The Mendenhall Glacier Tour begins with a 4-mile hike through the Tongass National Forest – the largest temperate rainforest in the world, dominated by towering Sitka Spruce and Hemlock Trees. As you follow your guide through the dense vegetation, around beaver ponds, and up rock scrambles, the wilderness trail becomes less defined.

As you emerge from the forest and approach the final ridge, the jagged face of the glacier bursts into view, it’s river of ice coursing behind it. We’ll embark on a guided trek to explore an array of glacial features along the edge. You will be up close to the glacier and exploring the unique moon-like landscape of bedrock recently exposed by the receding glacier. Other views include crevasses filled with deep blue color, and the icefall at the toe of the glacier. Because the glacier is in a state of constant change, not all features may be present or accessible. This tour does not include trekking on the glacier. Every day is different at the glacier!

This hiking tour is strenuous and requires excellent balance and sure-footedness.  While total elevation gain is only 800 feet, the terrain is steep, uneven, slippery, and rocky. We’ll cover 4 miles, each way, in approximately 2-2.5 hours – if you require a faster or slower place, please consider booking the Privately Guided Mendenhall Glacier Trek.

After an adventure on the glacier, we’ll hike back on the West Glacier Trail and provide transportation back to your pick-up location.

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.