Don't let outdated information ruin your port day. We provide the real-time logistics for Juneau's #1 destination — the Mendenhall Glacier.
Mendenhall Glacier is one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders in North America — and it deserves better than the outdated, conflicting, and often misleading information that floods the internet. We built this guide because we were tired of watching cruise passengers arrive in Juneau confused, rushed, and missing out on the full experience because they couldn't find clear, honest answers.
This site is locally owned in Juneau. We are not affiliated with any cruise line or government agency. Our only goal is to give you the most accurate, up-to-date, and unbiased information possible so you can make the right decision for you and your group — whether that's a $79 shuttle or a $600 helicopter landing on the icefield.
This guide is free to use and always will be. If it helped you plan a better port day, the single best way to support it is simple — book your tours through the links and Viator widgets on this page. When you book through our links, we earn a small referral commission from Viator at absolutely no extra cost to you. The price you pay is identical whether you book through us or go directly — but your booking through our link helps us keep this guide updated, accurate, and free for the next cruise passenger who needs it.
Found a tour you love on this page? Book it right here using our Viator widget — same price, same tour, and you'll be supporting a locally owned Juneau guide over big cruise ship corporations.
Browse All Mendenhall Tours on Viator →Six distinct ways to reach Mendenhall Glacier — from budget-friendly shuttles to helicopter landings on the icefield. Choose your style.
From gold mining road to record-breaking retreat — understanding the glacier's history helps explain why getting there looks the way it does today.
The first road to the glacier was built not for tourism, but to support Juneau's booming gold mining operations and hydroelectric infrastructure along Nugget Creek. Access was industrial, not recreational.
The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center opened — becoming the first visitor center in the entire U.S. National Forest System. It was originally designed to accommodate just 23,000 visitors per year.
By 1997, the Visitor Center built for 23,000 people was hosting over 400,000 visitors annually. A major renovation and expansion was completed to handle the surge in cruise-driven tourism.
Visitor numbers surpassed 1.7 million, forcing strict Forest Service permit limits on shuttle operators. Then in November 2025, the glacier officially retreated from Mendenhall Lake for the first time in recorded history.
The journey to Mendenhall Glacier is often confusing because much of the information online is outdated, anecdotal, or just plain wrong. Our mission is to provide you with a single, clear, and modern guide so you can make confident decisions — and spend more time standing in front of one of the world's most accessible glaciers.