How to see Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls
When visiting Juneau, Alaska, Mendenhall Glacier is a natural wonder that you must see! Get all of your questions answered in my travel guide below.
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Where are Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls Located?
These two remarkable landform are located in the Tongass National Forest in Juneau, Alaska. The capital of Alaska, Juneau is only accessible by boat or plane. Most tourists arrive to the city via cruise ship.
From the cruise port, the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center is about a 25 minute drive. This is where you can access both glacier and Nugget Falls viewing.
How to get to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center
During my visit to Juneau, I chose to book an excursion through NCL to go to Mendenhall Glacier. When I travel with my kids, I like to only travel with the cruise line because I know the ship will wait for us if we get delayed somehow. Our excursion included a bus ride to and from the Visitor Center with a driver who narrated the ride and gave us some information about the glacier. We were dropped off at the Visitor Center and had about 2 hours to explore on our own. The cost was around $120 per person.
It would be far more cost effective to find your own transportation to the Visitor Center, but as I mentioned, with kids, sometimes convenience is worth the extra cost!
Expedia also offers several types of tours to Mendenhall Glacier.
Hours/Admission/FAQs
Hours
While the grounds surrounding Mendenhall Glacier are open year round from 6:00 AM to midnight, the visitor center and some trails are not. Visitor Center hours are as follows:
- Summer Hours (May-September) 10:00 AM-5:00 PM, Sunday-Friday. Closed Saturdays
- Winter Hours (November-March)10:00 AM-4:00 PM, Friday and Saturday.
- April and October- Intermittent Hours. Call 907-789-0097 for information.
- Closed on all federal holidays.
Admission
While a pass is not needed for most of the trails on the grounds, you will need to pay to enter the visitor center and some areas. A kiosk is available in the parking lot or you can pay inside of the visitor center. The fee is $5.00 per person for ages 15 and up. This center also accepts the America the Beautiful Pass as well as some other National Parks passes.
FAQs
Is food available at the visitor center?
No, food is not sold at the visitor center or anywhere on the premises. Food is only allowed in certain areas and it is recommended that you do not bring any food to the area in order to keep it from wildlife.
Can I camp at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center?
Yes, there are campgrounds nearby. Here are the links for their websites:
Mendenhall Lake Campground
Auk Village Campground
Will my kids think it is boring?
No! The Mendenhall Visitor Center has several interactive areas that kids of all ages will enjoy. Kids will also have fun exploring the grounds on the well paved hiking path. Plus, there are the Glacier Expedition Club and Tongass National Forest Junior Ranger activities for kids to complete.
What Will I see at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center?
Viewing Mendenhall Glacier
There are several places to view the glacier all around the visitor center. Believe it or not, the glacier used to reach all the way to the visitor center! It has receded greatly and is now still visible but much, much further away. The pathways around the area are are all level and well kept. There are also several “photo points” which will give you a great picture with the glacier in the background.
Nugget Falls
The other main draw to this area is Nugget Falls. A .8 mile hike around Mendenhall Lake from the visitor center is well worth your time. Along the way you will pass flora and fauna and rock formations.
The trail ends at Nugget Falls. You will also have a gorgeous view of Mendenhall Lake from this vantage point. This was one of my top experiences in Alaska!
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