How We Spent Our Day in Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure by Canoe

Kelly Maples
1 hour ago
6 min read

We've visited Juneau on previous Disney Alaska cruises, but every trip we've tried to experience it a little differently. This time, instead of flying to a glacier or visiting Mendenhall on our own, we climbed into a canoe and paddled across Mendenhall Lake toward one of Alaska's most iconic glaciers.

It turned out to be one of the most memorable days of our entire cruise.

On our recent Disney Wonder Alaska cruise, we booked the Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure through Alaska Shore Excursions, with the excursion operated by Liquid Alaska Tours. From the moment we met our guides that morning until we returned to downtown Juneau that afternoon, everything was exceptionally well organized. If you're looking for an active excursion that gets you much closer to Mendenhall Glacier than you can from the visitor center, this one is hard to beat. This was one of three glaciers we visitied in three days!

Our port hours that day were 6:45 AM until 4:45 PM. The Disney Wonder was docked at the AJ Dock, and Disney provides complimentary shuttle buses between the ship and downtown Juneau. As soon as we stepped off the ship, there was already a shuttle waiting. Once everyone boarded, we waited less than two minutes before leaving, and about five minutes later we were dropped off directly below the Mount Roberts Tramway, where we were meeting our guides.

We arrived a little early, so we grabbed coffee, wandered through a few gift shops, and enjoyed a relaxed start to the day.

If you've been following along with our Alaska adventures, you know we were traveling with a group of 18. Because of the age restrictions for this excursion, 14 of us participated. The other four—two adults and our two youngest children—spent the day on Disney Cruise Line's Dog Sled Summer Camp excursion. They had a wonderful time holding puppies and riding a wheeled "dog sled" through the forest.

Heading into the Tongass National Forest

After meeting our guides, we boarded a van for about a 20-minute drive into the Tongass National Forest.

Our guide was outstanding. Rather than simply driving us to the lake, he spent the trip teaching us about Juneau, the surrounding area, and the history and geology of Mendenhall Glacier. I always appreciate guides who make the drive itself part of the experience.

When we arrived, everything was organized and ready to go. Under a large tent, everyone was fitted with a life vest, waterproof boots, waterproof pants, jackets, gloves, and a dry bag for our phones and personal belongings. Inside each dry bag were bottled water and snacks for later in the day.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/acc492_be74501e8c1c4ddbb47ba3591ebecdbc/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Gear tent where we donned our gear before canoeing in Mendenhall Lake.

Canoeing Across Mendenhall Lake

All 14 of us, along with our two guides, climbed into one large canoe.

One guide paddled from the front while the other steered from the back. Before we pushed off, they taught us how to paddle together as a team and somehow managed to make it a lot of fun. Even though we were definitely getting some exercise, they built in frequent breaks where we simply floated across the lake and took in the scenery. The views were spectacular!

The mountains surrounding Mendenhall Lake were absolutely beautiful, and the brightly colored canoes looked incredible against the blue water. Some of my favorite photographs from our entire Alaska trip came from this excursion.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/acc492_e26999ad9bb04b5e981e3c3529878554/720p/mp4/file.mp4

Getting ready to canoe to Mendenhall Glacier.

Along the way we spotted several birds and a mountain goat, but the real excitement came as we rounded a bend and got our first full view of Nugget Falls and Mendenhall Glacier. Watching the glacier grow larger with every paddle stroke was something I'll never forget.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/acc492_847dd6d61ba94af29f6432bbf96b16c4/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Mendenhall Galcier as seen from our canoe.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/acc492_20e5c46194814d438c130d3e7e5e6e94/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Enjoying the views of Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls from our canoe.

Walking Closer to the Glacier

Eventually we pulled the canoe ashore and began a short hike that brought us even closer to the glacier.

The hike wasn't difficult, but it gave us a completely different perspective than viewing the glacier from the water.

Our guides pointed out interesting geology throughout the walk. We found garnets, pieces of amethyst, and even tiny flecks of gold in a few of the rocks. It was fascinating learning about the landscape while standing right in the middle of it.

