Glacier National Park Hiking & Lodging guide By Travel writer/photographer Steve Salis - Duration: 1:32:05. It offers two trips from Juneau - the Mendenhall Glacier Tour, a 55-minute flight over Juneau icefield including 25-minute glacier landing, $142; and Pilot's Choice Tour, 90-minute trip including two glacier landings, $205. Juneau Icefield. Visiting the Juneau Icefield. By Sarah Bouckoms, Photos by Adam Taylor. The Mendenhall Glacier. But there's also evidence that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may be causing global warming, increasing the rate at which the polar ice caps are melting. JUNEAU - Our movements were slow, exaggerated, like those of astronauts. We had about 30 minutes on the ice before the helicopter returned with more tourists and to take us back to to Juneau. If you have already received tickets, please call the local tour operator phone number listed on your tickets for tour-specific questions as they will be the best resource to answer unique questions. Water depth at the glacier's terminus is 220 feet. The Juneau Icefield Research Program has monitored the outlet glaciers of the Juneau Icefield since 1942, including Mendenhall Glacier. Included: Waterproof Boots Please note: Guests weighing 250lbs or more, with all clothing and camera, are required to purchase a seat surcharge. The Taku tour-and-lunch package is $152 (it may be higher for cruise ship passengers). The only glacier in Southeast Alaska accessible by road, Mendenhall’s grand edifice plunges from the immense Juneau Icefield, dropping 4,500 feet over 13 miles. Length: 3 ½ hours. Most trails offer great views of the glaciers, including the East Glacier route - a three mile loop - plus the longer, steeper West Glacier trail which rewards you with unforgettable views of the glacier, crevasses and Mendenhall Valley. -- Juneau Ranger District, USDA Forest Service, 8465 Old Dairy Road, Juneau, AK 99801; phone( 907) 586-8800. You’ll also see beautiful mountain views, waterfalls, trestle bridges, and gorges as you ride the train tour to White Pass Summit. You’ll create unforgettable memories as you experience a glacier from high in the sky and gliding along its surface. **THIS TOUR IS NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS FOR THE 2021 SEASON** -- The Foundation for Glacier Environmental Research, Pacific Science Center, 200 Second Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109. Our helicopter-based icefield and glacier dog sledding tour whisks you from the dock to the glacier with the maximum comfort and safety. This is a wide view of Suicide Basin looking east from the edge of Mendenhall Glacier. -- ERA Helicopters, 6160 South Airpark Drive, Anchorage, AK 99502; (800) 843-1947 (from outside Alaska). The highlight of a stop-over in Juneau as part of an Alaska Cruise, is the opportunity to walk on the Mendenhall Glacier. It's not unusual to see them scraping the outdoor salmon grill for scraps of fish skin. Located about 12 miles from downtown, the Mendenhall Glacier sits at the edge of the Juneau Icefield, a 1,500 sq. The glacier extends from the Juneau Icefield to Mendenhall Lake. The glacier has also retreated 1.75 miles (2.82 km) since 1958, when Mendenhall Lake was created, and over 2.5 miles (4.0 km) since 1500. It is also one of the fastest-moving glaciers in the world. Annual snowfall on the icefield often exceeds 100 feet and the cold temperatures at higher elevations keep the snow from melting. **Please note: this tour operates from May 11th to August 9th**. It encompasses 671 square kilometers (Pelto et al, 2013) and measures about 5 kilometers across where it passes in front of Camp 10. Child Rate: $119 (ages 3-12) Minimum Age: There is no minimum age to join this tour as long as participants meet the minimum weight of 50 lbs., Children under 13 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. If you have questions about tours prior to booking, please email [email protected]. **THIS TOUR IS NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS FOR THE 2021 SEASON** **THIS TOUR IS NO LONGER TAKING RESERVATIONS FOR THE 2020 SEASON** Recommended Juneau Tour: Juneau Dog Sledding Tour, Recommended Skagway Tour: Skagway Dog Sledding and Glacier Flightseeing Tour Via Helicopter, For a spellbinding expedition, check out Davidson Glacier in Skagway. This Juneau Mendenhall Glacier helicopter tour is one you will always remember. At this rate, the glacier would take several centuries