Top Juneau Outdoor Activities

If you wanted to get to know Juneau on a street-by-street level, then this exciting scavenger hunt is a great choice. Do more than stroll aimlessly as you’re sent in every direction on a quest to solve clues. Find items around Juneau and earn points. Complete zany challenges and claim even more points.

This is more than a sightseeing tour. Alaska Forest & Feast is a small group experience designed to help you slow down and experience Southeast Alaska through its forests, shoreline, stories, and flavors. You’ll explore the temperate rainforest while learning about native plants, seasonal foraging, traditional uses of the forest, and the deep relationship between local cultures and the land. Along the way, you’ll take in beautiful glacier and mountain views before arriving at a quiet beach for a mindfulness experience surrounded by ocean, forest, and mountains. The experience ends with locally inspired food that brings the flavors of Alaska into the journey, connecting what you have seen and learned in the forest with what you taste at the table. With a small group, a slower pace, and a focus on connection rather than checking off attractions, this experience offers a more personal and meaningful way to discover Juneau.

The first-timer's Juneau in one pass: a scenic glacier driving tour, the Nugget Falls walk, and the downtown walking tour — 43 GPS story stops, one purchase, playing from one phone for everyone with you. Written by a born-and-raised Southeast Alaskan; stories trigger automatically, hands-free and fully offline. To be clear: this is a self-guided app experience — no live guide, no paper ticket, no bus schedule. Download before you sail — it all works with zero cell service. Drive from downtown to Mendenhall Glacier through the Tongass rainforest, walk to Nugget Falls where water plunges beside the ice, then wander downtown past the Red Dog Saloon and St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church — collecting digital badges as you go. Driving audio plays through CarPlay and Android Auto. No date, no time limit, no expiration. Setup takes about 2 minutes — full steps are on your Viator ticket and in your confirmation email (check spam). In the app, your pass appears as "Juneau Highlights Bundle."

See Mendenhall Glacier on your own schedule: four self-guided audio walks — the glacier overlooks, Nugget Falls, the Trail of Time, and the East Glacier Loop — 43 GPS story stops. One purchase plays from one phone as your group walks together; stories by a born-and-raised Southeast Alaskan trigger automatically, hands-free, fully offline. To be clear: this is an app experience on your own phone — no live guide and no paper ticket. Get there by bus, shuttle, or rideshare and explore at your own pace. Walk to Nugget Falls and hear the legend of Romeo the wolf. Find the tunnel blasted through solid granite on the East Glacier Loop. Stand where the ice reached in 1937 on the Trail of Time. In salmon season, watch black bears work Steep Creek. No date, no time limit, no expiry. Setup takes about 2 minutes — full steps are on your Viator ticket and in your confirmation email (check spam). In the app, your pass appears as "Mendenhall Glacier Explorer Pack."

One pass, eight Juneau audio tours — Mendenhall Glacier, Nugget Falls, Mount Roberts, the Perseverance Trail, the 70-mile scenic drive, and downtown — plus a quick 90-minute glacier-drive edition for short port days. One purchase plays from one phone for everyone with you. Written by a born-and-raised Southeast Alaskan; GPS triggers each story automatically, hands-free. To be clear: this is a self-guided app experience — no live guide, no paper ticket, no bus schedule. Download before you sail — everything works with zero cell service. This is the Juneau the crowded bus tours skip — rainforest trails, gold-rush ruins, the bears at Steep Creek — for less than one seat on a bus tour. No date, no time limit, no expiry. Driving audio plays through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; transcripts in six languages. Setup takes about 2 minutes — full steps are on your Viator ticket and in your confirmation email (check spam). In the app, your pass appears as "The Ultimate Juneau Experience."

Take the road less travelled! Your Sky to Sea Juneau Bike Adventure offers a break from Juneau's busy downtown bustle and an opportunity to visit a part of Juneau that not many get to see. During the bike ride, you'll make several stops that allow you to experience the serenity of the Tongass National Rainforest, surrounded only by trees, gentle streams, and your small tour group.

Hit the Alaskan waters on this 3.5-hour Mendenhall Lake kayak tour in Tongass National Forest. Journey across the lake in a kayak with group members in your same expertise level. Maneuver around glaciers as you take in stunning sights of the lake’s natural beauty, and catch sight of wildlife as you go. Paddle by Nugget Falls and the 3,000-year-old Mendenhall Glacier.

