MENDENHALL GLACIER CANOE PADDLE AND HIKE
See the famous Mendenhall Glacier by water and on foot over the course of this approximately five-and-a-half-hour excursion. Start with a canoe trip on Mendenhall Lake to admire the Juneau Icefield, followed by a guided hike around the glacier’s edge.
Excursion details
Gain two very different perspectives on an Alaskan landmark during this excursion, lasting about five and a half hours. A drive of around 30 minutes transports you to the gear warehouse, where 45 minutes or so are spent fitting your gear, receiving a safety orientation and travelling to Mendenhall Lake on a transfer drive.
Then set off on a guided canoe trip across the lake, lasting about one hour. As you paddle, gaze out at icebergs, snow-capped mountains and waterfalls, before landing and disembarking near the glacier, where you’ll switch from paddling to exploring a glacier bedrock for approximately 40 minutes.
As you walk around the glacier’s edge – please note you won’t be walking directly on the glacier surface – soak up the dramatic, icy surroundings and scenic terrain. Your guide will supply information about this unique environment and explain how climate change is impacting Mendenhall and other glaciers.
Following this insightful exploration, board your canoe once again and paddle back across the lake for around one hour, arriving back at the warehouse to spend about 30 minutes disembarking and returning gear. The transfer back to the port then takes approximately 30 minutes.
Important information: The spotting of wildlife is not guaranteed. Guests will be entering a wilderness environment without restroom facilities. Guests will be expected to hike through wilderness areas that include varied, wet, and uneven terrain. Guests may need to drag canoes for short distances and be physically fit to get in and out of watercraft, along with paddle watercraft continuously. This tour is not available for pregnant women. This tour includes professional guides, all paddling equipment and hiking gear, rain gear (hooded jacket, pants, and rubber boots) and a dry bag. The Mendenhall Glacier is in a constant state of change. This tour explores the edges of the glacier safely from the bedrock—this does not include trekking on the ice. The minimum age to participate is 12 years old.
