Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Paddle & Hike

Mendenhall Glacier is approximately 12 miles from downtown Juneau, accessible by road and a 3-4 mile hike.

• Hiking: Guided treks through the Tongass National Rainforest to the glacier’s panoramic viewpoint.
• Canoeing: Paddling across glacial lake to approach the glacier.

The prime season for glacier tours is from May to September. Each month offers unique experiences:

• May-June: Drier months with blooming flora.
• July-August: Warmer temperatures and peak wildlife activity.
• September: Cooler, wetter conditions with fewer visitors.

This tour does not get on the glacier. This excursion focuses on a close exploration of the glacier’s edges, allowing for safe hiking experiences on the surrounding bedrock. Distance from the glacier changes each season, expect to get within 300 yards of the glacier face.

There are currently no accessible ice caves at the Mendenhall Glacier. Glaciers are incredibly dynamic forces of nature and are constantly changing. The presence of accessible ice caves was a feature of the glacier in the last phase of its life cycle, but it is now in a new phase where we are seeing frequent calving events revealing the deep glacier blue that the Mendenhall Ice Caves became so well renowned for.

Please note, if they do form, visiting specific features such as ice caves, moulins, etc. cannot be guaranteed. Your guide will assess potential hazards on the trip to determine if a particular area is safe to trek upon or enter.

You will be paddling either our large 29 ft or 22 ft canoes . The larger canoes can fit up to 12 guests and 2 guides, and the smaller up to 7 guests and 1 guide. These canoes offer the speed and stability that kayaks cannot.

Yes, these are considered active tours. All clients must be in physically fit condition and capable of paddling 5-6 miles and hiking about 2 miles roundtrip (up to 3 hours). All clients must know how to swim.

We require guests to be at a maximum of 250lbs and have a full range of mobility. Guests will have to safely get in and out of canoes and be able to hike and paddle for up to 3 hours. Guests may need to drag canoes a short distances and be physically fit to get in and out of watercraft, along with paddling watercraft continuously.

A rescue fee of $250 per client will be charged for any rescue based on the client’s inability to complete the trek due to undisclosed medical conditions/limitations or an insufficient level of physical fitness that significantly inhibits the group’s pace.

“Plan for rain, pray for sun!” is our motto in Southeast Alaska. We are surrounded by the Tongass National Rainforest, part of the largest temperate rainforest in the world. Juneau receives approximately 60-100 inches annually. Average temperatures in the summer are in the 50s and 60s. April, May, and June are Juneau’s driest months. July and August are the warmest. In September it becomes cooler and wetter.

We operate our tours rain or shine. Juneau is situated in the world’s largest temperate rainforest, the Tongass National Forest. Rain is a common occurrence in Juneau, and we embrace it as part of the experience. To ensure your comfort, we provide each guest with a rain jacket, rain pants, and rain boots.

Should ABAK determine that weather conditions present a safety concern, we will regretfully cancel the tour. In such instances, a full refund will be issued to our guests. Safety remains our top priority, and we appreciate your understanding in this regard.

For all tours we provide rain gear to protect from the changing elements. This gear can be used or stowed in your backpack or dry bag.

Rain Gear is waterproof and will go over your personal gear. It is sized more like a poncho than a standard jacket. So if you wear Women’s Medium mostly, a Women’s Medium Jacket and Pants will easily fit over your clothes.

• Rain Gear Sizes: Men and Women’s XS – XXL, Youth S-L

For the tours involving paddling, we provide neoprene rubber boots made by Bogs or Grundens. These boots will be in place of your shoes and you are welcome to store your personal shoes at our warehouse facility.

• Rubber boots sizes: Men’s 6 – 14, Women’s 6-11, Youth 2-5

On our day trips we recommend you use the restroom before the trip starts. Our warehouse facility has two restrooms for your use. Once you are out in the field, there are no restrooms besides the great outdoors. ABAK follows Leave No Trace Principles and if you need to use the bathroom during this time we request that you pack out any trash – this includes toilet paper.

Our tour group sizes range from 2 – 12 people with 1 guide for every 8 people on group departures. So if you book a tour that has the maximum number of 12 people, then you will have 2 professional guides with you all day.

Absolutely! At checkout, select the private tour option for you and your group.