Activities in Juneau
-
A
Perseverance Trail
Perseverance Trail off Basin Rd is Juneau's most popular city center trail and provides access to two other popular treks: Mt Juneau Trail and Granite Creek Trail. Together, this system of trails can be combined into a rugged 10-hour walk for hardy hikers, or an overnight excursion into the mountains surrounding Alaska's capital city.
To reach Perseverance Trail, take 6th St one block southwest to Gold St, which turns into Basin Rd, a dirt road that curves away from the city into the mountains as it follows Gold Creek. The trailhead is at the road's end, at the parking lot for Last Chance Mining Museum. The trail leads into Silverbow Basin, an old mining area that still h…
reviewed
-
B
Mt Roberts Trail
Mt Roberts Trail is a 4-mile climb up Mt Roberts that begins at a marked wooden staircase at the northeast end of 6th St. It starts with a series of switchbacks, then breaks out of the trees at Gastineau Peak and comes to the tram station. From here it's a half-mile to the Cross, where you'll have good views of Juneau, Douglas and the entire Gastineau Channel. The Mt Roberts summit (3819ft) is still a steep climb away through the alpine brush.
If you hike up, you can ride down the Mt Roberts Tramway to S Franklin St for only around US$5. And if you purchase around US$5 worth of food or drink at the visitors center on top, the ride down is free.
This trail near the internat…
reviewed
-
C
West Glacier Trail
West Glacier Trail is one of the most spectacular hikes in the Juneau area. The 3.4-mile trail begins off Montana Creek Rd past Mendenhall Lake Campground and hugs the mountainside along the glacier, providing exceptional views of the icefalls and other glacial features. It ends at a rocky outcropping, but a rough route continues from there to the summit of Mt McGinnis (4228ft), another 2 miles away.
Allow five hours for the West Glacier Trail, or plan on a long day if you want to tackle the difficult Mt McGinnis route.
The moderate West Glacier Trail begins off Montana Creek Rd and hugs the mountainside along the glacier. With incredible blue-ice views, it is one very spe…
reviewed
-
Oliver Inlet
On Admiralty Island's northeast coast is Oliver Inlet State Marine Park. A 0.8-mile portage tramway connects the inlet to scenic Seymour Canal, known for one of the world's greatest concentrations of nesting bald eagles and a large population of brown bears. Seals, sea lions and whales also spend the summer feeding in the canal. The paddle to Oliver Inlet is 18 miles and involves crossing Stephens Passage, a challenging open-water crossing (for experienced kayakers only).
At the south end of the portage tram from Oliver Inlet is the state's Seymour Canal Cabin, which rents for around US$25 a night and can be reserved through the DNR Public Information Center. To avoid the…
reviewed
-
D
NorthStar Trekking
The hottest tour in Juneau is a helicopter ride to the Juneau Ice Field for a 20-minute ride in the basket of a dogsled. These tours last less than two hours and are around US$400 a pop but when the weather is nice people - primarily cruise-ship passengers - are waiting to hand over their money. On the NorthStar Trekking tour you can skip the dogsled and strap on the crampons. NorthStar offers several glacier treks that first begin with a helicopter ride and includes all equipment and training.
On its four-hour glacier trek (around US$340), you cross two miles of frozen landscape riddled with crevasses and the hike is as stunning as it gets.
reviewed
-
Windfall Lake Trail
Montana Creek Trail and Windfall Lake Trail connect at Windfall Lake and can be combined for an interesting 11½-mile overnight hiking trip. It is easier to begin at the trailhead at Montana Creek and follow the Windfall Lake Trail out to the Glacier Hwy. The 3½-mile Windfall Lake Trail begins off a gravel spur that leaves the Glacier Hwy just before it crosses Herbert River, 27 miles northwest of Juneau.
The trail has been improved considerably in recent years and now features the newest USFS cabin in the Juneau area. Windfall Lake Cabin sleeps six and is open as a warming shelter during the day.
reviewed
-
E
Temsco Helicopters
The hottest tour in Juneau is a helicopter ride to the Juneau Ice Field for a 20-minute ride in the basket of a dogsled. These tours last less than two hours and are around US$400 a pop but when the weather is nice people - primarily cruise-ship passengers - are waiting to hand over their money. Temsco Helicopters has a mushing and glacier flightseeing tour (around US$410) which lasts 1½ hours and lands at a dog camp on Denver Glacier.
