Itinerary
Be among the select few allowed to travel by canoe for an unprecedented experience near the face of the majestic Mendenhall Glacier under a limited U.S. Forest Service permit.
Paddle across Mendenhall Lake, navigating past icebergs, surrounded by one of the most scenic and naturally beautiful locations you’ll find anywhere. Birds including arctic terns nest on the shoreline, and eagles, goats, salmon and bears may also be seen. You will venture within a safe distance of the massive, awe-inspiring face of the living Mendenhall Glacier, and skirt the base of the beautiful and powerful Nugget Falls, where you’ll head ashore to refuel for the return paddle with a snack of Alaskan-style fare.
You’ll make your trip in a traditional Alaska Native-style canoe, an exceptionally stable 15 to 20 passenger watercraft. Because of the close approach to the glacier face, the Forest Service tightly controls the number of participants. Only a lucky few get to experience this one-of-a-kind adventure.
Stop At:
• Mendenhall Lake, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
See Availability.
Mount Roberts Tramway, 490 S Franklin St, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
3 hours 30 minutes(approx.)
Returns to original departure point
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 experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 19 travelers
Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Posted By : Ellen_M
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!
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Posted On : 2024-05-07
Posted By : Edward_H
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.
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Posted On : 2024-04-28
Posted By : yuanyun_p
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.
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Posted On : 2024-04-25
Posted By : tianwein
Trent and Sam are very professional and friendly. Highly recommended. Great tour. Get to see the glacier and the waterfall.
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Posted On : 2024-04-23
Posted By : Navigate52496146036
Amazing excursion!!! We booked from Norwegian Cruise which offered an easy and fun way to travel. The trip started with an amazing and funny bus driver Trenton who drove us to the site. Then we met a awesome crew with the two leading guys -Trent and Samuel. They gave us facts of the lake and answered all of our questions. Then we canoed to the glacier and saw a waterfall. We were able to walk towards the waterfall. They gave us snacks of salmon dip, chips, cheese, carrots and celery. Then we canoed back where they collected the boots, plastic overalls and life jacket. Afterwards, you had the option to stop by the shopping center or head back to the boat.
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Posted On : 2024-04-23
Posted By : Aniranir0515
Highly recommend tour. The guide Trant and Sam, as well as the whole team were very informative and friendly. Amazing views, including the front of glacier and water fall. They even provided warm apple cider during snack time
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Posted On : 2024-04-23
Posted By : Danielle_B
Fun. Informative. Beautiful. Well organized. Great staff. They had all the rain gear and boots. Bring your gloves!
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Posted On : 2023-09-16
Posted By : T4503VWjohnh
This is a cool experience. Our guide John did a good job talking about the glacier and natural aspects of the lake and wildlife. Driver David did a nice job highlighting Juneau spots on the way to the park. The waterproof gear they provide is really important since we had a lot of rain. It would have been good to have a waterproof camera bag for easier access to phone / camera. The boat requires 14 paddlers and the middle seats can be a squeeze. You take 3-4 breaks on the 2-2.5 mile paddle to the waterfalls, so it’s manageable and you stop for 15-20 minutes for pictures at the falls.
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Posted On : 2023-09-12
Posted By : Erin_K
Great trip and guides were fun and informative. Highly recommend the trip, weather cleared nicely. Boats were great and fun to explore the lake.
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Posted On : 2023-09-09
Posted By : Erik Z
All the Guides were great from Daniel on the bus to John our canoe guide. It’s a lot of paddling but worth it. You get up close to the glacier and waterfall
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Posted On : 2023-09-06
