The Mendenhall Glacier is one of Southeast Alaska’s most popular attractions along with whale watching. Nothing quite prepares you for the sprawling slabs of jagged ice, reflecting the sunlight in opalescent hues of blue-green. A visit to this rarity is the perfect complement to a whale watching expedition in Juneau. Taking advantage of these two exciting options as a combo tour allows you to be as efficient as possible with your time here. Located between downtown Juneau and Auke Bay in the Tongass National Forest, the glacier is twelve miles long from its origin on the Juneau Icefield to its terminus at Mendenhall Lake.
On this tour, you will take one of our comfortable tour buses from downtown Juneau on a 20-minute, narrated tour through Juneau and Mendenhall Valley to Auke Bay. In Auke Bay you will board one of our comfortable boats and head out on a 2-hour whale watching experience. Upon returning to the harbor you will be escorted back to the bus for a quick trip inland to Mendenhall Glacier. You will have approximately 45 to 60 minutes to explore the area around the magnificent glacier. You may take photos, walk the trails around Mendenhall Lake, and visit the informative visitor’s center to learn more about the history and science behind the glacier. Be sure to keep an eye out for abundant wildlife such as black bears, bald eagles and mountain goats, as well as spawning salmon if the season is right!