The company also has a 55-minute Mendenhall Glacier tour (around US$200) that includes 25 minutes' walking around high up on the glacier.
reviewed
-
F
Alaska Travel Adventures
Offers a 1½-hour tour to Last Chance Mining Museum with gold panning in Gold Creek but you don't have to join a tour to pan, not even in Gold Creek. Recreational panning is easy and any hardware store in Juneau will sell you a gold pan for far less (black plastic ones are the cheapest and easiest to see the flecks of gold).
The best public creeks to pan are Bullion Creek in the Treadwell Mine area, Gold Creek up by the Last Chance Basin, Sheep Creek on Thane Rd, and Salmon, Nugget and Eagle Creeks off Egan Dr and Glacier Hwy north of downtown.
reviewed
-
G
Era Helicopters
The hottest tour in Juneau is a helicopter ride to the Juneau Ice Field for a 20-minute ride in the basket of a dogsled. These tours last less than two hours and are around US$400 a pop but when the weather is nice people - primarily cruise-ship passengers - are waiting to hand over their money. On the Era Helicopters tour you spend an hour on Middle Branch Glacier as part of its glacier dogsled adventure (around US$410).
For something more affordable, book its hourlong, four-glacier tour (around US$230) that includes a 20-minute glacier landing.
reviewed
-
H
Sheep Creek Trail
SE of Juneau along Thane Rd, is a scenic 3-mile walk into the valley south of Mt Roberts. The trailhead is 4 miles from Juneau, at a staircase on the gravel spur to a Snettisham Power Plant substation. The trail is fairly flat in the Valley, from where you scramble up forested hillsides to the alpine zone. Once above tree line, many hikers follow the power line to reach the ridge to Sheep Mountain (4238ft).
You can continue from Sheep Mountain over Mt Roberts, returning to Juneau along the Mt Roberts Trail. This is a 10- to 12-hour day hike.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Amalga Trail
Amalga Trail, also known as the Eagle Glacier Trail, is a level route that winds 7½ miles to the lake formed by Eagle Glacier and the Eagle Glacier Cabin. Less than a mile from the glacier's face, the view from the cabin is well worth the effort of reserving it in advance. The trailhead is beyond the Glacier Hwy bridge, across Eagle River, 0.4 miles past the trailhead for the Herbert Glacier Trail.
Plan on a round-trip of seven to eight hours to reach the impressive Eagle Glacier and return to the trailhead, a round-trip of 15 miles.
reviewed
-
Blue Mussel Cabin
This is one of three rental cabins in Point Bridget State Park. Blue Mussel Cabin is a 3.4-mile walk, overlooks the shoreline and would make a great destination for kayakers. Make a reservation through the DNR Public Information Center (www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/cabins).
The cabin is within 30 minutes' flying time from Juneau; air charters such as Alaska Seaplane Service and Wings of Alaska will cost around US$500 round-trip from Juneau, split among a planeload of up to five passengers.
reviewed
-
Camping Cove Cabin
This is one of three rental cabins in Point Bridget State Park. Camping Cove Cabin is a 4-mile trek, overlooks the shoreline and would make a great destination for kayakers. Make a reservation through the DNR Public Information Center (www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/cabins).
The cabin is within 30 minutes' flying time from Juneau; air charters such as Alaska Seaplane Service and Wings of Alaska will cost around US$500 round-trip from Juneau, split among a planeload of up to five passengers.
reviewed
-
Berners Bay
At the western end of Glacier Hwy, 40 miles from Juneau, is Echo Cove, where kayakers put in for paddles in the protected waters of Berners Bay. The bay, which extends 12 miles north to the outlets of the Antler, Lace and Berners Rivers, is ideal for an overnight trip or longer excursions up Berners River. The delightful USFS Berners Bay Cabin (NRRS: 877-444-6777) is an 8-mile paddle from Echo Cove. Alaska Boat & Kayak charges around US$120 for kayak transportation out to Echo Cove.
reviewed
-
I
Princess Tours
Offers a 1½-hour tour to Mendenhall Glacier (around US$19) and a three-hour Mendenhall Glacier & Salmon Hatchery Tour (adult/child around US$37/around US$27). Another offering from Princess is its unique Historic Juneau Gold Mine Tour, which visits the remains of the Alaska Gastineau Mine and its mill (adult/child around US$59/around US$35). The three-hour tour heads underground via a conveyer tunnel to explore the mill ruins and ends with a little gold panning.
reviewed
-
West Turner Lake Cabin
West Turner Lake Cabin is one of the most scenic and is by far the Juneau area's most popular cabin. It's 18 miles east of Juneau on the west end of Turner Lake, where the fishing is good for trout, Dolly Varden and salmon. A skiff is provided.
