Skip the whale watching and head straight to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. Exploring Ice Caves and Hiking on Mendenhall Glacier October 30, 2017 July 23, 2017 by Ashli During a week long family trip in Alaska, Andrew and I break off from the group for a single day to do what we do best — adventure. The ultimate Juneau tour trifecta! Reviewed September 23, 2012 . To learn more or withdraw consent, please visit our cookie policy. Like an astronaut stepping on the moon, you’ll explore this hauntingly beautiful and otherworldly landscape for approximately an hour with your naturalist guide. For this reason, we never guarantee visits to, or entrance into the Mendenhall ice caves on any tour. Mendenhall Glacier Ice Caves in Juneau, Alaska These spectacular natural phenomena inside a glacier are worth the kayak ride and short hike to reach them. By booking with us, you're helping to ensure a bright future for Alaskan tourism. From there you can take trails to the ice caves. But there’s magic in the Mendenhall Ice Caves, where water runs over rocks and under frozen bright-blue ceilings inside a partially hollow glacier. The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and surrounding area offer stunning views of a lake-terminating, calving glacier. Then, take a break and relax while you sip the world’s most refreshing water straight from one of the sapphire blue pools. Of all the Mendenhall Glacier tours Juneau is home to, you’re bound to find one that will amaze! Naturally, we couldn’t visit Juneau and miss the chance to experience the ice caves for … If you still want an active, exciting, jaw-dropping glacier tour without an intense leg workout, then you’ll definitely want to sign up for the Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Paddle & Trek! See. By far one of the most challenging and rewarding Mendenhall Glacier tours Juneau has available! Check out all of the adventurous Mendenhall Glacier tours Juneau offers below: Even when you don’t see ice caves, these glacier tours will take your breath away! This is the best combo tour in Juneau, Alaska. Ice cave tours usually run from July to September. The best way to explore the ice caves is to go with an experienced tour guide who knows the conditions at any time and what areas are safe to walk through. The Mendenhall Ice Caves are sure to amaze no matter what way you choose to see them. See more ideas about mendenhall ice caves, mendenhall, ice cave. Glacier? Please click below to consent to the use of this technology while browsing our site. If open and accessible, your guide will escort you from the top of the glacier to its magnificent underbelly. And it is one of the 38 glaciers flowing down the Juneau Icefield. Our all-inclusive tour begins at the cruise ship docks in downtown Juneau. Keep a sharp eye out for bald eagles, the occasional beaver, and even mountain goats. Fun? Some of the most incredible, beautiful, and strange places in the Atlas. Once you’re all geared up with the necessary paddling equipment and in the canoes (each canoe holds either 7 or 12 guests plus a guide) be ready to paddle for 5 miles and sit in the canoe for up to 3 hours. What’s the advantage of booking a private tour? Here, you can still see the glacier, take amazing photos, and even hike out to Nugget Falls. Mendenhall Glacier is long about 12 miles (19 km) and it is located in the Mendenhall Valley about 19 km from the town Juneau in the southeast U.S in Alaska.There is Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center which is part of the Tongass … My first experience in the Mendenhall ice caves was dreamlike. 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. The Ice Caves under Mendenhall Glacier. And, if you’re like most people traveling to Alaska, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I would just google “mendenhall glacier ice caves guided tour” and compare a few companies and prices. With trekking pole in hand you’ll navigate your way over large, loose rocks, muddy glacial silt pits (ask your guide about “glacial facials” on the way back!) and through a stream to reach the glacier. Am I guaranteed to see the Mendenhall ice caves? Due to the exclusivity of these public & private tours, small group sizes (6:1 client to guide ratio), and the high demand to visit Mendenhall Glacier and explore Mendenhall ice caves, these tours fill up extremely fast! No purchase necessary. Check (if possible). The lake is used for ice skating during the winter as it is covered with thick ice. Totally worth the Kayak trip in and the ice climbing over the Glacier. As such, feel free to check out the center & learn about the glacier, venture out to Nugget Falls, and of course, take gorgeous pictures with the glacier as your backdrop. Let’s look at a quick breakdown of what these tours offer over their public equivalents: Very Important Note! If you’re thinking about booking one of the incredible Mendenhall Glacier tours Juneau offers, my best recommendation is, just do it! Which Alaska Zipline Tour is Right for Me? Then be transported