Mendenhall Glacier Guided 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.

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.

Yes, participants must be able to hike for at least 4 hours/7 miles round trip on steep, rocky, slippery, and uneven terrain carrying a 10 lb backpack. This is considered a strenuous trip.

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

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.