Mendenhall Lake Canoe Adventure
Juneau, USA
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Admire up-close views of Mendenhall Glacier few others get to see
- Round-trip Juneau port transit makes this shore excursion hassle-free
- Rain gear, boots, jackets, and other gear is provided for your ease
- Learn about the Alaskan wilderness and wildlife from your guide
What's Included
- Snacks
- Transportation
- Necessary Equipment (rain gear, life jackets, boots)
- Worry-free Shore Excursion Guarantee
- Gratuities
- Souvenirs (available for purchase)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Mount Roberts Tramway490 S Franklin St, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
JUNEAU MEETING; Please at the location 15 minutes prior to departure time. On the sidewalk, under the cables of the Mt. Roberts Tram. When you arrive at the meeting area, look for the Alaska Travel Adventures tour representative. Wearing a red jacket/shirt and a red hat. Look for our Caribou logo.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Meet your guide at the cruise ship dock or Mt Roberts Tram, then travel to Mendenhall Lake.
Step aboard the traditional Tlingit-style canoe for your paddle on the lake. The stable 28-foot (8.5-meter) boat is equipped with safety gear and paddled by your expert guide. Navigate past icebergs to come within a safe distance of the massive face of the Mendenhall Glacier. Skirt around the glacier to see Nugget Falls, a towering waterfall that cascades 377 feet (115 m) into Mendenhall Lake.
To protect the participants on the close encounter with the glacier, the US Forest Service tightly controls the number of permits for this approach, making this a truly special Alaskan experience. Keep an eye out for wildlife such as arctic terns, eagles, goats, salmon, and bears.
After your time on the water, head ashore and refuel with a snack of Alaskan-style fare before your return to Juneau.
Step aboard the traditional Tlingit-style canoe for your paddle on the lake. The stable 28-foot (8.5-meter) boat is equipped with safety gear and paddled by your expert guide. Navigate past icebergs to come within a safe distance of the massive face of the Mendenhall Glacier. Skirt around the glacier to see Nugget Falls, a towering waterfall that cascades 377 feet (115 m) into Mendenhall Lake.
To protect the participants on the close encounter with the glacier, the US Forest Service tightly controls the number of permits for this approach, making this a truly special Alaskan experience. Keep an eye out for wildlife such as arctic terns, eagles, goats, salmon, and bears.
After your time on the water, head ashore and refuel with a snack of Alaskan-style fare before your return to Juneau.
1
Mendenhall Lake
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian
- Children 13 to 17 must have a signed parental consent form to participate without a parent or guardian
- Minimum weight: 40lbs
- Maximum weight: approx 350lbs.
- At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 19 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Maggs_M
This was a great tour. We had a small group of us, only 6 on the canoe and Gabe the guide. We got a workout, but we wanted that. We got to see so much, even though we couldn't get to Nugget Falls due to the rain and lake levels. We were able to see a little bit of the glacial lake outbreak coming under the glacier. It was cold and wet, but we didn't mind. I highly recommend this tour if you are adventurous and want to get some exercise!
Reviews
4.6
based on 201 reviews
Beth_M, Oct 2025
Be ready to padel, but it is so worth it! Waterfall and glacier are amazing. Great guides and an experience we’ll never forget.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for your review! We're really glad you enjoyed your time on the lake and we hope to have you back!
Cheryl_S, Sep 2025
Being so close to the glacier you could feel the cold and can't imagine the true size of Mendenhall or Nugget Falls.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for your review! We're happy to hear you enjoyed the tour and we hope the rest of your time in Alaska was great as well!
Cheryl_S, Aug 2025
You won't regret it! Paddling out the glacier is cold, dress warm. Once you see it it's amazing and you will be amazed!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for the review, we really appreciate it! We're so glad you enjoyed being out on the lake and we hope to have you back some time!
Maggs_M, Aug 2025
This was a great tour. We had a small group of us, only 6 on the canoe and Gabe the guide. We got a workout, but we wanted that. We got to see so much, even though we couldn't get to Nugget Falls due to the rain and lake levels. We were able to see a little bit of the glacial lake outbreak coming under the glacier. It was cold and wet, but we didn't mind. I highly recommend this tour if you are adventurous and want to get some exercise!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for the review! We're so glad you had a great time even with the poor weather! Hope the rest of your time in Alaska was great and we hope to see you again!