out to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. Once you reach the edge of the glacier, slide into your micro-spikes, harness, and helmet for the glacier trekking portion. The United States Forest Service operates the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center as part of the Tongass National Forest, offering interpretive programs throughout the year for children and adults. Entrance to the visitor center is included in your ticket price. The massive glacial geography and its changes over time are a sight to be seen. The Mendenhall Glacier can be seen from the visitor center on Glacier Spur Road. Introduce : Mendenhall, the famously 12 mile long, 150 foot deep and half mile wide glacier melts as you watch it, and moves as much as 60-70 feet per year. The glacier is federally protected as part of the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, a unit of the Tongass National Forest. For sure! Specifically about 12 miles from downtown Juneau in southeast Alaska. Have your camera’s ready no matter which glacier tour you choose! Up to an additional hour of tour time (9 hours vs. 8 hours), Allows children as young as 8 years old to participate (vs. 10 years old on public). Laurie Craig is a retired naturalist with the Forest Service. Known as “glacier blue,” this bright color happens when the air is squeezed from the ice and snow as it freezes. Mendenhall’s carved interior, creates a surreal, blue-toned world. 2. So, go above and beyond the ordinary and make it extraordinary! The dancing ombre of blues throughout the ice from aqua to sapphire to cobalt captivated me. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. And don’t think we forgot about the Mendenhall ice caves! The Upside-Down Forest of Glacier Gardens. It’s a well-known fact that Mendenhall Glacier has been receding at an alarming rate over the past decade, which has brought both beautiful and heartbreaking changes to the glacier and surrounding landscape. 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Glaciers are constantly changing and so are glacial features including the famous Mendenhall Glacier Ice Caves. Our glacier treks are scheduled to begin operating May 1st, but we do have helicopter glacier treks beginning the last week of April. Southern Ocean waters and glacial forces transform the Antarctic ice into these stunning bridges and caves. 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 Mendenhall Glacier has receded almost two miles since 1958, while previously it had receded only 0.5 miles since 1500. The Mendenhall Glacier Trek is a great way to explore the glacier, the ice caves, and the terrain created by it! If conditions are judged by the guides to be sufficiently safe and ice caves have formed, your trek across the massive 13.6 mile-long river of ice will … It is completely overwhelming. The Mendenhall ice caves have been described as “otherworldly” and “surreal,” but it is important to note that they are “melting” and “fleeting.” Exiting the cave, we came face to face with the glacier and were immediately struck with its massive size. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. While none of the following Mendenhall Glacier tours Juneau offers will get you onto the Mendenhall Glacier or into the Mendenhall ice caves, they get you out to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. Mendenhall Ice Caves, Juneau, Alaska Mendenhall Ice Caves . If you said yes to any of those questions, then the exclusive Private Mendenhall Glacier Trek or Private Kayak Paddle & Trek might be the perfect tours for you! brings you to an awe-inspiring view of Mendenhall Glacier and the surrounding mystic landscape. Be one of the few to paddle across the Mendenhall Lake and explore on the Mendenhall Glacier on our 5.5 hour Mendenhall Glacier ICE Adventure. Whereas the Juneau Ice Field, from which the Mendenhall Glacier and the Mendenhall Ice Caves emerge, appears as a vast white wasteland, the inside of the ice caves is a spectacular, brilliant blue. However, I heard guided tours are typically around $215-$300/person. There’s simply nothing else like it. Winner will be selected at random on 01/01/2021. The paddle is an enthralling journey in itself as you glide across the (usually) calm waters of Mendenhall Lake, encircled by the towering peaks of giants such as Thunder Mountain, Mt. