other marine life also appear. What you see depends on the season and where the whales are that day.

What's included in the tour?

Guided bus transport through Juneau, entry to Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, Visitor's Center access, the hike to Nugget Falls, the jet boat whale-watching trip, binoculars, snacks, hot chocolate, and coffee.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The hike to Nugget Falls is easy and takes 45 minutes round trip at a comfortable pace. You should have at least moderate fitness. It's not recommended for people with spinal injuries.

How big are the whale-watching boats?

The boats are small and intimate, which keeps groups manageable and allows the captains to navigate more flexibly to find whales.

What if I'm a slow hiker?

You have an hour and forty-five minutes to two hours at the glacier area, so you can take the Nugget Falls hike at whatever pace works for you, visit the Visitor's Center, and still have time to spare.

Do I need to bring binoculars?

No, binoculars are provided on the boat.