When we reached a small point of land across the water from the glacier, we stopped to rest, enjoy our snacks, and soak in the scenery. The guides were wonderful about taking photos for everyone, so we came home with lots of family pictures instead of just selfies.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/acc492_36f2bb3b577d418a8a987f3e7e1626b8/720p/mp4/file.mp4

Up close and personal with Mendenhall Glacier after our hike

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/acc492_457b48e3fb4d410ebf3dae2e68101d3b/720p/mp4/file.mp4

Views from our hike to Mendenhall Glacier.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/acc492_8abb3b1039f24c5db3584a64cf0e09a6/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

The hike back go our canoe provided a great view of Nugget Falls and Mendenhall Lake.

Sometimes Mother Nature Has Other Plans

Originally, we were supposed to stop near Nugget Falls on the paddle back so we could explore the waterfall up close.

Unfortunately, the wind began picking up, and our guides made the decision to head back instead. I appreciated that they put safety first, and honestly, by that point the excursion already felt complete.

Although we couldn't stop at the falls, we did get some great photos of it with our binoculars with a phone attachment. Here you can see our view of the falls from our hike with and without using our binoculars. These binoculars came in handy many times during our cruise! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FZJDYKGY?ref=t_ac_view_request_product_image&campaignId=amzn1.campaign.2IFGFGVYEA5KF&linkCode=tr1&tag=afteralltrave-20&linkId=amzn1.campaign.2IFGFGVYEA5KF_1782412733518

Back at the staging area, we changed into our regular clothes and shoes before heading back downtown. Before we left, our guides also shared several restaurant recommendations and ideas for spending the rest of our afternoon.

Exploring Downtown Juneau

After returning downtown, we wandered a little beyond the busiest tourist streets and had lunch at V's Cellar Door.

One member of our group has strict gluten-free dietary needs, and V's Cellar Door did an outstanding job accommodating her. Everyone enjoyed their meal, and I would absolutely eat there again.

Speaking of dietary restrictions, Disney Cruise Line also did an exceptional job throughout the cruise taking care of her food allergies. If you're traveling with food allergies or celiac disease, Disney continues to be one of the cruise lines I trust the most.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous that afternoon, so instead of taking Disney's shuttle back to the AJ Dock, about half of our group decided to walk back to the ship. It took us roughly 20 to 25 minutes at a leisurely pace and ended up being a beautiful walk along the waterfront with wonderful views of the harbor, the surrounding mountains, and the Disney Wonder waiting for us at the dock. We got some great photos along the way, and it was the perfect ending to an unforgettable day.

Would I Recommend This Excursion?

Absolutely.

This excursion does require some paddling, but the pace was comfortable and the guides gave us plenty of opportunities to rest. During those breaks we simply floated across the lake, admired the scenery, and appreciated just how special this place really is.

Every single person in our group came away saying this was one of the best days of the trip.

Looking back through the photos reminds me just how incredible it was. These are the kinds of experiences that become lifelong memories, and I'm so glad we chose this excursion. It was another one of those core memories that I'll remember forever. Of note, we booked this excursion as regular guests. They did not know that I am a TA or travel blogger and I recieve no comission if you book a tour with them.

Planning Your Own Disney Alaska Cruise?

I've sailed to Alaska on Disney Cruise Line multiple times, and I love helping families plan unforgettable vacations there.

When you book through me, you'll pay the exact same price as booking directly with Disney, but you'll also have a Disney Cruise expert in your pocket. I'm available by text seven days a week to answer questions, help you choose the right itinerary, recommend excursions, remind you about important booking windows, and make sure you don't miss anything. Every client receives my comprehensive 20-page Disney Cruise Line planning guide, and when it's time to call Disney, I'll happily wait on hold so you don't have to.

If you'd like help planning your own Disney Alaska cruise, I'd love to help.

Learn more at: https://platinummouse.com/kelly