Mendenhall Glacier - Canoe & Hike Adventure

Canoe & Hike to Mendenhall Glacier - Juneau, AK

This isn’t just a glacier tour. It’s a human-powered journey into Alaska’s wild edge—quiet, low-impact, and built to connect you more deeply with the outdoors. No engines. No shortcuts. Just you moving through one of the most powerful landscapes on Earth, the way it’s meant to be experienced.

Your day starts in downtown Juneau before heading into the Tongass National Forest, the largest temperate rainforest in the United States. The road out feels like a transition—civilization fading, wilderness taking over. At the West Glacier Trailhead, you gear up, get oriented, and step into large canoes on Mendenhall Lake.

Then the real adventure begins. You paddle across icy, glacier-fed water with Mendenhall Glacier rising in the distance—13 miles of slow-moving ice shaping the valley around you. Nugget Falls thunders nearby, bald eagles circle overhead, and mountain goats cling to impossible cliffs. Every stroke moves you deeper into a landscape still actively being shaped by ice.

Landing on the rocky moraine, the journey continues on foot. Your guides lead you through terrain built by the glacier itself, sharing stories of ice, change, and resilience. Conditions permitting, you may even reach the glacier’s edge—or step onto the ice. It’s raw, physical, and unforgettable.

This is an active adventure with purpose: about 2 hours of canoeing and 1–1.5 hours of hiking over uneven terrain. No experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to move through wild places responsibly. Guided by certified Wilderness First Responders in small groups, this tour reflects TripOutside’s mission: to connect people to nature through human-powered, low-impact experiences that inspire deeper appreciation—and protection—of the outdoors for generations to come.

Duration

1. 30-minute equipment fitting and safety briefing
   
2. 1-hour canoe paddle across Mendenhall Lake to the glacier
   
3. 1–1.5 hours of moraine trek and glacier exploration
   
4. 1-hour canoe paddle back across the lake
   
5. 30-minute gear offload and snack break
   
6. 30-minute transport back to the cruise ship terminal
   

Location / Where to Meet

1. Meet your guides at the Mount Roberts Tramway in downtown Juneau, Alaska. 
   490 S Franklin St, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
2. Most cruise ship docks in Juneau are within a 5–7 minute walk of the meeting location. Exception: the AJ Dock is approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) away — a shuttle system is available from the AJ Dock to the meeting location (fee may apply for some cruise lines).
   
3. Norwegian Bliss / Norwegian Encore guests: Your guide will meet you directly at the gangway upon docking at 7:00 AM. You must be ready to disembark immediately upon arrival.
   
4. Flush toilets are available at the Goldbelt Tramway meeting location and at the US Forest Service pit toilets at the West Glacier Trailhead (your launch site). No facilities are available during the glacier portion of the tour.
   

Ages & Requirements

1. Minimum age: 12 years old
   
2. Minimum weight: 90 lbs (41 kg)
   
3. Maximum weight: 240 lbs (109 kg)
   
4. Full use of all limbs required for up to 2 hours of canoe paddling
   
5. Ability to hike over steep, uneven terrain for approximately 1–2 miles (1.6–3.2 km)
   
6. Not recommended for guests with back or hip problems
   
7. Pregnant guests are not permitted on this tour
   
8. Signed liability waiver required — can be completed at check-in
   
9. Note: No prior canoe experience is necessary
   

What's Included

1. Round-trip transportation from the downtown Juneau cruise ship terminal
   
2. Professional Wilderness First Responder-certified guides (1:7 guide-to-guest ratio)
   
3. Full waterproof gear: The North Face / Marmot rain jacket (XS–XXL), rain pants (XS–XXL), Xtratuf rain boots (sizes 5–14 unisex), and limited child sizes available
   
4. Paddling gloves
   
5. Helmet
   
6. Trekking pole
   
7. Dry bag for personal items
   
8. Life jacket (PFD)
   
9. Bottled water and healthy snacks during the tour
   
10. Hot beverage at the conclusion of the tour
    
11. US Forest Service permits
    

Not Included

1. Gratuity — never expected, but if you had a fantastic experience, please consider gifting 10–25% to your guides
   

What to Bring / Wear

1. Non-cotton base layers — wool, fleece, or synthetic moisture-wicking fabrics recommended. No jeans or cotton please.
   
2. Warm hat and gloves (the area near the glacier runs approximately 10°F / 6°C cooler than downtown Juneau)
   
3. Sunglasses if sunny
   
4. Sturdy, closed-toe footwear (rain boots are provided, but wear warm socks — wool recommended)
   
5. Reusable water bottle (water is provided, but you may bring additional)
   
6. Snacks (optional — light snacks are provided, but you're welcome to bring your own; pack out all trash)
   
7. Waterproof camera or camera in a waterproof case — your guides will provide a dry bag; the outfitter is not responsible for damaged or lost items
   
8. Small bag or daypack (allowed on tour; dry bag provided for valuables)
   
9. Required paperwork — signed liability waiver (bring confirmation of booking)
   
10. Any personal or emergency medications — please inform your guide of any medical conditions
    

Video