Juneau Shore Excursion: Private Mendenhall Glacier Trek

Hike and trek on to Mendenhall Glacier with a private guide just for your group! This tour will be tailored to your group’s needs and goals, whether it’s extra time at a feature, a faster pace, or focusing on photography.

Hiking to the glacier begins with 4 miles through towering Sitka Spruce and Hemlock in the largest temperate rainforest in the world. The trail becomes less defined as you follow your guide through dense brush, beaver ponds, and up rock scrambles. The trail is strenuous with about 800 feet in vertical elevation gain and requires you to be sure-footed while crossing slippery stones and rock screes.

It is all worth it when you climb the final ridge, and the jagged face of the glacier bursts into

view with its river of ice coursing behind it. The glacier is in constant change and its ice features disappear and reappear over the course of the season, but we will explore the best features available that day. Your guide will take you on a tour of the glacier's accessible features along the edge, which may include exploring the other worldliness of

an ice cave, hiking by glacier blue conduits and ice tubes, or peering into the deep blue well of a moulin.

Spend your time in Juneau on an Alaskan wilderness hiking adventure as you are introduced to glacier exploration along the edge of the Mendenhall Glacier with your own Private Guide! This exhilarating shore excursion will show you a stunning piece of Alaskan nature as you hike through the Tongass Rainforest towards the glacier. Then explore the edge of the glacier on foot where you could see ice caves, dramatic conduits, and fascinating glacial formations.

Due to the dynamic nature of the Mendenhall Glacier features are in constant change. Your guide will assess each available feature prior to accessing to determine if it’s safe to explore. The Mendenhall Glacier is receding on a daily basis and due to this we are seeing significant changes to the surface of the glacier. There are very limited safe areas to access and explore on the ice with crampons. Safety is our number one priority and we can not guarantee every trip will hike on the glacier.

A maximum of 12 people per booking
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Clients must be in good enough shape and conditioned to hike for up to 6-6.5 hours, covering about 8 miles roundtrip. The hike is challenging and clients need to bring sturdy hiking boots that provide good ankle support while hiking on rocky terrain. All clients will need to hike with a backpack the entire way on this trip. The backpack (provided) weighs approximately 10-15 pounds and holds mountaineering gear, snacks/water, etc.
Cruise-ship passengers must provide hotel or ship name at time of booking
Minimum age is 8 years and must fit at least size 2 shoe
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
You must include the following in the comments section when booking: raingear & shoe sizes for each passenger, (for adult men and women, S-XXL and youth, S-L) and any pertinent medical information. Smallest shoe size that can be accommodated is Youth 2 and largest is Adult 14.
WAIVER FORM: Every participant on the trip must sign a waiver form at the start of the trip. Alterations and/or deletions to the waiver is not permitted
Due to the dynamic nature of the Mendenhall Glacier features are in constant change. Your guide will assess each available feature prior to accessing to determine if it’s safe to explore. The Mendenhall Glacier is receding on a daily basis and due to this we are seeing significant changes to the surface of the glacier. There are very limited safe areas to access and explore on the ice with crampons. Safety is our number one priority and we can not guarantee every trip will hike on the glacier.
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Safety harnesses fit up to 42 inch waist size and 28" inch leg size. Not able to accommodate larger waist/leg sizes.
Travelers should have a strong physical fitness level
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate