Mendenhall Glacier: Visit One of Alaska’s Most Accessible Glaciers
Named after pioneering meteorologist and physicist Thomas Corwin Mendenhall, Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier is located approximately 12 miles north of the city of Juneau. Visitors can catch a bus in Juneau that transports them to a popular glacier trailhead. Travelers can hike one of several trails surrounding Mendenhall Glacier and explore ancient forests, view stunning sapphire blue sheets of ice, and—depending on the time of year—potentially spot a bear snacking on some salmon.
Photo by depositphotos.com
The Mendenhall Glacier is part of the Juneau Icefield which extends all the way into British Columbia. The Juneau Icefield is home to over 100 glaciers. The Mendenhall Glacier is one of the most noteworthy glaciers because in 2012, scientists discovered the remnants of an ancient forest which had been frozen in time for nearly 2,000 years beneath a melted portion of the glacier.
Photo by depositphotos.com
The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center offers travelers a stunning view of blue icebergs bobbing up and down in a deep blue lake. Visitors can also view a towering mountain range, get a breathtaking view of the Mendenhall Glacier in all of its glory, and ask a U.S. Forest Ranger questions about the surrounding landscape.
Visitors who are interested in exploring Mendenhall Glacier can book one of several guided tours. Boat tours of Lake Mendenhall, helicopter tours which offer a spectacular aerial view of Mendenhall Glacier, and dog sledding tours which allow visitors to race up the side of an icy mountain are all quite popular.
Photo by depositphotos.com
Mendenhall Glacier is accessible year-round, but May through October is generally considered the best time to visit because warmer weather allows for more accessibility. If you have ever dreamed of visiting a glacier but questioned if you are rugged enough to trudge though snow and ice, a visit to Mendenhall Glacier is a must. One of Alaska‘s most majestic glaciers is mere miles away from Juneau.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, Glacier Spur Road, Juneau, Alaska, USA (visitor-area access reference)
- Coordinates
- 58.41718, -134.54556
- Access
- The map marks the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center arrival area, not glacier ice. Reach it by road from Juneau; before setting out, check current Tongass National Forest alerts because trail, access and flood conditions can change. The recreation-area grounds and trails are distinct from the staffed visitor-center building.
- Admission
- Travel Juneau’s 2026 listing states the $5 day-use fee for visitors age 16+ applied to the Visitor Center May 1–September 30. The current listing states no October fee and says the building opens intermittently in October; call 907-789-0097 to confirm the day’s status. Grounds/trail access and fee rules are separate.
- Time needed
- The Forest Service does not prescribe one total visit duration. Its trail map estimates round trips of about 15 minutes for Photo Point, 1.25 hours for Nugget Falls, 30 minutes for Trail of Time, 20 minutes for Steep Creek and 2.5 hours for East Glacier. These are separate route choices; add time for the Visitor Center if it is open. Check trail conditions before setting out.
- Best season
- No official single best season is named. Travel Juneau lists daily Visitor Center hours May–September, intermittent opening in April and October, and reduced winter hours. Check current Tongass alerts for trail, weather or flood-related closures before visiting.
- Opening hours
- Travel Juneau’s 2026 listing says the Visitor Center opens intermittently in April and October; as of October 21, the exact building schedule must be confirmed by phone at 907-789-0097. It lists daily 9 a.m.–6 p.m. May–September and 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays November–March except federal holidays. The outdoor grounds are open 6 a.m.–midnight year-round; check Tongass alerts for changing trail, flood, weather or access conditions.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-29
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-21
Map marks the area, not a visitor entrance.
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