Top Juneau Nature Walks

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.

Experience 3 iconic Alaskan adventures—flightseeing, glacier hiking, and packrafting—all in just 5 hours! This Packraft adventure begins with a scenic flight that will head towards the mouth of the Taku Inlet. After landing on the Norris Glacier fed lake, hike over the glacially carved terrain to a cove where your packraft awaits. From here, you will be outfitted in single person packrafts and introduced paddling techniques by your guides. Once you launch your packraft, your paddle to the glacier will take you past ice bergs to the Norris Glacier. As you approach the glacier, prepare to beach your boat right on the Norris Glacier. Trade out paddles for micro-spikes and explore the moonscape-like area of the glacier all by foot and get panoramic views of Norris and Taku glaciers. Look for crevasses, glacier pools, moulins, and other incredible ice features. Upon completion of your glacier hike, paddle back to shore. Your floatplane awaits to take you back to Juneau.

Experience Mendenhall Glacier on this small-group shore excursion from Juneau. Travel by land and water on a combo adventure with canoeing and a short hike. Soak up views of icebergs, waterfalls, and cliffs as you paddle around Mendenhall Lake toward the glacier. Afterwards, get a close-up view on a short hike.

Experience Mendenhall Glacier by land and water under the supervision of a guide who knows the area well on a combo-adventure tour from Juneau. First, hop into a canoe at Mendenhall Lake and paddle around luminescent blue icebergs and past cliffs and waterfalls toward Mendenhall Glacier. No matter your paddling or hiking experience, a guide prepares you for each step. Hotel pickup is included for added convenience.

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.

Your day begins with a trip briefing and safety orientation led by your experienced wilderness guide, followed by a captivating 30-minute floatplane flight to Chichagof Island. Touch down at the remote and lesser-known wilderness location of Waterfall Creek, a hidden gem that offers unparalleled brown bear viewing during the peak of the salmon run, from late July to August. The primary viewing location is just a short stroll along the rocky shoreline. Brown bears may make an appearance at any moment while you're ashore. Your knowledgeable guide will direct you to the best vantage points for optimal viewing and photography. After several hours of absorbing the beauty of brown bear viewing, embark on a hike back to your awaiting floatplane, ready to transport you back to Juneau. This is an authentic Alaskan wilderness adventure! While we cannot guarantee wildlife sightings, the abundant bear population in the Waterfall Creek area rarely disappoints.

Discover Mindfulness in the Wilderness on a guided journey through Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, where towering trees, lush greenery, and pristine trails set the stage for connection and reflection. Along the way, you’ll learn about local medicinal and edible plants before arriving at a secluded beach for a guided mindfulness session that calms the mind and grounds the spirit. The experience ends with a taste of Juneau’s best local cuisine, blending adventure, wellness, and Alaska’s natural beauty into one unforgettable experience.

The vibrant Inside Passage is one of the best places for spotting humpback whales in Alaska, and on this two-part adventure you not only travel up the passage on a small boat but also have the opportunity to kayak alongside the massive creatures. While most whale watching tours only include spotting whales from a distance, this intimate tour allows adventurous travelers to experience the whales up close.

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.

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.