How do I get to Mendenhall Glacier Ice Caves?
How To Get To The Mendenhall Ice Caves
- Get To Juneau.
- Drive Toward Mendenhall Glacier In The Tongass National Forest.
- Trek To Mendenhall Glacier Ice Caves.
- Arrive At The Western Flank Of The Glacier.
- Start Looking For A Stream Coming From The Glacier.
- Keep An Eye Out For An Opening.
- Head On In.
- Enjoy the Mendenhall Ice Caves.
Can you go to Mendenhall Glacier on your own?
While many people go to Mendenhall Glacier with a tour group or on a shore excursion, you can also get to the glacier on your own. You can take a taxi from Juneau, drive to the glacier with a rental car, or take the city bus to Glacier Spur Road and walk the rest of the way (1.5 miles).
Where are the Mendenhall ice caves located?
Juneau, Alaska
The Ice Caves located at the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska are natural ice formations tucked away in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. The caves come and go as mother nature chooses and are accessible only to the most adventurous of travelers.
How do I get from Juneau to Mendenhall Glacier?
Mendenhall Visitor Center is only 13 miles from downtown Juneau. Take Egan Drive out of town past the turnoff to the Juneau International Airport and turn right on Mendenhall Loop Road. After about 2 miles, the Loop road makes a sharp left turn while Glacier Spur Road continues straight toward the mountains.
Can you walk to Mendenhall Glacier from cruise ship?
If the weather is poor or you don’t want to walk quite as much as we did, we’d recommend taking the shuttle bus to the Mendenhall Glacier. It’s a short walk from the dock and takes you directly to the Visitor Center.
When can you see whales in Juneau?
If it’s whales you want, it’s whales you’re gonna get. The best time to whale watch is from April to November, when approximately 600 humpbacks inhabit the waters of the northern Inside Passage. Whale watching tours are offered in Juneau and near Glacier Bay.
Why is Mendenhall Glacier famous?
Mendenhall Glacier extends from the Juneau Ice Field, its source, to Mendenhall Lake. The lake is iceberg filled and provides expansive views of the glacier from the water. The retreat of the glacier created the lake in 1929. The glacier has withdrawn an additional 1.75 miles (2.82 kilometers) since that year.
Are there Orcas in Juneau?
The orca, or killer whale, is also common to Juneau. But our Shamu doesn’t jump through hoops like he does at Sea World. These whales, though much smaller than humpbacks, have been known to pursue seals, moose, and even other whales.
Who discovered Mendenhall ice caves?
Joseph Whidbey
Exhibits in the center cover the history of Mendenhall Glacier, showing how it covered the valley at the time when Joseph Whidbey, master of HMS Discovery during George Vancouver’s 1791–95 expedition, explored the area in 1794.
What to do at the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau?
Instead, the tour will explore the areas directly in front of the glacier. EXPLORE THE ALASKAN WILDERNESS TODAY! This exclusive Juneau tour will take you on a canoe paddle over an iceberg-filled lake, trek right up to the Mendenhall Glacier, and explore it’s immensity and effects on the landscape.
Are there any tours to the Mendenhall ice caves?
For this reason, we never guarantee visits to, or entrance into the Mendenhall ice caves on any tour.
Do you need ice trekking equipment in Juneau?
No need to start purchasing your own ice trekking equipment yet, as we’ve got you covered with our Mendenhall Glacier tours in Juneau!
Which is the best glacier tour in Juneau?
Rated as one of the most popular Mendenhall Glacier tours Juneau has, this tour trades in hiking boots for rain boots as you paddle across Mendenhall Lake. Your guides on the Paddle & Trek will determine whether the caves are safe to enter.