What attractions are near Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center? - More time on the water! https://www.ordinary-adventures.com/privacy-policy/. Easily reached by taking one of the many small buses from the cruise docks that will drop you off within a few 100 ft of the visitor center and return multiple times for a return trip. What restaurants are near Mendenhall Glacier? Our picks for the best tours and experiences during your Alaska Cruise. 97% of travelers recommend this experience. But they say theres no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing, so I gathered up my rain gear and decided to make the best of my day on a Mendenhall Glacier Trek. May 2022; we saw the glacier via the Holland America cruise and the captain did an excellent job of getting us close to see and actually hear the calving. It has retreated quite a bit since I first went to it 30 years ago, but still remains one of the most beautiful places in Alaska and is a favorite of Juneau residents, not just visitors. "[9] It is expected the glacier face will soon pull out of the lake. Panoramic views from the visitors center which has a couple of spotting scopes to take a closer look at the glacier and the waterfall. So, while it is possible, I dont recommend trying to take a taxi or ride share to the glacier. Are there taxis available at the Glacier to return back to the dock or does it have to be reserved? If you aren't able/interested in running down the trail to see the glacier and waterfall, then I would advise skipping it. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. Taxis also drop off further away than buses from the visitor center and there is a steep surcharge per person to get dropped off at the glacier. Rangers provide talks at various indoor and outdoor sites in summer. Nice little Visitor centre with views of the Glacier. We did this while on a stop on our cruise - and like everyone who is visiting by cruise ship , they give you very little time in port. There are taxis in Juneau that can take you to the Visitor Center, but I am not sure how much they are. You can take many nice photos. It seems relatively simple to get transport from the port to Mendenhall visitor center. Is Mendenhall Glacier worth seeing? This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Maybe try looking at the taxi fares in Juneau? Several easy, paved walking trails with lovely views of the glacier. Ive taken the Juneau Tours Shuttle out to the glacier and highly recommend it as long as youre ok with the possibility of having to wait in line (if youre not, go for a tour instead). . This is a beautiful and awe inspiriting place. The bus will set you back $30 . You'll ride across the waters of Mendenhall Lake in a traditional Tlingit-style canoe that permits unobstructed viewing of the glacier, icebergs, Nugget Falls, and perhaps some Alaskan wildlife. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Will I get to walk on Mendenhall Glacier? This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. After meeting our guide, we began the day hiking the West Glacier Loop to Mendenhall Glacier. Make sure enough time is available at least to hike to Nugget Falls and Photo Point. Worth seeing when visiting - Review of Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Duration: 3.5-4 hours. But I'm not that physically fit and the idea of a "hike" scares me. Even with poor weather our visit to the glacier was spectacular. It looked like it was going to pour when I woke up in Juneau. It is worth your while to see. They are in their original growth position, preserved under what was believed to be a protective gravel layer. Its a beautiful and at times steep hike through the rain forest, with lots of small creeks and waterfalls and views of the glacier and the Mendenhall Valley. 3.5 Hour Whale Tour in Juneau Alaskaskip the crowds with us! The visitor center has done an excellent job of sharing the impact of climate change on Alaskas glaciers and the Mendenhall Glacier in particular. [8] In a joint article for the Juneau Empire Geologist Cathy Connor and Geophysicist Roman Motyka, both professors of the University of Alaska said "climatic warming coupled with ice loss through iceberg calving are the reasons the Mendenhall Glacier is retreating and shrinking. A difficult thing for people to wrap their head around in Juneau is the limited availability and long wait times for on demand rides. Of course you must go and don't miss Nugget Falls! Read our. Your fully guided tour offers you a unique experience that combines natural landscapes and non-native manicured gardens . Of all the trails, reviewers highly recommend the East Glacier Trail for its stunning views of the glacier and the falls. Just ask how much time there is at the glacier and make sure it matches what you want to do. Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center - US Forest Service Mendenhall Glacier - worth it? - Page 2 - Alaska - Cruise Critic For example, Anchorage, the most populated city in Alaska and many people there rely on the Eklutna glacier for their freshwater. Take a photo tour of Juneau's Mendenhall Glacier, one of the most popular attractions in Alaska's capital city. Hopping on the city bus is your cheapest option (tickets cost $2 each way), but it's also the least convenient: You'll have to walk about a mile and a half from the bus stop to the glacier. On the return walk, we took the short trail to the Photo Point which provides a much better view of Mendenhall Glacier. It's breathtaking and you can see the falls. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Tripadvisor. If you have time, walk the easy Steep Creek boardwalk trail. If youre on a cruise, book through your cruise ship and book as early as you can because this shore excursion is popular and nearly always sells out! You will need to walk 1.5 miles from the bus stop down the sidewalk along the Glacier Spur Road to the end. If youd rather be sightDOING than sightseeing, youre in the right place. Top ways to experience Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau Shore Excursion: Mendenhall Glacier Trek, Juneau Shore Excursion: Mendenhall Glacier Canoe, Paddle, and Trek, Best of Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier, Whale Watching and Salmon Bake, The Blue Bus Glacier Express Is a fully narrated trip to the Mendenhall Glacier. Every step was worthwhile, though, since it led to beautiful views of Mendenhall Lake and our first view of the glacier. No, that is not sufficient time to take the public bus. Luckily, the adventure continued even off the glacier. . But they say theres no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing, so I gathered up my. We recommend booking Mendenhall Glacier tours ahead of time to secure your spot. #14 