Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Tour
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Juneau, USA
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Explore a different side of the glacier on a canoe trip through Mendenhall Lake
- The tranquil, motor-free transportation increases the chances of spotting wildlife
- Rain gear and hot beverages are provided
- Round-trip transportation from your cruise ship dock means all the logistics are covered
What's Included
- Roundtrip transportation from the cruise ship docks in downtown Juneau
- Bottled water, snacks, and hot beverage
- Rain Jacket, Pants, Boots, Gloves, PFD
- Expert Wilderness Guide
- This tour is canoeing only and DOES NOT INCLUDE a hike.
- Gratituity for your guide (optional)
- Photos (feel free to bring a camera)
- Warm layers (beanie, wool socks and non-cotton layers are recommended)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Mount Roberts Tramway490 S Franklin St, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
Meet your tour guide outside of the red GoldBelt Tram Tramway building. They will be holding a blue sign with your tour name. ***NCL ENCORE GUESTS *** Meet your guide in front of your ship on the AJ dock. They will be holding a blue sign with your tour name.***
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Liquid Alaska Tours (Pass By)
1
Mendenhall Glacier
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
2
Tongass National Forest
4 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a strong physical fitness level
- Minimum age: 12 years old
- Minimum weight: 90lbs
- Maximum weight: 240lbs
- Not recommended for guests with back or hip problems
- Pregnant guests will not be allowed on this tour
- Full use of limbs for up to 2 hours canoe paddling
- Signed liability waiver
- Views of particular glacier features are not guaranteed
- IMPORTANT NOTICE: THIS TOUR IS CANOE ONLY AND DOES NOT INCLUDE A HIKE
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Mark_T
Paddled about 5 miles on a canoe. It not too difficult and we were able to get a close view of the glacier. Lucas was a great tour guide. He gave a lot of good information and told a ton of fun stories. We got a ride back to the pier, would recommend
Reviews
5.0
based on 1,583 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Jacob_R, Sep 2026
Very well organized and professional. They have all the gear and everything you need for the trip. Canoeing up to the glacier is both challenging and satisfying!
Lisa_W, Sep 2026
We loved this canoe trip. It was a beautiful day and Elisha and Joe, our guides were so much fun. Full of energy and knowledge about the area. I highly recommend this tour.
Jennifer_M, Sep 2026
Dogman and Uncle Ted were so entertaining and created a delightful experience for us as we got close to Mendenhall glacier and Nugget Falls! We felt very safe with them! Canoeing can be strenuous but they gave us lots of breaks! Would definitely recommend!
Laura_A, Aug 2026
It was amazing to see the glacier up close ! Yes, you'll probably get a little wet; but the rain jacket, pants, gloves and boots they provide are great quality. Be prepared to paddle the whole time. The guide was terrific. He kept us motivated and laughing.
Lisa_M, Aug 2026
This was such an enjoyable excursion! I highly recommend! We were able to get so close to the glacier in our canoe. I absolutely loved our guide, Tor. She prepared us well and provided a good mix of time for paddling and intermittent breaks. She was very knowledgeable about the glacier and history of the glacial outburst floods. I won't forget what she taught us about bears and all the fun we had! Thank you Tor!!!!
Pamela_R, Aug 2026
Our guides Mike and Brady were great! They were friendly and informative the whole tour. We got an up close experience to see the glacier.
Tammie_B, Aug 2026
Wonderful Mendenhall Glacier canoe tour! The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, and we were able to get so close to the glacier and the beautiful waterfall. Our guide, Hannah, was funny, knowledgeable, and absolutely awesome. She made the entire experience so much fun and kept our group entertained throughout the tour. We had such a wonderful time and would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Mendenhall Glacier!
Allen_P, Aug 2026
The excursion was well organized. Our tour guide, Tor, was absolutely incredible. She was so knowledgeable as well as entertaining with her jokes. Truly a pleasure. A “must do” if you are ever in Anchorage.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Tor is one of the best guides Juneau has to offer! We're glad you had a great time with her on Mendenhall Lake. Thank you for the review!
Michael_B, Aug 2026
Canceled on us 15 minutes before for high winds and then when we went out to the lake with another tour to see the glacier and there were a ton of canoes and kayaks on the lake. Felt like we were lied to.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We completely understand how frustrating it is to have your plans canceled at the last minute, especially when you were looking forward to seeing the glacier.
