Juneau, Mendenhall Glacier

[MsAir]

During our Alaska cruise, we plan to take a bus on our own to the Mendenhall Glacier. Does anyone know what the walking and hiking trails are like at the Glacier? and how close you can actually get to the glacier. Thanks for any info!

 

[Kay C]

There is a visitor's center with rangers at the Mendenhall Glacier. The paths are paved with asphalt. Very accessablie. You can't get close to the glacier because Lake Mendenhall is in front of it. There is a beautiful waterfall beside the glacier. You can catch a city bus to the glacier or take other tours that go there. I think most tours will drop you off and you can spend as much or as little amount of time at the glacier as you like.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Around the visitor center there are paved paths; however, last year we went off the path to get closer to the falls and glacier. It's not a difficult hike at all. You can get fairly close to the falls but there is still the tip of the lake between you and the glacier. It’s still a lot closer than staying up on the paved paths, and affords you a much different, peaceful feeling of the area. Enjoyed my afternoon there tremendously. We took the bus (it's an old school bus that you can catch right down the road from the dock) for about $10. As you're walking into town just be on the lookout for the signs that say $10 to Mendenhall or something to that effect. You could also take a cab but we had fun on the bus. It's a short journey.

 

[MsAir]

Thanks for the info. we're planning to take the bus and then hike the area.