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Combine two of Juneau's top experiences by exploring Mendenhall Glacier and cruising coastal waters to spot humpback whales. These guided combo tours range from fast jet boat excursions to relaxing catamaran rides, with options for salmon bakes and extra hiking time.
Free Cancellation Spend 45 minutes at Mendenhall Glacier followed by a jet boat search for humpback whales in Juneau's coastal waters.
Free Cancellation Spot humpback whales on a two-hour cruise followed by 90 minutes exploring Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls.
Free Cancellation Watch whales from mammal-friendly jet boats with Juneau’s original family-owned tour company, founded in 1994.
Free Cancellation Whale watch from jet boats followed by a two-hour stop at Mendenhall Glacier to hike the Nugget Falls trail.
Track humpback whales at Auke Bay, visit Mendenhall Glacier, and eat alder-wood grilled salmon at Gold Creek.
Free Cancellation Spend two hours whale watching in Auke Bay followed by a 15-minute photo stop at Mendenhall Glacier.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Mendenhall Glacier — from practical tips to personal highlights.
Most tours combine a jet boat ride in Auke Bay to track humpback whales with a shuttle trip to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. You get about two hours on the water and anywhere from 15 minutes to two hours at the ice. That determines whether you just snap a photo from the overlook or hike the trail to Nugget Falls.
Captains navigate 24-passenger jet boats and 49-passenger catamarans through the coastal waters of Auke Bay. Humpback whale sightings are guaranteed between May and September. You will often see sea lions and porpoises near the hull.
A two-mile round-trip gravel path leads directly to the base of a 377-foot waterfall. This puts you as close to the glacier's face as you can get on foot. You need a tour that allocates at least two hours at the recreation area to complete this walk.
Elevated boardwalks cross a salmon spawning stream near the visitor center. Black bears fish here heavily in August and September. Stay on the platforms and follow the Forest Service distance guidelines.
The 13.6-mile glacier drops 4,500 feet from the Juneau Icefield and terminates at the water. In November 2025, the ice face officially separated from the lake. Specialized kayak tours paddle among the floating blue icebergs.
The 1962 building features an exhibit gallery, a theater, and floor-to-ceiling windows facing the ice. You need a $5 day-use pass to enter the building and the adjacent pavilion. The trails and parking lot remain free.
Tour operators use mammal-friendly vessels without external propellers to protect the whales. Cabins are heated and include restrooms. The outer viewing decks run cold, dropping air temperatures by ten degrees.
Juneau cruise schedules dictate the tour market, so operators time their departures to match ship arrivals. Strict Forest Service permits cap the number of daily visitors at the lake.
Expect a 4.5 to 5.5-hour round trip from downtown Juneau. The boat ride takes two hours, leaving 45 minutes to two hours for the glacier depending on the specific package. Pick the longer glacier stop if you want to hike.
Most operators pick up directly from the cruise docks near the Mt. Roberts Tramway. If your ship docks at the AJ Dock, you will need to take a $3 shuttle to the main terminal area first. Check-in is usually 15 minutes before departure.
Standard combo tours cover the bus transportation and boat ride. Check your specific booking to see if the $5 Mendenhall Visitor Center pass is included. You do not need a pass to hike the Nugget Falls trail.
It rains constantly in Juneau. Water temperatures drop the air temperature by about ten degrees. Wear a waterproof jacket and slip-proof shoes even on sunny days.
Boats provide water and light snacks. Premium options add an alder-wood salmon bake at the end of the trip. You cannot bring food onto the Mendenhall Glacier trails because of bear activity.
Operators promise humpback whale sightings from May 15 to September 15. If the captain fails to find a whale, companies typically offer a partial refund. The boats communicate with each other to locate active pods.
The boats accommodate collapsible wheelchairs, but motorized scooters are banned. At the glacier, stick to the paved Photo Point Trail. The Nugget Falls path has uneven gravel sections.