Maximize time in Juneau with a combination land and sea private tour. Get picked up at your hotel or cruise ship and set out on a full-day excursion. Climb aboard a yacht for a scenic cruise through the inner passage to see wildlife like humpbacks or orca whales. Back on land, see top landmarks including the Mendenhall Glacier. Customize the land tour according to your interests.

The Treadwell mine collapse of 1917 ended an era of gold and industry in Alaska. Today, the preserved ruins of this massive site sit quietly among the trees. While the forest has grown in around it, the foundations, machinery, and stories still remain. This guided walking tour takes you through the original streets of Treadwell, past towering ruins, old mine shafts, and up to the edge of the 1917 cave-in. Along the way, carefully placed immersive media scenes help bring key moments of history to life right where they happened. The tour spans 2–3 miles of scenic walking trails, showcasing a century-old industrial footprint that few visitors ever see. Along the way, your guide shares stories of the people who both built and lost this remarkable place.

Thank you for your interest in Juneau Lighthouse Tours, Alaska’s Only Lighthouse and Whale Watching Adventure! Not only will you get to experience the best whale watching in Juneau, you get the chance to explore Sentinel Island. It is one of the first lighthouses activated in Southeast Alaska. Climb up the lighthouse tower, inspect the beacon, and take a look across Lynn Canal. Conveniently, it is located in the middle of the best whale watching spots! Sit back and enjoy the ride and allow our amazing crew to take you an an unforgettable experience. Our business model has been centered on maintaining a high level of customer service. No trip is complete without the complementary stop at Brotherhood Bridge lookout for a spectacular view of the Mendenhall Glacier! Complimentary locally made Alaskan fudge, granola bars, caribou sausage sticks, coffee/tea, and bottled water are included on this tour. All vessels come equipped with two bathrooms, heated cabins, and binoculars.

Bear Creek Outfitters pioneered Waterfall Creek as one of the premier bear viewing locations in SouthEast Alaska more than two decades ago. Our local expert guides continue that tradition with excellent service and a fantastic experience. If you are looking for an activity where you can bring kids as young as 6 then a Private Waterfall Creek Tour is perfect for your family.

Skip the hassles of driving and slow-moving walking tours. With this private pedicab tour, you’ll explore Juneau in the open air and cover serious ground—with an expert guide at your disposal. Stopping at all the spots you want to explore and photograph, you’ll get a custom downtown tour highlighting the city’s history, culture, and daily life, enriching your experience of this scenic Alaskan city.

Three self-guided audio tours starting steps from the cruise dock: the downtown Juneau walking tour plus the Mount Roberts and Perseverance Trail hikes — 47 GPS story stops. One purchase plays from one phone as you explore together. Written by a born-and-raised Southeast Alaskan; GPS triggers each story hands-free, fully offline. Just so it's clear: this is not a live human guide and not a paper ticket — it's a self-guided audio experience written by someone who actually walks these trails. You'll hear how Gold Creek built a capital city, stand at the Glory Hole, meet Patsy Ann at the waterfront, climb past Father Brown's Cross, and stop by the Red Dog Saloon and St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church — stories no placard will hand you. No date, no time limit, no expiry — and no signal needed on the trails. Setup takes about 2 minutes — full steps are on your Viator ticket and in your confirmation email (check spam). In the app, your pass appears as "Downtown Juneau Explorer."

Join us for a classic Alaskan Adventure, a trip to watch the bear's of Pack Creek! Our trips depart Juneau with Ward Air and enjoy a 25 minute flight to Pack Creek on Admiralty Island. Your experienced local guide will host you at the wildlife sanctuary, sharing local history, indigenous culture, and of course information about the bears and other wildlife. After that we will be treated to another breathtaking flight over the Tongass National Forest as we fly back to Juneau. All of our trips are Carbon-Negative and include your permits, lunch, and air and land transportation. Private and custom tours are available!

Enjoy a unique perspective on Alaskan nature on this day trip. Venture deep into the Alaskan wilderness to a protected wildlife site, which has the world's highest concentration of brown bears. This guided day trip to Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Area includes a floatplane flight over Tongass National Forest and kayaking (available June 20 to July 20). The Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Area issues a limited number of visitation permits, which need to be purchased separately from your tour operator.