to completely disappear. The glacier is 30 miles long, the largest in the Juneau Icefield. Visitors come from around the world to trek on the 3,000-year-old icefield itself or … Take a gentle ride along Skagway’s White Pass Railroad, catching glacier views as you learn about Klondike Gold Rush history. One of the shore-excursions was a short helicopter ride to the Mendenhall Glacier to see 280 sled dogs and take a short ride on the dog sled with the owner of a team - Shaynee Seipke. Recommended Juneau Tours: Juneau Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier Tour, Glacier View from Photo Point Trail (Photo by Camera Eye Photography / CC BY)). Ride a city bus, but you'll have to walk the final mile to the visitor center. We strive to provide uniformity across our operations with an emphasis on safety and guest comfort. The trails also offer a chance to encounter some of Alaska's wildlife such as bald eagles, Sitka black-tailed deer, loons and swans, and, from a distance, mountain goats, bears and wolverines. We are trying to chose which heli / landing /hike excursion for our Sept 2012 Juneau port visit. The Mendenhall Glacier is fed by the Juneau Icefield, a massive accumulation of ice and snow that covers more than 1,500 square miles and feeds 38 large glaciers, sometimes called "rivers of ice" because they slowly flow down the valley. Flights are provided by Wings of Alaska, a locally owned company. The Juneau Icefield Research Program has monitored the outlet glaciers of the Juneau Icefield since 1942, including Mendenhall Glacier. Mendenhall Glacier tours are very popular. If you have further questions please email [email protected] or if it is an urgent matter you can call 1-888-586-8489, Please email us at [email protected] or call 1-888-586-8489In order to check the status of your reservation request, please use the following link: alaskashoreexcursions.com/order-status. This fully narrated excursion will take you by train up to the summit of the White Pass which is 2,865-feet in elevation! Adult Rate: $149.00. Box 33597, Juneau, AK 99803; (907) 586-8258. Ready to break apart. The river is a leading source for sockeye and coho salmon. With two hours on the ground, there's time to contemplate the glacier's remarkable advance. Port: Juneau. Individuals interested in applying to the summer program, or wishing more information about the research effort may contact: -- Dr. Maynard Miller, director, The Glaciological and Arctic Sciences Institute, College of Mines and Earth Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843. Experiencing the majesty and splendor of an Alaskan glacier is a, The Juneau Icefield extends more than 1,500 square miles and is home to, nearly 40 large glaciers, including the famous, Most visitors to Taku Glacier head to the Taku Glacier Lodge, which sits directly across from the glacier, and do a, More adventurous travelers can take their, Ride above the million year-old glacial icefields on a, For a spellbinding expedition, check out Davidson Glacier in Skagway. It was an exhilarating flight up the 12 mile length of the glacier, and we laughed outloud as the helicopter swooped around snowy peaks. This tour to the infamous Taku Glacier Lodge is the ultimate Alaskan experience. 5 Juneau, Alaska 99801. The Mendenhall Glacier Trek Tour gets you up close and personal with the glacier on this challenging, full-day hiking tour that can culminate right on the ice. Essentially, where the city ends, the Juneau Icefield begins. Ice crunched beneath our boots, oversized shoes designed to keep our feet warm at 40-below. If you would like to exchange one tour for a different one, you must create a new reservation for the new tour and send us an email to cancel the other tour. Extending from Taku Inlet to Skagway, the icefield is the birthing ground of 38 major glaciers, including Juneau's Mendenhall Glacier . Before you plan your glacier tour, get familiar with these common destinations. Of the 38 glaciers flowing from the Juneau Icefield, the Mendenhall is the most accessible. Book your tickets online for Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, Juneau: See 7,001 reviews, articles, and 4,410 photos of Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, ranked No.5 on Tripadvisor among 66 attractions in Juneau. In order to receive a refund, changes and cancellations must be made more than 7 days prior to your tour date. Both the Denver and the Mendenhall Glaciers