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Which Juneau Mendenhall Glacier tour is right for you?
From a simple ride to the visitor center to a paddle across the lake or a walk on the ice, here is every kind of Juneau Mendenhall Glacier tour side by side, with what each one costs and gives you.
Check availabilityfrom $79 · no cancellation fee
Editorial team, mendenhallglaciertrolleytour.comUpdated October 16, 20267 min read1 sources
At a glance
- 01Simplest
- The trolley from the docks starts from $79.
- 02Plus whales
- A glacier and whale tour starts from $152.
- 03On the water
- A lake canoe tour starts from $251.
- 04On the ice
- A guided ice adventure starts from $377.
- 05Highest rated
- The ice adventure, rated 4.97 from 37 reviews.
The main kinds of glacier tour
A Juneau Mendenhall Glacier tour comes in a few broad kinds. The simplest is a ride from the cruise docks to the visitor center and back, with free time for the trails. Another combines the glacier with a whale watching cruise. A third kind puts you on the lake in a canoe or kayak, and the last takes you onto the ice itself with a guide and special equipment. Which one suits you depends on your time ashore.
Each kind trades money for time and closeness to the ice. A ride to the visitor center is the cheapest guided way to see the glacier and leaves you free to walk. The lake and ice trips cost several times as much but bring you right up to the glacier face, which the main viewpoints can no longer do because the ice has pulled back across the lake. Think about how close you really want to get.
There are also flights over the icefield by helicopter or floatplane, which show you the scale of the ice from above. Read the small print on those: some land on other glaciers in the Juneau area rather than on Mendenhall itself, and their price reflects the aircraft rather than the time on the ground. The table on this page lists every option with its key numbers. Look at the start point and the length first.
The trolley and the visitor center rides
The trolley tour sold on this site is the classic choice for cruise guests. It starts from $79, lasts 3 hours and is rated 4.49 from 796 reviews, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. You meet at the Goldbelt Tram on the waterfront, ride about 30 minutes with live narration and get about 2 hours at the glacier area before the same trolley takes you back.
A shore excursion that combines a city tour with the glacier starts from $131 for 3 hours, but it is rated only 2.62 from 4 reviews. With so few ratings that score can change quickly, yet it is a reason to read the latest reviews closely before choosing it over the trolley. A tour with many reviews gives you a steadier picture of what to expect on the day.
An e-bike tour to the glacier starts from $164 for 3 hours, in a group of up to 8, but it has no reviews yet. It suits active travelers who would rather ride along the water than sit on a bus. If you just want to see the ice, walk to the falls and be back in time, the trolley remains the simplest of the lot. Bring gloves for the handlebars on a cool morning.
Ratings
How guests rate each tour
points
All the options
Mendenhall tours side by side
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier trolley (this site) | 3 hrs | 4.49 (796) | from $79 |
| City tour and glacier | 3 hrs | 2.62 (4) | from $131 |
| Glacier and whales | 4 hrs | 4.71 (155) | from $152 |
| E-bike to the glacier | 3 hrs | no reviews yet | from $164 |
| Glacier, waterfall and whales | 5 hrs | 4.72 (276) | from $199 |
| Whales and glacier day trip | 4.5 hrs | 4.76 (135) | from $230 |
| Lake canoe tour | 4 hrs | 4.89 (50) | from $251 |
| Ice adventure | 5 hrs | 4.97 (37) | from $377 |
| Canoe paddle and hike | 5.5 hrs | 4.86 (9) | from $377 |
| Five-glacier floatplane | 40 min | 4.95 (19) | from $383 |
From-prices and ratings as listed; prices move with dates and seats.
Three picks
Best for each kind of traveler
Best value
Combo
ClosestDecision helper
Which tour should you book?
Tap what matters most to you
Glacier trolley
From $79 for 3 hours.
Glacier and whale tour
From $152 for 4 hours.
Waterfall and whale tour
Money back if you see no whale.
Lake canoe tour
From $251, up to 10 people.
Ice adventure
From $377, rated 4.97.
These private buses normally only take about 30 minutes of total travel time from downtown to the glacier.
Glacier and whale watching combos
The most popular combination pairs the glacier with whale watching from Auke Bay. A glacier and whale watching tour starts from $152, lasts 4 hours and is rated 4.71 from 155 reviews. A version that adds the waterfall starts from $199, lasts 5 hours, is rated 4.72 from 276 reviews and promises your money back if you see no whale.
A day trip with whale watching and the glacier starts from $230 for 4.5 hours and is rated 4.76 from 135 reviews, with guides scoring 4.9 in the breakdown. These combos suit travelers who want to tick off both of Juneau's headline sights in one go and do not want to arrange transport between them. Ask whether the price includes the visitor center entry, so you know what to bring in cash.
