Juneau is the gateway to the glaciers! Situated within the remains of an earlier ice age, Juneau is surrounded by glaciers that can be seen via the road, by air or by boat. The Mendenhall Glacier is located on the road system just 13 miles from downtown Juneau. The Mendenhall is a massive river of ice 1.5 miles wide that stretches for 12 miles up the valley to its root in the Juneau Icefield. Ground tour companies offer a variety of tours to the Mendenhall Glacier and US Forest Service interpretative center.

The Mendenhall is a small fragment of the Juneau Icefield, which covers 1500 square miles and is the origination point for 36 different glaciers. The icefield extends approximately 60 miles from end to end.

Flight seeing tours by floatplane or helicopter are a popular way to view the glacier. Helicopter tours can include short walks, extended treks and dog sledding. Boat tour companies offer day trips to the twin Sawyer Glaciers in Tracy Arm or Ford’s Terror, located to the southeast of Juneau. Glacier Bay National Park, with its incredible collection of 16 tidewater glaciers and 3 million acres of wilderness, is just a short flight from Juneau.

Visit the Official Juneau Web Site