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Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier White-Water Rafting & Float

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1/6

Duration3h 30m

GroupUp to 100

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Paddle or Float Past Mendenhall Glacier in One Afternoon

You board a raft at Mendenhall Lake and float five miles downriver past the glacier, either relaxing in a guide-led boat or paddling your own through Class III rapids. The tour includes a photographer on the bank, wildlife spotting, snacks, and a return transfer to your ship — all within 3.5 hours, so you're back before departure.

3h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Scenic motor coach to Mendenhall Lake
Gear up and board the raft
Raft across Mendenhall Lake
View Mendenhall Glacier and mountains
Float five miles down Mendenhall River
Navigate Class II and III rapids
Spot wildlife along the river
Stop for photos by the riverbank
Enjoy Alaskan snack and warm beverage
Purchase photo or souvenir
Return transfer to ship

The Experience

So you're standing on the deck thinking you've got maybe four hours before the ship leaves, and your guide's already loading you into a raft at the base of Mendenhall Glacier. The motor coach ride from port takes you straight to Mendenhall Lake, where you gear up and push off into water that's cold enough to keep you awake. The glacier sits right there — massive, pale blue, the kind of thing you can't quite believe is real until you're floating toward it.

The route covers about five miles down the Mendenhall River, and it splits into two versions depending on what you want to do. If you'd rather sit back and let the guide handle the paddle, you're in a custom-made raft that moves through the Class II and III rapids at a pace that feels fast without being out of control. The water speed changes with the weather, so some days it's more float than rush, other days it's genuinely exciting. If you want to paddle yourself, you get a one-mile stretch of Class III where you follow commands and actually power the raft — that's the version people talk about afterward. Either way, a photographer shoots from the riverbank, so you leave with proof it happened.

The wildlife shows up if it wants to. Eagles, arctic terns nesting on the rocks, salmon moving upstream, and occasionally bears — your guide knows what to look for and will point things out as you drift. The mountains rise straight up on both sides, and Nugget Falls drops in the distance. You're not fighting to see anything; it's all just there while you float. After the river section, you pull ashore for an Alaskan snack and something warm to drink, then a short narrated ride back to the ship.

What’s included

Your tour includes professional guide services, all rafting gear and life jackets, transportation via narrated motor coach to Mendenhall Lake and back to your ship, a five-mile float down the Mendenhall River with Class II and III rapids, wildlife viewing, a photographer on the riverbank, Alaskan snacks and a warm beverage at the end, and the option to purchase photos or souvenirs of your experience.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Alaska Travel Adventures Inc.

Is this one for you?Book this if you're docked in Juneau for a few hours and want to see the glacier without arranging your own transport or timing — the fixed 3.5-hour schedule is built around ship departures, and you choose between relaxing or paddling depending on how active you want to be.