Safety is our absolute highest priority. On the afternoon of your tour, our weather stations recorded sustained katabatic winds reaching 45 mph. Operating in high winds on 36°F water poses extreme safety risks, including capsizing and hypothermia. Because weather conditions in this environment can shift rapidly, cancellations sometimes have to be made on short notice.
While other watercraft or tour operators with different routes or less exposed destinations may choose to go out in high winds, we refuse to compromise on safety or alter our route to offer a downgraded experience. We take pride in delivering the full, high-quality tour our guests pay for, and when weather makes that impossible, we choose to cancel rather than deliver anything less.
We never take cancellations lightly, and we are truly sorry that the weather impacted your trip. However, we will always err on the side of keeping our guests safe. If you would like to discuss this further, please feel free to reach out to us at 800-892-5504.
Frank_K, Aug 2026
Tor was the best tour guide we’ve ever had. We had so much fun and learned a lot about the whole area. It is definitely a workout but that makes it feel like so much more of an achievement. Highly recommend
Joanna_P, Aug 2026
This is an experience not to miss. Make sure you book with Hannah. She is absolutely the best tour guide.
Carlos_M, Jul 2026
Amazing experience getting super close to the glacier. Amazing views. It was worth the effort. And Sophie our guide, she was great. The coordination, meeting point and getting back to the port, everything was right on time. Great service from the company.
M_J, Jul 2026
Our family of four thoroughly enjoyed our excursion with Sophie rowing out to the glacier. She was engaging and very instructive teaching us about the Alaska natural life around us and some local history. All supplies were provided, just dress with warm underlayers and something to keep your head warm and be prepared to row. We got to the closest point to view the glacier which you cannot see from Nugget falls or the visitor center. We were lucky to get great weather in July and could really take in the beauty of the glacier lake and nearby islands. So glad we chose this company and tour!
Anuradha_S, Jul 2026
It’s was an awesome experience!
Lots of hard work paddling for 2 hours a total of 6.5 miles through rain and mist especially for first time paddlers, but Cortland our guide made it look easy. (It wasn’t). The views of both Nugget falls and Mendenhall glacier up so close was an amazing feeling and truly invigorating. We also had a fun group of other paddlers who we met for the first time.
Overall a must do .
Deborah_S, Jul 2026
This was a beautiful tour but a workout!!
2 couples and our guide, Sophie. She was young, vibrant and fun! We would recommend this tour
Randall_S, Jul 2026
This was the most rewarding experience of my alaska cruise trip. You get to earn your close-up view of the Mendenhall Glacier after a little bit of canoeing. The staff, especially Sophie, is super friendly and knowledgeable on the wildlife, geology, and history of Alaska and Mendenhall. Wonderful experience overall!
Amanda_M, Jul 2026
This was a FANTASTIC experience - We had the best time learning all about the glacier and the area around it, while paddling out to see the glacier up close. Our guide, Sophia, was hilarious, kind, thoughtful, and made the entire day feel so much more exciting - The knowledge she had and was able to share, along with answering all of our questions and telling some pretty funny jokes, was truly astounding. This is definitely an "active" activity and it is truly a "this is what you make of it" activity as your closeness to the glacier depends entirely on how far you and your group are able to paddle the canoe (along with wind and weather conditions) but our group was fantastic and we made it EXTREMELY close to the glacier! All in all I would 100% recommend this activity to others, and I would absolutely go on any other excursions that this company has to offer (especially with Sophia as our guide).
Anthony_V, Jul 2026
We arrived in Juneau via a cruise ship and easily found the pick up point. Our guide Joe Kraft was very friendly and knowledgeable of the glacier and area. After a short van ride we arrived at the lake and were outfitted for the canoe trip. We saw bald eagles, a waterfall, beautiful scenery and of course the Mendenhall Glacier! We paddled for about an hour and got within about 30 yards of the glacier. We could feel the cold breeze coming off the glacier. It was a nice trip for reasonable fit persons.
May_P, Jul 2026
Great excursion and worth it to get so close to the Mendenhall Glacier. Canoeing on the lake was not so bad. The tour company gives you all you need (waterproof jacket, waterproof pants, life jacket and even gloves). Sophie was a great guide and super professional.
The tour center will give you a far away glimpse of the glacier but we really had front row seats!
Highly recommend the tour company, excursion and guide.
Jill_F, Jul 2026
We are just ending our Alaskan cruise. The canoe trip to Mendenhall with Hannah was definitely a highlight. Hannah is very well educated on all things Mendenhall and made the trip great.
