Mendenhall Glacier Paddle & Trek
Our Most Popular Tour to Visit Mendenhall Glacier
Duration
Day Trip
6 -Hours
Activity
Hiking, Canoe
Highlight
Beautiful Scenery, Glacier Exploration
Price
$319 per person + tax
Difficulty
Moderate
Transportation
Meet at "C" Sign by the Mount Roberts Tramway
Experience The Trip
Enjoy the Mendenhall Glacier up close!
The Glacier Canoe Paddle and Trek is our most popular adventure trip to the world renowned Mendenhall Glacier. Over the years, we’ve hosted families of diverse ages and backgrounds, photographers and writers, the BBC, Good Morning America, Gayle King with CBS This Morning, and the O Magazine.
Your adventure begins on the shore of the Mendenhall Glacier Lake with paddle instruction from your glacier/canoe guide. We’ll load our gear into our large canoes and paddle together across the cool waters – Mendenhall Glacier, always in sight, is our destination! Glide past Arctic Tern nesting grounds, and observe the mist generated by Nugget Falls while paddling in unison to the ice.
We’ll travel in 8 person or 12 person canoes skippered by 1 to 2 guides. Guests seeking a private experience are encouraged to book the Private Glacier Canoe Paddle and Trek or the Private Mendenhall Glacier Trek.
Our Trips Are Outstanding
ABAK has been pioneering glacier exploration for over 20 years!
As we approach the glacier, keep your eyes open for freshly calved icebergs and feel the cool breeze generated by the ice. You will land at a beach near the glacier, and trek with your guide across the moon-like landscape of bedrock. While hiking along the rocky moraine, you will get close up views of the glacier and learn about how quickly this glacier is receding. Explore an ice age wilderness from the edge of the glacier, and look for stunning ice features such as crevasses, seracs, and other deep blue mysteries of this ancient river of ice. The glacier is in a state of constant change, and features come and go which makes every day different. This tour does not get onto the glacier, it brings you to the edge of the glacier with front-row views of it. After soaking in the beauty of the glacier, you’ll head back to the canoes for a return paddle across Mendenhall Lake.
The Trip Itinerary
About 6 Hours
Pick up from Downtown Juneau
Van Transportation to ABAK for gear outfitting
Gear outfitting & orientation, Transport to Mendenhall Lake
Get to know your guide and gear before heading to the Lake
Questions about gear sizing?
Guided Canoe Trip across Mendenhall Lake
Paddle Instruction Included!
Hiking and Exploration!
Get up close to the Mendenhall Glacier and explore all the features along the edge!
Return Canoe Trip across Mendenhall Lake
Return to Headquarters to De-Gear
Pick up some ABAK Souvenirs and use our Indoor Restrooms
Van transport back downtown.
Thank you for joining us!
Practical Info
Client Pickup Information
Located at the base of the Mt. Roberts Tramway, the C-Sign is ABAK’s primary downtown meeting location for cruise passengers and clients staying in the downtown area.
Clients arriving at AJ Dock:
Clients who dock at the AJ Dock within 30 minutes of the ABAK pick-up time will be picked up directly from AJ DOCK.
Clients staying Locally:
Clients can be picked up from any major hotel in the Mendenhall Valley.
Clients staying at major hotels in the Downtown area will meet at our Downtown meeting location.
ABAK is unable to provide pick-up in residential neighborhoods. Clients staying at private residences, Air BnB’s, VRBO’s, or have own transportation please contact our office for meeting location information at 907-364-2333 or info@beyondak.com.
Price
$319.00 per person + 5% sales tax = $334.95 per person
Group Size: Minimum of 2, Maximum of 12 **Please contact for groups of 13 or more
Minimum Age: 12 years old
Maximum Weight: 250 lbs per participant
Clients must be able and conditioned to paddle for up to 5-6 miles round trip and hike on uneven terrain for up to 2 miles round trip.
Included In The Price
- Professional guides
- Roundtrip van transport from meeting location
- All paddling equipment & glacier gear
- US Forest Service permits
- Rain gear (hooded jacket, rubber boots and pants) and dry bag backpack
- Hearty, healthy snacks & bottled water
- All safety gear including helmet and trekking poles if needed
Not Included In Price
- Hot shower at the end of the day. But you can book your stay with us.
- Professional Photography
- Gratuity for your Guide: If you feel that your guide went Above and Beyond to facilitate an exceptional experience, a gratuity is a welcomed way to show your appreciation.
Important Notes
- This trip operates in all weather conditions (barring unsafe conditions, to be determined by ABAK) – it is very important to dress to get wet.
- Clients must disclose information regarding pertinent medical conditions/history, allergies and any type of restriction or limitation that might introduce a higher degree of challenge on this trip.
- Glacier Access and feature exploration: The Mendenhall Glacier is receding daily. Because the glacier is in a state of constant change, not all features may be present or accessible. We will explore the edges of the glacier safely from the bedrock. This tour does not include trekking on the glacier.
- A specific amount of time exploring the edge of the glacier cannot be guaranteed. The amount of time at the glacier is dependent on the group’s pace and weather conditions.
- Every participant must sign a Release of Liability/Assumption of Risk Form at the start of the trip. Alterations and/or deletions to the form are not permitted.
- Due to various fitness abilities and weather variables, we prefer clients not schedule other excursions directly before or after our trip. Please let us know if your clients have another excursion booked on the same day.
- Due to inherent risks involved in this type of tour, pregnant guests are not permitted to participate.
- Clients must be able and conditioned to paddle for up to 5-6 miles round trip and hike on uneven terrain for up to 2 miles round trip. All clients must know how to swim.
- Due to canoe capacity, maximum Per Person Weight is 250 lbs.
Departure Times: Please click on the Book Your Trip tab for updated departure times
Dates of Operation: May 1st – September 30th, 2023
Group Size: Minimum of 2, Maximum of 12
Minimum Age: 12 years old.
Everyone must be in good enough physical condition to assist in paddling the canoe 5-6 miles and hike up to 2 miles. The smallest shoe size we can accommodate is size 2. The largest shoe size we can accommodate is size 14.
Activity Level: Strenuous, but no experience necessary.
Documentation Needed:
- Name of client(s)
- Cell phone contact number of client
- Desired trip date and departure time
- Name of cruise ship or hotel
- Participants’ ages, especially anyone under the age of 18
- Rain gear & shoe sizes (please specify male or female)
- Any pertinent medical issues, allergies or dietary restrictions
- Primary language spoken, if other than English