Jeff_E, Jul 2025
The bus picked us up on time from downtown Juneau and drove up to Mendenhall Lake with interesting history of the gold rush and the town. They provided everything necessary including waterproof boots and rain gear if needed. We had 19 people plus the guide in our canoe and it felt very stable the whole time. We lucked out with perfect weather (no rain) and had a nice paddle out across the lake to a great viewing point of Mendenhall Glacier, then stopped at the beach area by Nugget Falls to check out the waterfall and have a small snack (hot cider, cheese and crackers). Our guide was knowledgeable and we had a great time.
elana_g, Jun 2025
The pick up process was fine. It was easy to locate the group in the down town Juneau area. The bus ride to the beach was really warm and the driver didn’t provide any info on Juneau while we rode along for 20-30 mins. He let us know when we arrived that his mic was down. Blake came on board and read the disclaimer and gave us info on what to expect for the day. We ended up on Elijah’s boat. He was nice enough but the 40-45 min rowing out to the lake would have gone a lot faster had he provided context on what we were looking at or where we were going. A few people asked questions but it felt like pulling teeth. While we expected to do some rowing but it was more strenuous than it really needed to be because half of the people on the boat weren’t really doing anything. A quick how to lesson would have been really nice before putting 20 inexperienced ppl in a canoe would have been super helpful. The pros were that it was absolutely gorgeous clear day so we got great pics of the glacier and waterfall. I’ve been on a bunch of mini excursions like this all over the world and this was definitely not worth the amount that we paid.
Linda_W, Jun 2025
Canoe adventure was great! Our guide, Elijah, was funny, informative and friendly. He gave great guidance so that we felt safe and in great hands. We were able to rest a few times as we canoed over to Mendenhall Glacier. The scenery was beautiful and serene. Highly recommend.
Odinakachukwu_E, Jun 2025
Such a fun activity! Pack layers because we got sun, wind, then rain😅 Definitely a workout, apparently we rowed about 5 miles.
Svetlana_G, May 2025
We had a great time, and our your guide, Malachai, was knowledgeable as well as entertaining. So it!
Frances_L, Aug 2024
Very good. Our guide Tyler was a lot of fun. It was a moderate work out (I’d never canoed before) but definitely not too strenuous and any fitness level could do this! Great way to see the glacier and Nugget falls.
Daniel_O, Jul 2024
Lots of work ! And windy. The lake, waterfall and glacier were fantastic. Bit they don’t tell you that it’s a 2 person wide canoe and everyone has to paddle for 45-60 minutes out, then same coming back. Recommend for healthy and fit only. Overall fun… but too much work
Matthew_S, Jul 2024
I was a little worried after seeing some of the more recent reviews but we had a great time overall. Because the boats were a little bit more crowded it allowed our kids to not have to worry about rowing. The kids were cold and in true kid fashion were ready to be done. It was chilly but totally doable, especially with all of the gear on. We were able to see the glacier just fine on the 1:30 tour but heard the tour before us couldn't see it at all due to the fog. Spent a few minutes at Nugget Falls before rowing back. Wasn't able to see the other portions of the park but had talked to someone selling tours to see if we could/should do both but they said only one was necessary.
Babette_B, Jul 2024
I wouldn’t recommend this excursion to older people especially if they have shoulder problems and/or don’t like the cold/rain.
Heather_D, Jul 2024
More work rowing than expected, picture was misleading bc didn’t get that close to glacier at all, other canoe crew ate all the snacks at beach bc we were second canoe to get there and we almost crashed into other canoe based on guide’s judgement when got back.
Kathleen_s, Jun 2024
Overall a great experience, However the guide was inexperienced and this almost leas to injury within our group. We barely had time for pictures at waterfall, which was because our group had a large number of children. A more experienced guide could of given more instructions.
Danielle_F, Jun 2024
We had a great time from the bus ride with Angel to the guided canoe tip with Sarah. we saw Mendenhall glacier and learned about the lake and surrounding areas. There was a beautiful waterfall and icebergs. On the drive up we spotted a number of bald eagles perched in the trees. En route back to the dock we noticed a bear in a field. Loads of fun and a nice physical activity after being aboard a cruise ship for a few days 😂
Traci_C, Jun 2024
This canoe trip was so much fun! A little workout with a lot of pleasure! The glacier was fun to see up close, the falls were amazing. We had a great group to row with to get to the glacier and falls. Our guide, Leann(Monday May 27th, 1:30) was great! She had great fun facts to share, kept the canoe upright and took a bunch of pics for us to take home with us.
The snacks were provided were a nice touch, but it was too uncomfortable for me to share from a plate finger food with people I didn't know. The warm cider was perfect!
Thank you!
Donald_F, May 2024
Up close view of glacier and Nugget Falls. Our guide was excellent. Trip worth taking. Would do it again
Beth_R, May 2024
We were picked up on time and the bus driver was quite honest while driving us to the lake. She shared funny stories and pointed out some Juneau sights along the way. It was a beautiful day to canoe, however, the tour before us was late getting started so we waited around for about 40 min. Once we began, I believe our tour was cut short because we were short on time and had to return to our ship. So I don't feel like we got the whole experience. We viewed the glacier from far away. Not sure if that was because of time or that is where the usual stopping point is. Our guide, Leanne was encouraging and friendly.
Ellen_M, May 2024
The cost of this excursion was on the higher end for me. Nearly $500., for two of us! I never received a confirmation from the guide/company like they said they would do. I tried calling the company but had no communication. I just showed up and hoped that they would be there. Not a confident beginning.
