Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center

Wonderful hike from the visitor’s center, around Mendenhall Lake, and up to the glacier. The visitor’s center itself is a beautiful piece of architecture. And it is so interesting to see where the glacier used to be before climate change has made it recede.

Outstanding experience. The visitor center has lots of information and is staffed by knowledgeable park rangers who can answer any questions you may have. The glacier is visible from the visitor center and they have convenient telescopes so that you can see it up close. Plenty of picture taking opportunities. Short 2 mile round-trip hike will get you two nugget falls which is well worth the trip.

Wonderful spot. Lots of trails. Sometimes some of them are closed because of bears. The glacier, though landlocked, is impressive. There's also a very scenic waterfall there. If you're not a hiker there still a lot to see. There are great viewing areas right near the parking lot. The facilities are great as well, with flush toilet bathrooms and a big viewing deck at the visitor center.

Fantastic! Took the walk to Nugget Falls which took approximately 16 minutes each way. Car parking plentiful and easy to find! No one checks that you’ve paid, however would recommend doing so as it contributes to the upkeep of the park.

Nugget Falls has some fantastic picture opportunities and would 100% recommend visiting.

Incredible place, beautiful trails, I would highly recommend visiting this spot. We only had 4 hours as our cruise ship stopped in Juneau, but we got a tour off the dock with a local company, they were awesome! The tour was about 75usd each. Basically a narrated ride to the glacier visitors centre, and they drop you there and you can walk to the actual glacier. Definitely not to be missed if you go to Juneau!

The breathtaking view of the glacier leaves you in awe of the raw beauty of nature. As you stand before the massive ice formations and shimmering blue ice, you can't help but feel humbled by the grandeur of this glacial marvel.

Apart from the glacier itself, the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center houses a delightful museum that adds an educational touch to the visit. It's an excellent opportunity for kids to learn about the fascinating world of glaciers, their impact on the environment, and the unique wildlife that thrives in this icy ecosystem.

The accessibility features at Mendenhall Glacier ensure that everyone can enjoy this natural wonder. With handicap accessible paths and bathroom facilities, the needs of all visitors are well catered to, enhancing the experience for families and individuals with mobility challenges.

Exploring the surroundings of the glacier is a treat in itself. The lush greenery, scenic trails, and occasional wildlife sightings offer an immersive encounter with nature. It's a great way for kids to burn off some energy while staying connected to the great outdoors.
From its awe-inspiring views to its educational museum and family-friendly facilities, it's a place that fosters a deep appreciation for the natural world and creates cherished memories for families and adventurers alike.

Overall, Mendenhall Glacier is an enchanting destination that captivates the hearts of both young and old. Mendenhall Glacier is a true natural wonder that offers an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages, making it an ideal destination to explore with kids.

You can buy tickets right there if you want. If you have a park's pass it would cover you anyway. Seeing the glacier was amazing as well as the lake around it, but we got to see super blue ice and they even had a piece of the glacier inside of the visitor center that you could touch. There is a great viewpoint out the back of the visitor center on a deck where you can take some awesome photos. There are trails that you can take all around. We did not take the trails because of mobility issues, but there is an elevator right into the visitor center for accessibility if you need to and accessible parking very close by. The museum inside is really great at helping you understand how the glaciers changed over even the last 10 years all the way back to more than that and understanding the effects. There is also a short movie I want to say like 18 minutes long you can watch. My whole family enjoyed it. Ranging an age from 12 up to seniors so it was a great place to go in Alaska. We didn't take a tour bus. We took a rental car so that we could go as much or as little as we wanted.

We loved this place! Our cruise stopped at Juneau and we took a combo tour including the glacier. Absolutely stunning! Make sure you check out the salmon in the stream going to spawn. You may or may not see a bear, but it is still worth it. We paid for a tour but you can go individually and an annual national Park pass will be accepted there

Very impressive scenery, nice visitor's center. Look forward to future visit so we can actually get on the glacier (that hike was outside our cruise excursion window).

Beautiful experience! Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area. Something to do when the cruise ships are not in town And the weather is not too great. No crowds!

We had a limited amount of time here during a combo ship excursion and had a fantastic little hike to Nugget Falls. Highly recommend. Easy and beautiful walk and a one of a kind experience. Took us about 40 mins there and back, with a few stops to take photos.

If you are in Juneau go here and do the short walk to the falls. Leave food in your car so the bears don't eat you. Small backpack with some water a camera and some layers. NO FOOD

We drove out to the glacier in a private vehicle with ample parking. After using the public bathrooms, my friend and I utilized the elevators to enter the visitor's center, which looked out over the glacier and lended way to the various walking paths/hikes. The visitor's center has many exhibits about the glacier with videos, pictures, and dioramas of the glacier's changes over the years. If you can secure private transportation, it is much cheaper than an excursion with less waiting. I might even be willing to take some people there myself for a small fee. 😆

Went as part of a tour. The views were amazing and, even in the rain, the hikes were well worth it. Not too hard but leave enough time for the hike you want to make.

Mendenhall Glacier is a must see in Juneau. The trail to nugget falls is less than a mile and super easy to walk. It is worth the time to go to the falls. The trail takes you right up to the base. The sad thing is that this glacier is visibly smaller than it was when I saw it in 2019.

This place is tranquil and beautiful to see. We didn’t get much time in the visitors center but we walked out to the falls. There were other things we’d have liked to do we musta didn’t have that much time but this was still a cool visit.

We took the excursion to the site from our cruise ship. The visitor center is very nice inside and they have a short film that talks about the history of the glacier and the area.
The beautiful Mendenhall Glacier (in Tlingit language “Sít”) is a glacier about 13 miles long located in Mendenhall Valley, about 12 miles from downtown Juneau, Alaska. The glacier and surrounding landscape is a protected part of the Tongass National Forest.
The glacier was awe inspiring on both land and from our cruise ship. We could hear cracking a few times and saw a small piece fall into the water. It truly is a breathtaking sight to see!

Came here as part of an excursion and initially I was disappointed. Disappointed because I can tell from global warming that this glacier is not what it used to be. I wish I was able to see it many years ago when It was much bigger. After thinking about this, I reflected that this is a once a in lifetime opportunity as someone visiting Alaska.

There is a short hike that will provide great photo opportunities. Bring a zoom/telephoto lens. There’s also a longer hike that bring you to a waterfall and even closer to the glacier. Due to time constraints we couldn’t make the longer hike.

Definitely worth checking out when visiting Juneau.

Really great visitor center. My family really appreciated the elevator entry. Beautiful views from the panoramic windows. Very informative free movie plays every 15 minutes or so. Adequate gift shop. Educational displays. Well worth a visit, once you can get to it again.

The short hike to Nugget Falls was beautiful, and the trail was well paved. The visitor center could easily be twice the size. It was so busy. Missed the movie but heard it was worth seeing.