lay within the Tongass National Forest, originating within the 1,500 square mile Juneau Icefield, blanketing the Coast Mountains for 100 miles along the U.S. Canada boarder from Juneau to Skagway. The Juneau Icefield extends more than 1,500 square miles and is home to nearly 40 large glaciers, including the famous Mendenhall Glacier and the Taku Glacier. There's also time to take an easy hike to see eagles' nests, listen to Ken Ward tell tales (some tall) of early going-ons at the lodge, or simply relax in a porch swing and watch the river go by. In order to receive a refund, changes and cancellations must be made more than 7 days prior to your tour date. Keep your eyes peeled during the flight as you may see some wildlife on the mountain peaks. This meandering river of compressed ice ranks as the largest, most rugged glacier accessible by road. Most visitors to Taku Glacier head to the Taku Glacier Lodge, which sits directly across from the glacier, and do a food tour. It spills into the Juneau suburbs, 13 miles from city center. It’s remarkably large, even by Alaskan standards. Getting to the Taku Glacier Lodge has a splash of adventure -- you’ll travel via floatplane. The more challenging aspect of Mendenhall Glacier is getting close to it. Or . -- Ken & Michelle Ward, Taku Glacier Lodge, P.O. While there, be sure to watch a brief film about how the Mendenhall is part of the 1,500-square-mile Juneau Icefield. -- TEMSCO Helicopters, 1650 Maplesden Way, Juneau, AK 99801; (907) 789-9501. A marvel of nature which lies 2,000 feet above historic downtown Juneau, the 1,500-square-mile Juneau Icefield is the fifth largest icefield in North America. Its active face regularly calves big icebergs and brash into its lake. Travel through the fjords and rainforests on this stunning Alaskan excursion. The glacier and surrounding landscape is protected as part of the 5,815 acres (2,353 ha) Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, a federally designated unit of the Tongass National Forest. -- Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, (907) 789-0097, daily mid-May through October, weekends October through March. This part of the country is blanketed with them. Juneau Shore Tours Reservations • 1 … You’ll start with a comfortable boat ride, catching breathtaking views of mountains, wildlife, and glaciers, heading toward Glacier Point beach. But scientists predict it will begin advancing again soon - blocking the Taku River and perhaps destroying one of Southeast Alaska's premier salmon runs. Back-up to take a photo, and you might just fall into a crevass. Walk off your meal while exploring one of the beautiful trails - or continue to relax at the Lodge and soak in the beauty. Much of our understanding of the Ice Age comes from studying active glaciers. The West is Big! Recommended Juneau Tour: Juneau Icefield Excursion, Recommended Skagway Tour: Skagway Glacier Discovery via Helicopter. Answer 1 of 3: Hi All, I am heading to Alaska via a Princess Cruise ship & looking to do a dog sledding tour. Set 2,000 feet (610 meters) above Downtown Juneau, the 1,500-square-mile (3,885-square-kilometer) Juneau Icefield is the fifth largest in North America and feeds 38 major glaciers, including Mendenhall Glacier. Guests are not able to stay on the helicopter at the glacier. Spending time at the glacier is a highlight of any vacation to Juneau because it’s a once in a life time opportunity. One of our popular and most budget-friendly Juneau excursions, the City and Glacier Tour is the perfect casual outing, especially for visitors hoping to also explore other activities. Juneau Dog Sledding & Glacier Helicopter Tour, **THIS TOUR IS NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS FOR THE 2021 SEASON** Once you land on the glacier, you'll have a chance to walk around and explore as your guide describes the history of the million-year-old ice fields! After a scenic helicopter ride, we'll take you up to the Denver Glacier dog camp where you'll meet professional 'mushers' and their friendly dogs before embarking. Please send an email to [email protected] letting us know which tours you would like to cancel as we must have all cancelation requests in writing. Another way to see the ice field is to spring for a meal at the Taku Glacier Lodge, about 30 air miles from Juneau in the Taku River valley. About 2 million pink salmon also spawn there. Join us on a summer dogsledding adventure on the icefield and meet our