If you enjoy being packed in like a can of sardines… this tour is for you! It was not like the photos illustrated, which appear to maybe have 12 guests rowing. Instead, we were 18 or 19 people packed in and very close to the water, due to the weight! 5 people were asked to volunteer NOT TO ROW, because they had to sit in the middle of two other rowers! This was a ROWING ADVENTURE!!!
It took a disastrously long time to row to the opposite side of the lake. The weight of the canoe made us be very close to the waters edge and also the canoe moved at a snails pace. We were also not allowed to row as close, as the people in kayaks, to the Mendenhall Glacier. We saw it from a distance. When we finally arrived to the waterfall, the guides offered snacks and my friend and I went for a quick walk, to get closer to the falls, for pictures. The guide quickly called us back, to eat the snacks. Five minutes later we had to pack it up and get back in the canoe to get back to the starting point. It took us so long to get to the falls, because there were no weight regulations on this canoe and it was so very clear that we were lob sided. A guest next to me, threw himself nearly over me, as he was afraid the canoe would top over on his side.
The group picture that the guide took, only showed half of us, because the others were simply blocked in the middle.
I have traveled to many parts of the world and have been completely happy with every single thing about all of my Viator excursions, except this one. This was a total waste of money and shame on them for packing in so many people to make the huge revenue, in a row boat filled with 18 (plus guides) people!
Edward_H, Apr 2024
Went with the family on this trip to see Mendenhall Glacier. The tour group had 16 people, and we were all in the same canoe. When we arrived to the lake we were given waders and boots, to help keep us dry. We were seated 3 across, so the middle person on the row didn't have to paddle. Which was nice for us, because it allowed us to have someone taking pictures. If you're one of the paddlers, expect to work, as they are the ones driving the boat. We paddled across the lake to the warefall, and got the opportunity to get out rest a little, and get some pictures. Our tour guide, Trent, was great and very knowledgeable. I would have liked to have gotten a little closer to the glacier, like the kayakers, but that was too risky, given the chance of the glacier calving, and the lack of mobility of the canoe. The lake is about 1.75 mi across, so we rowed over 3.5mi which is a pretty decent workout. I would've been exhausted if we had gone any further.
Overall, this was a worthwhile excursion, and I was able to check off a bucket list item by seeing a glacier.
yuanyun_p, Apr 2024
Great tour! If you want to see the front of glacier, this tour will be an awesome choice. Our tour guide Trent and Sam were very friendly and supportive. They also offered warm apple cider for snacks.
Danielle_B, Sep 2023
Fun. Informative. Beautiful. Well organized. Great staff. They had all the rain gear and boots. Bring your gloves!
Erin_K, Sep 2023
Great trip and guides were fun and informative. Highly recommend the trip, weather cleared nicely. Boats were great and fun to explore the lake.
Eric_N, Sep 2023
Amazing views, beyond beyond what you'd expect with combo of glacier, waterfall, lake, and mountains.
Cheryl_M, Aug 2023
Incredible day seeing up close Mendenhall glacier & Nugget Falls! John & David’s wit made the tour fun & interesting - truly outstanding! We even saw eagles & a seal while paddling! Dress for the outdoors & you’ll have a grand time! Make some awesome memories- lots of incredible pictures to take home!
ChristopherJake_W, Aug 2023
Cancelled by tour group while in the shuttle to the tour, too late to book any alternative excursions while on Juneau, because the tour wasn't full enough. Never saw the glacier I came to Juneau to see. Unacceptable.
Amy_W, Aug 2023
We enjoyed the experience despite the rain! Fortunately we were provided with great rain pants, jackets and boots. Our guide John was great! He shared his wealth of knowledge and love of Alaska with us.
FannYu_L, Aug 2023
Time to Stop Using Outdated Pictures, to Alaska Travel Adventure.
This picture does sell, it prompted me to buy this canoe trip. However, everyone in my group felt somewhat gaslighted by the company when arriving at the Mendenhall Glacier seeing that the ice has receded so much since that picture was taken. We would've still gone on this trip, accepted the fact that due to climate change the glacier has receded, and left without feeling cheated by the company.
saranya_k, Jul 2023
we did canoe with our 4yrs and 9yrs old and it was a great experience for all of us. we did this as part of the cruise shore excursion and it was very easy to find the shoreexcursions person when we came of the cruise. The guide and the bus driver were great and provided history and facts about the glacier and the surrounding region, as well as Juneau. The lake was calm and beautiful glacier. Tour people provided the boots , life jacket and the pant to stay dry which was great.
I gave 4 star because of 2 reasons, 1 is the wait time in the bus was 20mins before driving to the lake and 2nd is the nugget fall break can be little longer than 5-10 mins , we row the canoe for 5miles(round trip) all the way to nugget fall and spent hardly 10mins is not satisfied. .
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per person-You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
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