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| Standard Combo Tour | Extended Hiker's Combo | Salmon Bake Combo | Express Peek Tour | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 4.5 hours | 5.5 hours | 5+ hours | 3.75 hours |
| Glacier Time | 45 minutes | 2 hours | 1 hour | 15 minutes |
| Vessel Type | Jet boat | Catamaran | Catamaran | Jet boat |
| Price Range | $189 - $249 | $199 | $279 | $185 |
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The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center operates on a seasonal schedule. During the summer (May 1 through September 30), the building is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., seven days a week.
Winter hours run from November through March. The center opens only on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and closes on federal holidays. April and October see intermittent operations.
The surrounding recreation area, including the trails and parking lots, remains open year-round from 6:00 a.m. to midnight daily.
The glacier sits 12 miles from downtown Juneau and 5 miles from the Juneau International Airport. Most visitors arrive via private tour shuttles that depart from the cruise ship docks near the Mt. Roberts Tramway.
If you travel independently, a taxi from downtown costs $30 to $40 one-way. Private shuttle buses, like the M&M Tours 'Blue Bus', charge about $45 to $49 for a round trip.
Capital Transit runs a public bus for a few dollars, but it does not stop at the visitor center. You will have to walk 1.5 miles (about 30 minutes) from the nearest stop to reach the glacier.
May and June offer the mildest weather, long daylight hours, and smaller crowds. Early summer also brings active wildlife like mountain goats and bald eagles to the recreation area.
August and September are the months to book if you want to see black bears. The bears congregate at Steep Creek to feed on spawning sockeye and coho salmon. Head to the boardwalks early in the morning or late in the evening for the highest activity.
Avoid November through March unless you are prepared for freezing temperatures and limited facility access. Juneau officials explicitly warn against crossing the frozen lake during winter due to unpredictable, thin ice.
The visitor center building has an elevator and a switchback ramp. Two fully paved, wheelchair-accessible trails start right at the center: the Photo Point Trail and sections of the Moraine Ecology Trail.
The popular Nugget Falls Trail covers two miles round trip on mostly flat ground, but it includes unpaved gravel and boardwalk sections that can prove difficult for wheelchairs and scooters.
Tour boats in Auke Bay accommodate standard collapsible wheelchairs. Motorized scooters and heavy motorized wheelchairs are prohibited on the vessels.
The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center features a glaciology exhibit gallery, a theater showing a rotating film, and a bookstore run by Discovery Southeast. You will find public restrooms inside the building and at the pavilion.
Staffing shortages occasionally result in long lines for the restrooms and unstaffed information desks during peak cruise ship arrivals. Automated vending machines in the parking lot sell the required day-use passes.
The tour boats feature heated indoor cabins, wide viewing windows, outdoor decks, and onboard bathrooms. Operators provide water and light snacks, but food is strictly banned on the glacier trails.
Most combo tours include bus transportation and the boat ride. You might need to buy the $5 day-use pass separately at the automated machines if you want to enter the visitor center building. The trails and parking lot are free.
You will not see bears from the boat in Auke Bay. You have a high chance of spotting black bears at the glacier's Steep Creek boardwalk in August and September during the salmon run.
It depends entirely on the tour package. Express tours stop for just 15 to 45 minutes, while extended versions give you two full hours to hike the Nugget Falls trail.
Auke Bay and the surrounding channels are protected from open ocean swells. The 24-passenger jet boats and 49-passenger catamarans offer stable rides, though you should still bring medication if you are highly sensitive.
No. Standard combo tours only take you to the viewing areas and trails around Mendenhall Lake. Walking on the ice requires a specialized helicopter flightseeing or guided trekking tour.
Operators guarantee humpback sightings between May 15 and September 15. If you miss them, companies typically offer a partial refund or a voucher for a future trip.
Yes. The air over the water is often ten degrees colder than on land. You need a waterproof jacket and warm layers even on sunny days.
Tour buses and boats do not allow motorized scooters or heavy motorized wheelchairs. They can accommodate standard collapsible wheelchairs.