The cabin is within 30 minutes' flying time from Juneau; air charters such as Alaska Seaplane Service and Wings of Alaska will cost around US$500 round-trip from Juneau, split among a planeload of up to five passengers.
reviewed
-
Admiralty Cove Cabin
Admiralty Island's north end has three popular cabins, all around US$35 a night. Admiralty Cove Cabin is on a scenic bay and has access to Young Lake along a rough 4½-mile trail. Brown bears frequent the area.
The cabin is within 30 minutes' flying time from Juneau; air charters such as Alaska Seaplane Service and Wings of Alaska will cost around US$500 round-trip from Juneau, split among a planeload of up to five passengers.
reviewed
-
J
Nugget Creek Trail
Nugget Creek Trail begins just beyond the East Glacier Loop's scenic lookout. The 2½-mile trail climbs 500ft to Vista Creek Shelter, a free-use shelter that doesn't require reservations, making the round-trip to the shelter from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center an 8-mile trek. Hikers who plan to spend the night at the shelter can continue along the creek toward Nugget Glacier, though the route is hard to follow at times.
reviewed
-
K
Montana Creek Trail
Montana Creek Trail and Windfall Lake Trail connect at Windfall Lake and can be combined for an interesting 11½-mile overnight hiking trip. It is easier to begin at the trailhead at Montana Creek and follow the Windfall Lake Trail out to the Glacier Hwy. The 8-mile Montana Creek Trail, known for its high concentration of bears, begins near the end of Montana Creek Rd, 2 miles from its junction with Mendenhall Loop Rd.
reviewed
-
Taku Inlet
This waterway is an excellent four- to five-day paddling trip with close views of Taku Glacier. Total paddling distance is 30 to 40 miles, depending on how far you travel up the inlet. It does not require any major crossing, though rounding Point Bishop can be rough at times. It is possible to camp at Point Bishop and along the grassy area southwest of the glacier, where brown bears are occasionally seen.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
L
Treadwell Ditch Trail
Treadwell Ditch Trail can be picked up either a mile up the Dan Moller Trail or just above D St in Douglas. The trail stretches 12 miles north from Douglas to Eagle Crest, although most people begin in Douglas and hike to the Dan Moller Trail and then return to the road, a 5-mile trip. The path is rated as easy and provides views of Gastineau Channel as it winds through scenic muskeg meadows.
reviewed
-
M
Cycling, Driftwood Lodge
Cycling, Driftwood Lodge rents basic mountain bikes. Bike paths run between Auke Bay, Mendenhall Glacier and downtown, and from the Juneau-Douglas Bridge to Douglas. Pick up a route guide at the Centennial Hall's main visitors center. Because most of Juneau's trails are steep, mountain biking is limited, but the Windfall Lake and Peterson Lake trails are popular with off-road cyclists.
reviewed
-
Young Lake Cabins
The two Young Lake Cabins have skiffs to access a lake with good fishing for cutthroat trout and landlocked salmon. A lakeshore trail connects the two cabins.
The cabin is within 30 minutes' flying time from Juneau; air charters such as Alaska Seaplane Service and Wings of Alaska will cost around US$500 round-trip from Juneau, split among a planeload of up to five passengers.
reviewed
-
N
Peterson Lake Trail
Peterson Lake Trail is a 4-mile route along Peterson Creek to its namesake lake, a favorite among hike-in anglers for the good Dolly Varden fishing. The trailhead is 20ft before the Mile 24 marker on Glacier Hwy, north of the Shrine of St Terese. Wear rubber boots, as it can be muddy during the summer. The Peterson Lake Cabin turns this trail into a delightful overnight adventure.
reviewed
-
Dan Moller Trail
Dan Moller Trail is a 3.3-mile trail leads to an alpine bowl at the crest of Douglas Island, where you'll find the Dan Moller Cabin. Just across the channel in West Juneau, the public bus conveniently stops at Cordova St in West Juneau and from there, you turn left onto Pioneer Ave and follow it to the end of the pavement to the trailhead. Plan on six hours for the round-trip.
reviewed