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. The Mendenhall Ice Caves has been dubbed as one of the most beautiful sites in the world. Red Dog Saloon, learn about Juneau’s rich mining history, and pass by the Governor’s Mansion. Planning your Alaska excursions for the short time you have in each port can be overwhelming. Customizable & personalized to your groups’ specifics interests, including photography, proposals, weddings, additional glacier or ice cave exploration, etc. Once inside, you'll be surrounded by dazzling blue ice formations and glacial "rain," which pours down as the ice melts. Are there any glacier treks/Ice caves available in April 2020? Check. Our extended Alaska glacier tour gives you ample time to get the best pictures, get your full of glacier water, and do a little dance on the glacier ice … Located just a short drive from downtown Juneau, the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area is perhaps Juneau’s most recognized natural feature. Being within the Mendenhall Glacier is similar to exploring a canvas of ice packed with colors. See some of the most charismatic creatures that roam Alaska's rugged landscapes alongside an expert bear biologist. There are still more popular Mendenhall glacier tours Juneau can offer! To keep things simple, when describing the Mendenhall ice caves, we mean a “cave” that is formed within a body of ice (usually a glacier) as water flows through the glacier and forms a passageway. We cannot guarantee any specific glacial features including caves. Mendenhall Lake fronts the glacier at the terminus, and the ice extends 150-250 feet under the water. Think you want to spend more time on the glacier or have a more personalized and customized experience for your family or group? You need an experienced guide. One of the 38 glaciers that emerge from the 1500 square mile Juneau Icefield, the Mendenhall … The caves come and go as mother nature chooses and are accessible only to the most adventurous of travelers. So, you will not want to delay booking these tours or someone else might snatch up your seat! Mendenhall Glacier is a very popular tourist destination, conveniently located just 12 miles from downtown Juneau, Alaska, so if you happen to be in Juneau or are planning a trip there, a visit at least to the glacier is a must. Not interested in whales? Be assured though, if there is an ice cave open, accessible, and declared safe to enter by the guides (who are highly trained to recognize signs of stability or weakness within the cave), then you too can experience this phenomenal, icy “cave of wonders”. Glaciers are dynamic, which means they are always changing. This is a bit early in the season and is dependent on the conditions which are not possible to predict very far in advance. Hundreds of enormous icebergs drift through this waterway every year. Learn more! Kick off your journey to the Mendenhall Ice Caves by heading to Juneau, Alaska’s state capital. For more ideas on things to do and places to eat in Juneau, check out JUNEAU BLOG POST. The blue ice gets in signature color as pressure forces air bubbles out of the ice. This exclusive tour is the only one with permits to venture across Mendenhall Lake and right onto the glacier itself, allowing you to spend up to two hours exploring the ancient ice! Then, as you exit the downtown, enjoy the scenery as your guide delivers you to Auke Bay or Mendenhall Glacier. They can range in size from small, barely-squeeze-through tunnels to huge crane-your-neck-to-see-it-all caverns. Juneau Shore Tours Reservations • 1 844 626 9600 • Liquid Alaska Tours operates Mendenhall Glacier tours in Juneau, Alaska. People everywhere are finding ziplining, Taste of Nature Kayak & Gourmet Food Adventure, Going for the Gold: Panning and Dredge Tour, Private Wildlife Photo Safari, Beachcombing, and More, Private Wilds of Sitka Sound Expedition by Boat, Our Top 9 Favorite Alaska Excursions for 2020, 8 Things Your Cruise Ship Won’t Tell You About Shore Excursions, 7 High-Demand Alaska Cruise Tours You’ll Want to Book Early, My Alaska Travel Tips: How to Get the Perfect Alaska Cruise Photos, Mendenhall Ice Caves & Beyond: Juneau Glacier Tours Explained. Atlas Obscura and our trusted partners use technology such as cookies on our website to personalise ads, support social media features, and analyse our traffic. As this river of ice continues to change, ice caves are formed and can last for months, weeks, or only a matter of days before melting and collapsing. All rights reserved. Just Hanging out in a Mendenhall Ice Cave on the Glacier Canoe Paddle & trek! They can range in size from small, barely-squeeze-through tunnels to huge crane-your-neck-to-see-it-all caverns. schedule in each port. From colors like aqua to cobalt and sapphire, these caves will show you “50 Shades of Blue” (If you know what we mean). Offer subject to change without notice. Select your cruise ship and we’ll display only the tours that work with your There are scant few places where you can experience every stage of the water cycle at once. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a leisurely Sunday afternoon paddle though. You type “Alaska shore excursions” into google, trying to figure, If you’re heading to Alaska on an Inside Passage cruise, you know that it’s hard enough work even, Ziplines are popping up all over the place and Alaska is no exception. Update May 2020: The caves appear to have melted away for the time being, and maybe longer.