inBest Cheap European Vacations for 2023-2024. Can it be done in that short of time? The glacier has also retreated 1.75 miles (2.82km) since 1929, when Mendenhall Lake was created, and over 2.5 miles (4.0km) since 1500. Q&A: Cruise Insurance with Steve Dasseos of the TripInsuranceStore.com - Summer Session '23, ANNOUNCEMENT: Regent Seven Seas Cruises 2025-2026 Voyage Collection Debut. Gwen Pratesi|Amanda NorcrossJune 22, 2023. It is hard to believe how much smaller it is since our visit 15 years ago. Expect this experience to take about 3 hours and cost around $650-$700 per person. Theoretically, Juneau has a few Uber and Lyft drivers, but Ive never been able to successfully get a ride (I keep trying because Im curious about this). They can determine trees' ages when they died by looking at their preserved remains. Alaska Glacier Cruises Explained: All You Need To Know - Cruise Radio I saw some international travelers who turned back half-way on their hike to the falls because they had to get on their tour bus; they certainly missed out on a great experience. Once out there you have a few mile hike to the Glacier from the bus stop. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Federal passes are accepted and sold as well as daily passes. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. It extends from the Juneau Icefield, its source, to Mendenhall Lake. The most important thing is to wear (or bring) a rain jacket. Many salmon swimming upstream were visible. Glacial movements have, and still are influencing where, when, and what plants may occur. Juneaus Mendenhall Glacier is one of the most well known glaciers in Alaska and an absolute must do when visiting Juneau. Later in the fall, a run of coho salmon spawn in the creek. The only glacier in Southeast Alaska accessible by road, Mendenhall's grand edifice plunges from the immense Juneau Icefield, dropping 4,500 feet over 13 miles. For those who want to get up onto the ice and walk on Mendenhall Glacier, youll need to do that by helicopter. $45 round trip booked thru TripAdvisor/Viator and they pick up and drop off every hour and half hour on the clock. View Details. You can also take a taxi or a shuttle; Juneau Tours and M&M Tours both offer round-trip shuttles between downtown Juneau and the glacier for $30 per person. There appeared to be taxi service at the "lift" area upon leaving the ship at Juneau. I did not have much time to spend at the visitor center for getting more info about the Glacier and potential trails for walking. We did the whale watch and Mendenhall glacier combo tour. Thank you! For a more immersive experience (and guidance from a local), consider visiting with one of the best Alaska tours. Enjoy a one-hour hike to 400-foot-tall Nugget Falls. 8150 Mendenhall Loop Rd Tongass National Forest, Juneau, AK 99801, This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. How To Get To Mendenhall Glacier From Cruise Port You want hiking boots. Park rangers weee friendly and the park was well managed. The Trail of Time, a .5-mile paved interpretive walk, features signs marking the glaciers recession. Some great views of the glacier can be found within the centre. At the time of this writing, there are not ice caves at Mendenhall Glacier you can safely access. Hope this helps - please let me know if I can give you any further info. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. Dont miss the movie which is excellent. The glaciers history isnt obvious with the naked eye but a park ranger gave a talk about its history every 20 minutes or so at the edge of the pedestrian trail. Ive found many tours that include Mendenhall glacier, but many people say they didnt have enough time there (45 minutes to an hour). By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. could you please let me know how to get a bus at the port on our own for 25.00 round trip each? Best Cheap European Vacations for 2023-2024. Porcupines can be seen foraging on leaves in deciduous trees. I'm Jennie. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. This will also give you a short tour of Juneau and a guaranteed seat on a bus at a guaranteed time. When you're not gazing at the icebergs, the Coast Mountains will likely grab your attention. Trip Tip: Mendenhall Glacier appears more blue when it is cloudy. There is an interesting visitor's centre that is accessible by either a ramp or, after a short walk, an elevator. Mendenhall Glacier | How to Visit | ALASKA.ORG Rangers provide talks at various indoor and outdoor sites in summer. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. But, to me, the Nugget Falls is the main attraction there. There is a shuttle bus that picks people up in the parking lot beside the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tram. There is no beverage or food service available to prevent bears from becoming food-conditioned. Roberts Tramway (right where your ship docks) at least twice/hour and drops you off at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, the admission ($5) to which is included in your ticket. Thanks in advance! [14][15], In 2012, tree stumps and logs with attached roots and bark appeared under the retreating glacier. Thanks. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in. Im sorry! Our facility and lands are managed by the federal government through the United States Forest Service. Also if you come by prepaid bus, that covers any fees for entering the park. [13] The lake has a unique ecosystem and is a nursery for a variety of fish including several type of salmon, Dolly Varden, char, and cutthroat trout. Stop by the Visitor Center and then enjoy the walks. Mendenhall Glacier (in Tlingit language "St") is a glacier about 13.6 miles (21.9 km) long located in Mendenhall Valley, about 12 miles (19 km) from downtown Juneau in the southeast area of the U.S. state of Alaska. MENDENHALL GLACIER VISITOR CENTER - 969 Photos & 214 Reviews - 8510 Mendenhall Loop Rd, Juneau, Alaska - Visitor Centers - Phone Number - Yelp Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center 214 reviews Unclaimed Visitor Centers Edit See all 978 photos Hotels & Travel Travel Services Visitor Centers Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center Write a review Add photo This is also a terrific way to leave crowds behind as the visitor center area does get very crowded on busy ship days. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, The 9 Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse! Wet and Rainy but worth it! - Review of Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, AK Located about 30 minutes from downtown Juneau, this area is not be missed on a visit to Alaska's state . Nearby Steep Creek is the spawning stream for wild sockeye salmon from late July through early September.