Experience the Mendenhall Glacier Guide Hike, a thrilling 6-7 mile adventure! Your journey begins with a 3-mile trek through the Tongass National Forest, the world's largest temperate rainforest. Your experienced guide will lead you through this wilderness, winding past beaver ponds and scrambling up exposed glacial terrain, where the trail fades into the wild. Upon emerging from the forest and reaching the final ridge, you'll be greeted by the breathtaking view of the Mendenhall Glacier's jagged facade and its ice river. Here, we savor panoramic views of the glacier, indulge in hearty snacks, and capture awe-inspiring photos. Gaze upon the glacier's deep blue crevasses, cascading icefall, surrounding mountains and Nugget Falls. This hiking tour is not for the faint of heart; it demands exceptional balance and sure-footedness. The trail includes 800 feet of elevation gain, through rocky, uneven, and slippery terrain. It's a memorable journey that promises unforgettable views.

Alaska's dramatic glaciers are best experienced up close, and this full-day tour takes you right to them. Heading out from Juneau on a purpose-built expedition vessel, explore the Tracy Arm Wilderness Area from a vantage point on the water—a perspective many travelers miss. Snap photos of pristine scenery and experience the area's natural wonders from the comfort of the boat during this 8.5-hour adventure.

Hike through the wilderness for stunning views of the Mendenhall Glacier on this half-day shore excursion. Join a small group and experienced guide for a trek through the glacial terrain of Tongass National Forest. Emerge from the forest with views of the glacier's blue crevasses, icefall, surrounding mountains, and Nugget Falls. Enjoy time to take photos and enjoy a well-deserved, hearty snack before heading back. Note: this tour is suitable for those in good physical shape with exceptional balance and sure-footedness.

Experience the majestic Mendenhall Glacier and Lake up close on a kayak tour with a guide who has one of the limited US Forest Service permits for the region. Your 5-hour tour includes a kayak tour on Mendenhall Lake and an all-you-can-eat salmon bake that features wild Alaska-caught salmon. Take a walk along the creek, pan for gold at a historical mine, and get great photo ops on this all-inclusive tour from Juneau.

We pioneered Waterfall Creek as one of the premier bear viewing locations in Southeast Alaska more than two decades ago. Our local expert guides continue that tradition with excellent service and a fantastic experience. If you are looking for an activity where you can bring kids as young as 6 then a Private Waterfall Creek Tour is perfect for your family.

The Brown Bears at Pack Creek range in size from small cubs of the year to large males coming in over 1000lbs. May to Mid-June is mating season and summer foraging. We see bears interact in a variety of ways and courtship behavior is common, we also often see bears digging for clams, or eating sedge grass. This is also a great time to watch sows playing with cubs, and the best time for encounters with large males. Mid-July to the end of September are the various Salmon Runs, this is when the bears go to work. The bears focus is on fishing. The primary viewing location is about ten meters from the creek. This is when we often see the most bears in view at a given moment, and the only time to get a picture of a bear with a fish in its mouth. Viewing distances at Pack Creek can be as close as 30ft away or as far as a 1,000yds out, depending on the individual bear and which food source they are using.

What makes this tour unique is the combination of a private premium whale watching trip and a fully customizable Juneau sightseeing experience in one day. Instead of joining a crowded bus or large tour boat, your group gets a more personal land-and-sea adventure led by local guides. The whale watching portion is aboard a comfortable private boat with indoor and outdoor seating, great visibility, and room to enjoy the experience in any weather. We take you as close to the whales as legally allowed while keeping the trip safe, respectful, and uncrowded. The sightseeing portion is built around your group’s interests, abilities, timing, and the day’s conditions. You may choose glacier viewing, light hiking, scenic beaches, local history, the Shrine of St. Therese, DIPAC Salmon Hatchery, Eagle Beach, Treadwell Mine ruins, or other local favorites. It is Juneau with a local, your way, with a return-to-ship guarantee for cruise guests.

Embark on a whale watching excursion that combines the luxury of a private yacht with the chance to see and learn about Alaska’s renown wildlife. Quite unlike the large-boat whale watching outings, which are filled with crowds and deliver information over a loudspeaker, this intimate experience is ideal for travelers looking for a peaceful and intimate encounter with Alaskan wildlife.

If you dream of getting off the beaten path and seeing bears in Alaska with no-one else around, this is the trip for you. After a scenic floatplane ride to a location where we have exclusive commercial permits, your certified guide will take you on an Alaska adventure with no human trails and no other people to find bears in their natural habitat.