The trade-off is time at the glacier. Because the boat trip takes a large share of the morning, your stop at the visitor center is shorter than on a dedicated glacier ride. If the ice and Nugget Falls matter most to you, book the trolley; if whales are the priority and the glacier is a bonus, a combo makes the most of a single port day. Both approaches are good; they simply weigh the day differently.
Checklist
Before you book a glacier tour
01
Check
- Tour length against your re-boarding time
- How much notice free cancellation needs
- Where the tour starts
02
Bring
- Warm, waterproof layers
- Sturdy shoes
- Cash for a tip
Cost calculator
Compare the total for your group
Select any tour and the travelers to total it up.
People
Total from$158
per traveler from $79
Check availabilityfree cancellationAmounts start from the cheapest per-person price that GetYourGuide or Viator lists, converted at the ECB reference rate; the seller's checkout has the exact figure.
Video
Mendenhall Glacier & Nugget Falls Shore Excursion - Juneau Alaska
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On the lake: canoe and paddle tours
To get close to the glacier face, you need to cross the lake. A Mendenhall Lake canoe tour starts from $251, lasts 4 hours, takes a small group of up to 10 and is rated 4.89 from 50 reviews. Paddling between floating icebergs towards the ice is a very different experience from looking at it from the shore. The guides choose the route according to the ice and the wind on the day.
A longer canoe paddle and hike starts from $377, lasts 5.5 hours, keeps the group to 12 and is rated 4.86 from 9 reviews. Note its cancellation rule: free cancellation runs only up to 15 days in advance, which is stricter than on most tours here and worth knowing if your cruise plans could change. A trip of that length also needs a long day in port.
Lake tours depend on the weather and the water. They provide dry gear and guidance, but you should be comfortable in a canoe and ready for cold air coming off the ice. They suit active travelers who want the closest view of the glacier without walking on it, and families with older children who enjoy a little adventure on the water. Wear layers you can take off once you start paddling.
On the ice and in the air
The ice adventure is the closest you can get. It starts from $377, lasts 5 hours and is rated 4.97 from 37 reviews, the highest rating among the Mendenhall tours compared here. With a guide, helmets and the right gear you reach the glacier itself, which is the only way to touch the ice now that it stands so far from the viewpoints. Expect a short safety talk before you step onto the ice.
From the air, a helicopter tour with a glacier landing starts from $429 for 2.5 hours and is rated 4.90 from 49 reviews, but its listing names Herbert Glacier as the landing site, not Mendenhall. A floatplane flight over five glaciers starts from $383, lasts 40 minutes and is rated 4.95 from 19 reviews. Check exactly which glacier a flight visits before you book it.
These are the premium options. They are unforgettable when the weather plays along, and they show the Juneau Icefield as no ground tour can. They are also the trips most likely to be cancelled for weather, so book them early in your stay if you can, and keep the trolley or the bus as a backup for the visitor center. Weather in Juneau changes quickly, and the pilots decide.
How to choose
Start with your time. On a short port call, the trolley's 3 hours fit comfortably and leave a cushion before re-boarding. On a full day, a combo with whales or a canoe tour becomes realistic. If you stay in Juneau, the ice adventure or a flight can be the highlight of the whole trip. Shorter trips leave room for lunch and the town afterwards.
Then think about what you want from the glacier. If you want to see it, walk to Nugget Falls and understand the landscape, the trolley gives you the classic visit for the lowest price. If you want to feel close to the ice, go on the lake or onto the glacier. If you want whales as well, choose a combo and accept a shorter glacier stop. There is no wrong choice, only one that fits your day better.
Finally, read the terms. On most of these trips you can cancel at no cost until 24 hours ahead. The canoe paddle and hike needs 15 days' notice and the helicopter tour 3 days. Compare the latest reviews, check where each tour starts, and keep your re-boarding time in mind when you book. Then relax and enjoy the ice.
Book your ride
The glacier is half an hour from your ship.
Reserve your seat on the trolley and cancel for free up to a day before departure.
You ask,we answer.
What is the cheapest Mendenhall Glacier tour?
The trolley. It starts from $79 for 3 hours, return from the docks.
Which tour gets closest to the ice?
The ice adventure. It starts from $377 and lasts 5 hours.
Can I combine the glacier with whales?
Yes. A combo starts from $152 for 4 hours.
Is there a whale guarantee?
On one tour. The glacier, waterfall and whale tour offers your money back if you see no whale.
Does the helicopter land on Mendenhall?
Not this one. Its listing names Herbert Glacier as the landing site.
Which tour has the best rating?
The ice adventure. It is rated 4.97 from 37 reviews.
Can I cancel for free?
Usually up to 24 hours before. Some tours need more notice, so read the terms.
Sources
Evidence for this guide
- 1Capital Transit (City and Borough of Juneau)How to Ride to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center with Capital Transit↩