Alaska huskies! The glacier has also retreated 1.75 miles (2.82 km) since 1958, when Mendenhall Lake was created, and over 2.5 miles (4.0 km) since 1500. Mendenhall Glacier (also Sitaantaagu) is a glacier about 13.6 miles (21.9 km) long located in Mendenhall Valley, about 12 miles (19 km) from downtown Juneau in the southeast area of the U.S. state of Alaska. For Reservations: Wings of Alaska, 1890 Renshaw Way, Juneau, AK 99801; phone (907) 789-0790 or fax (907) 789-2021. About Once there, you’ll take a short, adventurous drive across the forested glacial morianes to the base camp, where you’ll board a 31-foot voyager canoe for more views and exploring. Shaynee took part in the Iditarod, I believe last year, and completed the race from Anchorage to Nome! The Juneau Icefield Research Program has monitored the outlet glaciers of the Juneau Icefield since 1942, including Mendenhall Glacier. Multiple tour companies plus public buses run to this mountain glacier. Skagway White Pass Railroad Summit Excursion & Train Tour. The lodge, open mid-May through September, can be reached only by floatplane or boat. Mendenhall Glacier information:-- Juneau Ranger District, USDA Forest Service, 8465 Old Dairy Road, Juneau, AK 99801; phone( 907) 586-8800.-- Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, (907) 789-0097, daily mid-May through October, weekends October through March. The flight itself will leave you in awe as you take in the breathtaking landscape of Juneau. Although used to people, the bears are wild and not house pets, owners Ken and Michelle Ward remind visitors. The Juneau Icefield is an ice field located just north of Juneau, Alaska, continuing north through the border with British Columbia, extending through an area of 3,900 square kilometres (1,500 sq mi) in the Coast Range ranging 140 km (87 mi) north to south and 75 km (47 mi) east to west. The plane takes off down Gastineau Channel for the 30-minute flight to the lodge. More adventurous travelers can take their Alaska glacier tours to the next level with dog sledding, helicopter, and even canoe tours. The visitor’s center offers stroller and wheelchair-accessible trails that lead to photo-friendly viewpoints. Your journey begins with a narrated flight in one of our seaplanes to the remote Lodge. It measures 1,500 square-miles and contains more than half the glaciers in the Coast Range Mountains which straddle the Alaska-British Columbia border. Spectacular scenery and a sumptuous salmon meal are combined in this three-hour trip. Get all the amazing views of a helicopter glacier tour, and add in the thrill of a dog sled ride. If you’re on a tight schedule, a trip to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center provides fascinating information as well as excellent views of this ever-changing wonder. Upon arrival, you can take in the full view of this magnificent geologic phenomenon from an unobstructed vantage point. The historic lodge is nestled against the mountains and looks out on the Taku and Hole in the Wall glaciers - both of which are fed by the Juneau Icefield. In other words, it is HUGE and will be here for a long time. Visiting Juneau Alaska or Skagway Alaska this summer? The icefield is home to over 40 large valley glaciers and 100 smaller ones. Take a comfortable motor-coach tour of historic Juneau and get up close to the majestic Mendenhall Glacier, all in one fun and relaxing half-day excursion. The 5,800-acre Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area has numerous hiking trails, including Photo Point Trail which is wheelchair-accessible. We of course want the best of both, lots of heli viewing but lots of time to walk/hike the glaciers. . Getting there involves an easy shuttle ride. Whether you have 45 minutes or a few hours to spare, you can count on beautiful views. Upon arrival, you'll enjoy a delicious Alaskan meal and entertaining stories about the Lodge's colorful past. And for the past 50 years, the glaciologist has brought teams of high school and college students here to study glaciology, geology, geography, geophysics, hydrology, geology, meteorology and surveying. The Face on Mendenhall Glacier. On clear days, the glacier is impressive. Once on the glacier, you'll meet the dogs and take off on the ultimate thrill of riding with the dog sled team. But the real show is the massive Taku Glacier. Scientists believe the ice field contains critical information about our future. Recommended Skagway Tour: