Mendenhall Glacier

[taylortroop]

I've read that people have taken a bus ride to Mendenhall Glacier. I can't find anything about this. Is this something you can book when you arrive in Juneau or is it done through the ship? Do you get a chance to actually get out and walk on the glacier? Thanks

[Coral]

When you walk off the ship in Juneau - there are several stands setup with bus rides that leave every 30 minutes or so to Mendenhall. They were $5 each way last year. I ususally grab the blue buses which are ran by MGT - here is there website:

 

http://www.mightygreattrips.com/se_alaska_shore_excursions.htm

 

There are several other companies running this deal also.

 

Edited to add - this will take you to view the glacier, not to walk on the glacier - here is a good website:

 

http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/mendenhall/

[jstducky]

the buses you are referring to only take you to the Visitor Center at Mendenhall Glacier which is approximately 1-1.5 miles away from the face of the glacier. The last time I was there, they had a chunk of the glacier (an iceberg) that they had at the visitors center for people to look at, take a picture of, and touch.

 

if you are interested in actually walking on a glacier, you are going to need to purchase a helicopter excursion that actually flies over the juneau icefield and lands on top of one of the glaciers. helicopters are the only way to access the glacier.

[Suzanne123]

You won't be able to actually walk on the glacier, but if you want to get really close without taking a helicopter, take the Mendenhall Lake Canoe Adventure excursion. We stopped for a snack and walked up to a huge waterfall right next to the glacier. Great trip!

[Budget Queen]

Actually you can get to Mendenhall via the West glacier trail, you need a car or cab and a cell phone to call them to pick you up. It is over 6 miles - recommending 5++ hours. http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/mendenhall/trails.html

 

 

 

Superior is going with MICA guides- cheap since no flight needed, 2 hours northeast of Anchorage.

[CaribbeanBound]

We rented a car and drove to the glacier. We were there a solid 90 minutes before the throngs of tour buses arrived. Sure glad we did not do a tour. (By the way, the glacier is FREE if you don't go in the gift shop).

 

Here are the complete details of our Juneau trip (as well as other Alaska ports)... http://www.lavasurfer.com/info/alaska.html

[Flip2cruise]

Great info!

[rfholcom]

Thanks to CarbibbeanBound, I rented a car through Rent a Wreck. We are a party of 4. I rented the car for $50.00. The bus would have cost me $40.00. Now I have a car where I can actually go to the glacier and I can make a run to the grocery store for some snacks before getting back on the ship.