Mendenhall Glacier

Mendenhall Glacier is one of the most accessible and beloved glaciers in Alaska — a vast, 13-mile river of blue ice flowing down from the huge Juneau Icefield to calve into Mendenhall Lake, just 12 miles from downtown Juneau, the state capital. Easily reached and dramatically beautiful, it is one of the most visited glaciers in the world.

Visitors view the glacier and its icebergs across the lake from a visitor center and overlooks, hike trails along the lake and forest to closer viewpoints and the thundering Nugget Falls beside the ice, kayak among the icebergs, and explore (with guides) the glacier’s blue ice caves. Like most Alaskan glaciers, Mendenhall is retreating with the warming climate, a vivid sight of change. Accessible, blue and grand, Mendenhall Glacier is a treasured natural icon of Alaska.

Mendenhall Glacier is enjoyed from the visitor center and overlooks across the lake, on trails — the easy Photo Point and Trail of Time, and the longer trail to Nugget Falls (a thundering waterfall beside the glacier) and the West Glacier Trail toward the ice — and by kayaking or paddling among the icebergs on Mendenhall Lake, with guided treks onto the glacier and into its blue ice caves. Viewing the glacier and Nugget Falls, paddling among icebergs and (with guides) exploring the ice are the signature draws. The combination of an accessible, dramatic glacier and varied ways to experience it makes Mendenhall beloved.

Summer (May through September) is the main season, when the visitor center and trails are fully open, the days are long, and cruise ships and tours fill Juneau (it can be busy), while the shoulder seasons are quieter. The glacier and its blue ice are striking year-round, and winter offers the chance (with guides) to explore ice caves and see the frozen lake. Summer for full access and the trails is the highlight — come early or late in the day to beat cruise-ship crowds, and dress for cool, often rainy Southeast Alaska weather.

The Juneau area is the homeland of the Tlingit people, who have lived along these waters for millennia and witnessed the glacier’s advance and retreat. Mendenhall Glacier (named for a 19th-century scientist) has retreated significantly over the past century, especially in recent decades, opening Mendenhall Lake as the ice pulled back. The U.S. Forest Service built one of the nation’s early glacier visitor centers here. Mendenhall Glacier preserves this accessible river of ice and tells the story of a changing climate, a treasured icon of Alaska.

Mendenhall Glacier flows from the vast Juneau Icefield — a high expanse of snow and ice in the Coast Mountains that feeds dozens of glaciers — descending about 13 miles to Mendenhall Lake. The glacier’s ice is so dense and old that it absorbs all colors but blue, giving its deep crevasses and ice caves their glowing blue hue. As more ice melts than accumulates in the warming climate, the glacier retreats, leaving the lake, polished bedrock and moraines behind. The icefield, the flowing compressed ice and the warming-driven retreat shape this dramatic glacier.

The forest, lake and waters around Mendenhall Glacier host black bears (which fish for salmon at nearby Steep Creek, viewable in season), porcupines, beavers, and a rich birdlife including bald eagles, Arctic terns and waterfowl, while salmon run in the streams and seals sometimes follow them. The Tongass rainforest and the glacial lake support varied wildlife. Mendenhall offers fine wildlife watching, with the black bears fishing for salmon and the bald eagles among the highlights, set against the dramatic backdrop of the glacier.

Mendenhall Glacier lies within the Tongass National Forest — the largest temperate rainforest in the United States — where the glacier, its lake and outwash, and the surrounding lush spruce-hemlock rainforest and salmon streams form a dynamic landscape, with new land and forest emerging as the glacier retreats (a living lesson in ecological succession). The retreating glacier, the salmon streams and the rainforest are sensitive to a warming climate. Protecting the glacier’s setting, the salmon streams and the rainforest sustains both the ecology and the beauty of Mendenhall Glacier.

Mendenhall Glacier holds a treasured place among the icons of Alaska — the most accessible and one of the most beloved glaciers in the state, a vast river of blue ice flowing nearly to the capital city of Juneau, on the homeland of the Tlingit people. Beautiful, accessible and a vivid symbol of a changing climate, it embodies the icy grandeur of Southeast Alaska. Mendenhall Glacier is a cherished natural icon of Alaska.

Mendenhall Glacier is about 12 miles from downtown Juneau, the capital of Alaska (reachable only by air or sea — no roads connect Juneau to the outside). The glacier’s recreation area, run by the Tongass National Forest, has a visitor center (with a fee), overlooks, and trails; reach it by car, shuttle or tour from Juneau. A timed-entry/reservation system may apply in the busy summer. Kayak and glacier-trek tours operate via licensed guides. Check the U.S. Forest Service (Tongass) for the visitor-center fee, reservations, trail info and conditions before visiting.

The U.S. Forest Service (Tongass National Forest) protects Mendenhall Glacier and its setting. Visitors help by staying on trails (protecting the salmon streams, the bears’ fishing areas and the recovering land), keeping a safe distance from bears and wildlife (this is bear country), only going onto the glacier or into ice caves with experienced guides (the ice is dangerous), packing out everything, and following all rules. The salmon streams, the bears and the dynamic glacial landscape are sensitive. Protecting the glacier’s setting, the streams and the wildlife sustains both the ecology and the beauty of Mendenhall.

Glacier ice is dangerous — never venture onto the glacier or into its ice caves without experienced guides and proper gear (the ice shifts and caves can collapse, and people have died), and stay back from unstable ice and calving edges. The lake’s water and the icebergs are frigid; paddle only with proper gear and care. This is bear country, especially near the salmon streams — keep your distance and carry bear awareness. Southeast Alaska weather is cool, wet and changeable; dress in layers. Respect the dangerous ice, the cold water, the bears and the weather.

A visitor-center fee applies, and timed-entry/reservations may be required in summer. Stay on trails; respect closures protecting bears, salmon streams and recovering land. Do not go onto the glacier or into ice caves without a licensed guide. Keep a safe distance from bears and wildlife; never feed them. Drones may be restricted. Pets must be leashed. Pack out all trash. Glacier and kayak tours require licensed operators. Check the U.S. Forest Service (Tongass) for fees, reservations, rules and conditions before visiting.

The capital city of Juneau (with its waterfront, tramway up Mount Roberts, and history), the vast Juneau Icefield, the Tongass National Forest rainforest, the whale-watching waters of Southeast Alaska, and the Inside Passage lie near the glacier. Juneau and Southeast Alaska define the region. Mendenhall Glacier is the accessible icy centerpiece of Juneau, a highlight of an Inside Passage or Southeast Alaska trip, easily combined with Juneau, whale watching and the Tongass rainforest.

From Juneau, take a car, shuttle or tour to the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area (reserve timed entry if required in summer), and walk the easy trail to Nugget Falls for a dramatic view of the thundering waterfall beside the blue ice — or kayak among the icebergs on the lake. For the glacier’s blue ice caves, go only with a licensed guide (the ice is dangerous). Watch for black bears fishing for salmon at Steep Creek in season, dress for cool, rainy weather, come early to beat cruise crowds, and combine with Juneau and whale watching.