Top Juneau Day Trips

Whale watching and visiting the Mendenhall Glacier are two of the most popular activities around Juneau — they're essential experiences for any local tourist that you won't want to miss. Check them both off your list on this half-day combo tour that includes flexible departure times and round-trip transportation from Mt. Roberts Tramway, making it ideal for a shore excursion or quick trip.

When your cruise stops at Juneau, see whales in their natural habitat on this whale-watching boat trip, all without the fuss of organizing shore transport. Prebook to secure your place, board a comfortable boat with outdoor decks and heated cabins, and cruise Alaska’s waters to see marine life in the wild. Then, enjoy guaranteed sightings of humpback whales, with a naturalist providing commentary on their behaviors as you cruise.

With this incredible tour, you’ll start with a helicopter flight over the ancient glaciers of the 1,500-square-mile Juneau Icefield. After seeing this marvel of Mother Nature from above, you’ll land at a remote glacier camp for yet another ride on the wild side: zooming across the Alaskan tundra—high, rugged mountains surrounding you—pulled by a rambunctious group of Alaskan huskies. It’s truly an only-in-Alaska experience.

Paddle across Mendenhall Lake, past icebergs and waterfalls, on this guided Alaskan adventure. Explore the Tongass National Forest and hike near Mendenhall Glacier with expert guides. Enjoy breathtaking views and experience wildlife up close. This small-group tour offers a unique and unforgettable wilderness experience.

While in Alaska, it can be hard to find activities for the whole family to agree on. This sled dog discovery tour in Juneau is the perfect solution—kids and people of all ages are sure to be excited to visit with the husky puppies. You’ll also learn from a musher all about dog sledding in Alaska and ride down a 1-mile (1.6-kilometers) track with a team of huskies, too.

The Mendenhall Glacier is one of Juneau’s most impressive natural wonders, stretching over 13 miles (21 kilometers). On this half-day tour, enjoy spectacular views of the glacier from the viewing platforms and walkways, and learn more about the mighty glacier at the Visitor Center. Then, set sail on a thrilling whale-watching cruise along the coast and look out for humpback whales, as well as other wildlife such as bald eagles and blue heron.

Be immersed in a classic Alaskan experience: an all-you-can-eat salmon bake feast. Fill up on grilled wild salmon, blueberry cake, and other local delicacies as local entertainers play music, then roast marshmallows by the campfire. Vegetarians and gluten-free travelers will also have options. After, visit the nearby Wagner Mine to glimpse mining relics, walk to Salmon Creek Falls, and pick up original Tlingit works of art from the Trading Post.

Step off your cruise ship and into a river raft on this 3.5-hour shore excursion along Mendenhall Glacier. An experienced guide rows your raft, allowing you to soak up the gorgeous mountain scenery as you float along for six miles around the foot of the glacier. Wind through stretches of Class II and III whitewater rapids and wrap up the outing with a delicious riverside snack. Families, beginners and the more experienced all will enjoy this Mendenhall Glacier float trip. Port transport from Juneau included.

While most visitors only see the Mendenhall Glacier from crowded viewpoints, this tour takes adventurous travelers on a canoe trip to the base of the glacier for a completely different perspective of the majestic ice. With canoe lessons and a guide, the tour is open to first-time paddlers and the mellow water means you can take along a camera and capture the arctic cliffs, icebergs, and pristine blue ice.

Get away from the crowds and experience Alaska’s grandest marine life from an intimate, 20-person vessel. Less disruptive to wildlife, you’ll get a front-row seat to the 49th State’s most beloved creatures—including whales, sea lions, eagles, and more. You’ll also get to scope out ice-blue glaciers, rocky shorelines, and hidden inlets from the comfort of the heated cabin or right from the catamaran's bow.

Auke Bay, with its harbor of whale watching vessels, lies about a half-hour’s ride from Juneau. This whale watching trip saves you the trouble of getting to the harbor and back with a round-trip shuttle directly from your cruise ship dock or a designated meeting point.

Discover the beauty of Alaska with a photography-focused Segway tour. After a safety lesson, set out on a half-day, small-group tour to explore the coastal sights of Juneau. Snap photos of the Mendenhall Glacier and Lynn Canal along the way. Experience the sights and sounds of the Tongass National Forest while covering ground quickly on a Segway.

Go kayaking with humpback whales during this small-group paddling adventure from Juneau. Climb aboard a boat and travel up the Inside Passage to reach rich feeding grounds for humpback whales. Admire views of glaciers, forest, and snow-capped mountains during the journey then set out in kayaks in search of whales and other wildlife.

Kayak in the waters around Mendenhall Glacier safely and without needing to haul your own gear with you on this guided tour from Juneau. Get a paddling primer, then follow your guide through Fritz Cove and the protected Mendenhall Wetlands for possible views of all sorts of wildlife, including bald eagles and humpback whales.

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.

Have the special opportunity to see the Mendenhall Glacier up close—and make the most of your limited time ashore in Juneau—on this immersive, half-day shore excursion. Travel across the waters of Mendenhall Lake in a traditional Tlingit-style canoe that permits unobstructed viewing of the glacier, icebergs, Nugget Falls, and perhaps some Alaskan wildlife. This tour includes all equipment, snacks, and port pickup and drop-off for your ease.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.