Â. For more information about journeying through the Inside Passage! A rare chance to get up close and personal with a 13-mile ribbon of ice near downtown Juneau. It’s better to order a tour with an experienced guide (usually offered from July till September). The Mendenhall Glacier is a 13-mile-long river of flowing ice. Located a short 12 miles outside Alaska’s capital city of Juneau, the Mendenhall Ice Caves are ever-changing due to melting ice and glacier recession but an absolute wonder to explore. Thank you for commenting. Alaska Shore Tours donates 5% of profits to support Alaskan charities. For a full description of what an “ice cave” is, check out our “What’s the Deal with Glacier Ice Caves?” blog. Mendenhall Ice Caves The Mendenhall Glacier ice caves are among the world’s most stunning, with their eerie, swelling blue domes that resemble the underside of a rapid river, flash-frozen. Your guides on the Paddle & Trek will determine whether the caves are safe to enter. Juneau is situated at the base of the 3,819-foot Mount Roberts on Alaska’s Inside Passage. So, what are you waiting for? Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). The center is open year-round and receives close to 500,000 visitors each year, many coming by cruis… Pro-tip: stay alert for potentially numerous bald eagle sightings along the highway! Expert guides start off your adventure with a narrated ride to the Mendenhall … Mendenhall Ice Caves are the stunning blue ice caves within the Mendenhall Glacier, in the Mendenhall Valley, only 12 miles downtown Juneau in southeast Alaska. May 14, 2016 - Explore Jayden W's board "Mendenhall Ice Caves" on Pinterest. The network of cerulean ice caves is what makes Mendenhall Glacier so unique and special. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. As with the Mendenhall Glacier Trek, if open and accessible, your guide will let you experience the enchantment of the Mendenhall ice caves before continuing up to the top of the glacier. We will be cruising the Celebrity Millennium on July 2018 to Alaska and Juneau is our third port (jun 3). Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. No need to start purchasing your own ice trekking equipment yet, as we’ve got you covered with our Mendenhall Glacier tours in Juneau! In addition, you can also pair it with a whale watching tour or a Juneau city tour, or both! Or what if you’re content admiring the glacier from afar and want to take advantage of other popular attractions in Juneau? Review of Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. Here are the options: Even from a distance, the Mendenhall Glacier is a stunning sight to behold! Hi Jose! Want a more customized experience for your family or group with your own personal guide and more time to explore? Please give us a call at 844-626-9600 to speak with a reservations agent so that we may help you plan your ideal itinerary! Sadly, this Juneau glacier is retreating increasingly fast as climate change warms the ocean. Great weekend trip with Piriya, Nae, Pla and Ter! Add the fact that it’s also the state capital and you’ve suddenly got more things to see and do than time to take it all in – or do you? I simply couldn’t wrap my head around the ethereal beauty of the caves! On top of a sheet metal business in Juneau stand nearly a dozen charming Wizard of Oz statues. The Mendenhall Glacier Trek Tour gets you up close and personal with the glacier on this challenging, full-day hiking tour that can culminate right on the ice. Roberts Tram or enjoy a fresh king crab leg at Tracy’s King Crab Shack. We set out to look for the Mendenhall Glacier ice caves, which were apparently hard to locate. Watch the famous Nugget Falls grow in scale and grandeur as you paddle closer, passing icebergs with Arctic Terns perched atop like silent sentinels. The Mendenhall Glacier is a 12-mile-long glacier in the Mendenhall Valley, only 12 miles from downtown Juneau in southeast Alaska. Stretching to a length of 12 miles, this glacier is located in Mendenhall Valley. The Mendenhall Glacier has receded almost two miles since 1958, while previously it had receded only 0.5 miles since 1500. (Photo by Skip Gray) That said, accessing them is no easy feat. Traffic across Mendenhall Lake to and from the face of the Mendenhall Glacier and a nearby ice cave was heavy Feb. 16, 2019, just as it has been most weekends since freeze-up. Now I know you’re all thinking, how can I get a piece of this delightfully enchanting ice cave pie? Rated as one of our most strenuous tours, be ready for a full 8-hour day of hiking and glacier trekking. I took photo after photo, trying to capture the magic, and then paused, lowered my camera, and just stood in awe, marveling at the dynamic canvas before me, letting it all soak in (and trying not to think about the hundreds of pounds of ice suspended above me!). We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the world’s hidden wonders. Check. A stunning silver lining to global warming's gloomy cloud. It first formed in the Juneau Icefield, which is over 3,000 years old. Always changing, a unit of the Glacier, take a ride up the Mt the. Easily accessible as you can experience every stage of the Glacier & find features... Dubbed as one of the day potentially numerous bald eagle sightings along the!. 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