Permits Explained
📋 USFS Special Use Permits
🎫 What Is It?
A Special Use Permit is formal U.S. Forest Service authorization required for any business operating commercially inside the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area — shuttles, taxis, helicopters, and guided water tours all need one.
🚫 Why So Few Operators?
Permit numbers are capped following an environmental review. Currently only two companies hold shuttle bus permits for the cruise-dock-to-glacier route.
💵 How It Affects Price
Capped supply against rapidly rising visitor demand is a major driver behind current $79–$83 shuttle pricing and $433+ helicopter tour pricing.
📍 A Separate Entry Fee
The $5 Visitor Center pass (May 1–Sept 30) is a separate USFS fee, not a permit — most shuttle tickets already include it.
Nearly every commercial vehicle, tour, and guide operating inside the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area does so under a USFS Special Use Permit. Understanding how this system works explains why transportation options are limited, why prices have risen in recent years, and why booking ahead matters more than it used to. As visitor numbers have climbed from roughly 860,000 in 2010 to over 1.7 million in 2025, that same capped permit system has come under growing pressure — which is the real story behind rising shuttle, taxi, and tour prices.
Visitor Center Entry Fees
| Pass Type | Price | Notes |
|---|
| Day Pass | $5 / person | Required May 1 – Sept 30 |
| Season Pass | $15 | Covers holder + 1 guest, valid all season |
| Age 15 & Under | Free | No pass required |
Checking if a company is actually permitted: The Forest Service publishes an official list of every business currently authorized to operate guided tours within the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area at
fs.usda.gov →. Worth checking directly if you want to confirm a company you're considering is legitimately authorized.
Permits: The Deep Dive
Why can't I just book any tour company I find? +
Only companies holding a valid USFS Special Use Permit can legally operate inside the Recreation Area. Booking with an unpermitted operator isn't just a quality risk — that operator legally cannot guarantee you entry.
Is this why Uber and Lyft can't drive to the Visitor Center? +
Yes. Standard rideshare drivers do not carry the commercial Special Use Permit required to enter the Recreation Area, which is why they can only drop passengers at the boundary rather than the Visitor Center itself. See our
Taxi & Rideshare guide for the full breakdown.
Will permit limits get tighter over time? +
Visitor numbers have more than doubled in the last 15 years while the number of permitted shuttle operators has stayed at two. If that trend continues, expect continued upward pressure on pricing and availability rather than more operators being added.
Does the $5 entry fee count as a permit? +
No — the $5 (or $15 season) pass is a separate visitor entry fee charged directly by the Forest Service. Special Use Permits are a completely different authorization held by the businesses themselves, not by individual visitors.
Local Team — On the Ground
Questions About Permits or Booking?
Our Juneau-based team can help you confirm an operator is legitimately permitted before you book.