Skagway White Pass Railroad Summit Excursion, Stunning views from the White Pass Railroad. Mendenhall Glacier tours are very popular. You can drive, or take a tour bus to the glacier. It offers the Glacier Panorama Tour, a one-hour flight over back-country gold mines and the Juneau Icefield, including a 15-20 minute glacier landing, $157. Dogsledding is Alaska's favorite sport and now you have a chance to take part! If you have further questions please email [email protected] or if it is an urgent matter you can call 1-888-586-8489. But the Juneau Icefield has endured for thousands of years and is one of the most studied places on the planet. Juneau Icefield Research Program. This famous glacier is a must-see for anyone who stops in Juneau as part of a cruise vacation. A dynamic glacier, the Mendenhall is constantly advancing and retreating; it's retreating about 75 feet each year. Sunlight put friendly sparkles on the vast expanse of ice stretching before us, but we'd been warned that sudden storms and severe drops in temperature are always possible here. A small, overhanging portion of the Juneau Icefield is visible in the upper left. And keeps going and going. The Icefield serves as a tourist attraction with many travellers flo… Rugged crevasses, azure blue ice, and the sheer expanse are humbling and awe-inspiring, giving you glimpses of what the Ice Age was like. The Mendenhall Glacier is 1.5 miles wide, hundreds of feet thick and is fed by the 1,500 square-mile Juneau Icefield. On the ground we were quiet, speaking in hushed voices. mile area that is home to about 140 glaciers. A glaciologist is at the site to answer questions, as are heli-tour staffers who repeatedly remind people "never, ever walk backwards on a glacier." Juneau Icefield (Photo by USDA Photo Service Alaska / CC BY) Mendenhall Glacier. It all wraps up with a picnic on the beach before you head home. The Mendenhall Glacier is one of the 38 major glaciers within the Juneau Icefield, an area of interconnected glaciers that rests behind the mountain rising above Juneau. You can stand on the sled and mush, or you can relax while sitting - either way, it's going to be an amazing experience! Type: Glacier View, Rafting. Ride above the million year-old glacial icefields on a helicopter tour for breathtaking views of mountain peaks, rainforests, glaciers, icefalls, ice spires, and vibrant blue icy crevasses. Recommended Skagway Tour: Skagway Glacier Point Excursion to Haines, **THIS TOUR IS NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS FOR THE 2021 SEASON** The ancient glacier is about 22 km long, travelling from the Juneau Icefield and ending at Mendenhall lake, formed naturally in the late 1920s from its melting ice. Mendenhall Glacier is a glacier about 12 miles (19 km) long located in Mendenhall Valley, about 12 miles (19 km) from downtown Juneau in the southeast area of the U.S. state of Alaska. . All reservations must be made through the website as our customer service representatives cannot take credit card information over the phone. There are no tours of the camp. The full cancellation policy can be found here. Two companies offer helicopter trips to the glacier, both recommend making reservations at least two weeks in advance. The pilot will point out at least five glaciers fed by the Juneau Icefield. The heli-tour took little more than an hour, leaving time to explore the Mendenhall by foot. ----------------------------------------------------------------- IF YOU GO. You have up until 7 days prior to your tour date to cancel for any reason. One of the most popular tours in Skagway, the White Pass Railroad summit tour isn't one to miss. Currently, the Taku is resting. The Juneau Icefield extends more than 1,500 square miles and is home to nearly 40 large glaciers, including the famous Mendenhall Glacier and the Taku Glacier. For all other questions, please email [email protected] or call 1-888-586-8489, In order to check the status of your reservation request, please use the following link: alaskashoreexcursions.com/order-status. The icefield is the source of many glaciers including the Mendenhall Glacier and the Taku Glacier. There are two tours available, one landing on Mendall Glacier, the other on Norris Glacier. Snap photos, revel in the beauty, and wander to your heart's content. Glacier … Because it was a brilliant clear morning, our pilot took the long way home, flying low over ridges in search of mountain goats and bears.