No. The Forest Service warns against visiting the ice caves due to severe collapse risks. Standard tours stick to the safe, maintained trails.
Glacial Lake Outburst Floods happen when water from Suicide Basin suddenly drains into Mendenhall Lake, causing severe flooding. The Forest Service occasionally closes the entire recreation area during these events in the summer.
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You have 45 minutes for self-guided exploration at Mendenhall Glacier. Walk the trails or explore the park on your own before the shuttle moves you to the harbor. Fast jet boats with heated cabins and restrooms carry you into the channel. Humpback whale sightings are guaranteed. You can watch from the outdoor decks or stay behind the glass if it's raining. Captains and naturalists search for whales and other marine wildlife. Bring a waterproof jacket and a warm mid-layer. The wind on the water is colder than the air temperature at the glacier — that's the one thing people forget.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
Humpback whales are the main focus of this two-hour boat trip through Juneau's coastal waters. You'll see them surfacing or diving, and sometimes sea lions or porpoises appear near the hull. It's often ten degrees colder on the water than on land. Bring a waterproof jacket even if the sun is out at the pier. A shuttle drops you at Mendenhall Glacier for a 90-minute stop. It's the most famous of the 38 glaciers in the Juneau Icefield. Walk the one-mile round-trip path to Nugget Falls to stand beside the 377-foot drop right next to the glacier’s face. If you're there between July and September, look for sockeye salmon spawning in Steep Creek from the boardwalk. The Visitor Center has elevated views, but the lake-level trails get you closer to the ice. That's where the best photos are.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
We started Juneau’s first whale-watching tours in 1994. The company is still family-owned and hires local guides who live here year-round. They know these waters. It's a small crew. You'll ride on mammal-friendly jet boats. These have no external propellers. That's safer for the whales. This design lets the captain get into tighter spots near the coast. The cabins are small—you'll have a clear view of the water without fighting a crowd for the rail. Shuttles move fast between the pier and the boat launch. We don't keep groups waiting in parking lots. Wear a waterproof jacket because the spray is cold—expect temperatures to drop 10 degrees once we leave the dock. If the harbor closes due to weather, we'll notify you at the shuttle pick-up.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
You have two hours at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. That’s enough time to walk the trail to Nugget Falls or watch salmon from the boardwalks. If it’s raining, head into the Visitor Center. Most tours give you half this time. This is the version to book if you actually want to move your legs. The boat portion uses mammal-friendly jet boats. These are smaller than the standard cruise-ship tenders, so you aren't fighting 100 people for a rail spot. This family-run company has operated in Juneau since 1994 and hires local captains. They prioritize fast transfers between the shuttle and the dock. Ask the captain about the best spots for salmon if the main boardwalk is crowded.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
You'll track humpback whales at Auke Bay, visit Mendenhall Glacier, and eat alder-wood grilled salmon. Catamarans spend about two hours on the water searching for humpbacks and orcas. Afterward, the bus heads to the glacier. The walk to the main viewing area takes about 10 minutes. Bring binoculars; the face of the glacier is further back than it looks. Dinner is wild Alaskan salmon grilled over an open alder-wood fire at Gold Creek. The buffet includes sourdough rolls and baked beans, with a fire pit available for roasting marshmallows. Shuttles depart for the cruise docks every 20 minutes. If it starts to pour, the dining area is covered but the sides are open to the wind. Wear wool socks.
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
English
You'll spend two hours on the water tracking humpback whales in Auke Bay. A 20-minute narrated bus ride from downtown Juneau gets you to the harbor. Once there, you'll board a boat to scout for whales and sea lions in the channel. It's a fast-paced loop. The Mendenhall Glacier stop lasts exactly 15 minutes. That's enough time to walk to the Photo Point lookout, snap a picture of the ice, and get back to the bus. Skip it if you want to hike to Nugget Falls; there isn't time. It's the right choice if you're on a tight schedule and just need the photo. Traffic near the glacier often peaks in the early afternoon, so keep an eye on the clock.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English