There were six of us. The rowing does take some work, but it was a welcome activity after being on a cruise ship for days. The views of Nugget Falls and Mendenhall are great payoffs. Bonus points for the eagles flying above!
You are provided with boots, jackets, gloves, and pants, so no need to waste suitcase space trying to prepare.
Overall, a great trip, and one that I would do again!
Laura_G, Jul 2026
This excursion was FANTASTIC!!! Our guide Elijah was so knowledgeable AND I felt super safe with him. Just genuinely a good human!
Would absolutely recommend this to anyone interested. I can’t compare to ones I didn’t do but I do know I’m glad I saw it from the inside and not atop a loud helicopter
MARGARET_P, Jul 2026
Isiah and Joe are hardworking, bad dad joke kinda guys! Safety is priority #1 and they were both very personable and informative. Highly recommend the canoe trip to Mendenhall Glacier - a definite highlight of my trip!
Lisa_T, Jul 2026
This was an excellent activity to do at Juneau. Be ready to put in the work to see some picturesque views of Mendenhall glacier and Nugget falls. Mike was a tremendous guide and navigator. Very knowledgeable! Strongly recommend this activity for you to see the best views of the glacier!
Jie_Z, Jul 2026
Our tour guide, Cortland and Sophie, are very friendly. We were lucky to have a big canoe with the whole group 12 people. Got very close to the glacier with gorgeous view. Cortland and Sophie shared lots of knowledge about the glacier, they are calm and encouraging. It was a wonderful trip!
Calista_C, Jul 2026
Wow! This was the best excursion we did on our cruise to Alaska. It was definitely strenuous, but worth all of the rowing to get that close to the glacier and the waterfall. Our guide Hannah did a great job of preparing us and keeping us on course and made the day more enjoyable with her sense of humor and great info. It was an adventure we’ll always remember!
Dave_D, Jul 2026
What an experience!! Cortland and Sophie were great guides. We were a group of 12 and paddled out to view the glacier and nugget falls. The paddling was work but so worth it. We got about 25 feet from the glacier edge and from the falls. We were able to get some great pics on a mostly clear sunny day.
Michael_S, Jul 2026
We had a fantastic day kayaking to Mendenhall Glacier. Our guide, Hannah was very knowledgeable and fun. It was exhilarating getting so close to the glacier and waterfall!
Stefanie_M, Jun 2026
Chris was amazing! Very informative and we loved the jokes! It was an amazing experience getting so close to the glacier. It was a lot of work, but that’s what we signed up for. Would definitely recommend.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Chris is not a guide we even knew he had on staff, but whichever guide has adopted this nickname, it sounds like they gave an incredible tour! Thanks for the kind review, and we wish you safe travels throughout the rest of your time in Alaska!
Joan_M, Jun 2026
Great way to see the glacier up close. Great group experience. Nice scenery and people, with a purpose
Response from Host, Jun 2026
We pride ourselves on providing pristine, front-row seats of the face of Mendenhall Glacier, and lifetime memories along the way! Thanks for the glowing review!
LaurenceBocian, Jun 2026
Overall the tour was good. Our tour guide was both professional, friendly and funny. I always look for fun and exciting outdoor activities for my family and I to do, when we're on vacation, including canoeing and/or rafting. However, I felt for the amount of physical effort we put in to get to the glacier and the time it took to get there, it was disappointing. I guess I was expecting to see beautiful Alaskan scenery along the way to the glacier. We only saw a one large waterfall and when we got to the glacier, it was rather small and not the grand glacier I expected to see. We did not even get that close to it or spend much time there. I feel for the experience, or lack of, it was pretty costly. But if you just want to be outdoors in the fresh cool Alaskan air and get a good workout, go for it.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the review and for highlighting our guide’s professional, friendly, and funny demeanor! We are so glad to hear your family enjoyed their time with our team and got a great Alaskan workout on the water.
We appreciate your honest feedback regarding the scenery and the view of the glacier. Mendenhall Lake offers a vast, open landscape, but we understand how the journey might feel different if you were expecting more varied scenery along the shoreline. Because the glacier naturally recedes over time, it can appear smaller from the water than many expect, and for the safety of our guests, we do have to maintain a careful distance from the active face of the ice.
We always want our guests to feel they received excellent value for their investment, and we are sorry that the endpoint didn't quite match the grand scale you had envisioned. We truly appreciate you sharing your perspective, as it helps us better set expectations for future adventurers.
Thank you again for joining us out on the lake. If you would like to discuss your experience further, please give us a call at 800-892-5504.
From $250.95
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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