Rental cars are readily available at the Juneau airport, and lodging is plentiful during this typically quiet season. In about two hours, a flight from either Seattle or Anchorage whisks visitors to Juneau remember, this is one of two United States capital cities inaccessible by road (the other is Honolulu, HI). Additional Travel Info For Juneau, Alaska You don’t want to become stranded like this snowshoer in Washington or this one, who was lost for 50 hrs. Be prepared for an out-and-back trek, and take all necessary essentials like food, water, and extra clothing, as temperatures and weather can fluctuate without warning. Watch for signs of beaver activity, even in the winter, as North America’s largest rodent chews, then drags trees and branches toward waterlines. The Dredge Lakes trails travel several miles through post-glacial vegetation of willow, alder, and cottonwood forests. The trailhead is just behind the Tongass National Forest District offices along Glacier Spur Road. This system connects to other trails like Moose Lake, Old River, and the Moraine Ecology Trail. Those wanting a more extended snowshoe experience can try the Dredge Lakes trail system. Stay back at least 200 hundred yards, and heed all warning signs posted by USFS personnel. Likewise, with the glacier itself, as the formation is continuously shifting and could break off at any time. Note: Do be constantly aware of changing ice conditions! While icebergs may appear solidly encased in the lake’s frozen surface, they are indeed unstable and should be avoided. Even from several hundred yards, the glacier captures the landscape and is well worth the hike across the surface.īeautiful Mendenhall Lake. Once that happens, and the snow falls, the lake’s surface buzzes with skiers, snowshoers, and skaters eager to capture a few moments feeling tiny beneath Mendenhall’s crystalline face. The glacier itself empties into Mendenhall Lake, which generally freezes solid anywhere between November and December, depending upon the year. The glacier has retreated so much that many Juneau residents remember how old they were when the Mendenhall was visible from specific locations along the trail. Changes in the landscape are evident, even in the winter. The Trail of Time is a 0.7-mile (1.1 km) out-and-back trek that leads from the visitor center along the fringe of Mendenhall Lake. Forest Service Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center Provides Incredible Tourist Experience Go on a half-day tour, combo adventure experience, helicopter tour, or explore the city! More extensive guided tours of Mendenhall Glacier and the surrounding area of Juneau are also available if you’re interested. The Tongass National Forest Service staffs the facility to ensure the safety of all guests who venture out on trails or across the frozen lake. Also, the visitor center is a great place to check on trail conditions and is open all year. A small entrance fee provides access to exhibits, a bookstore, ranger information, and films about this mountain of ice. Here, you can sign up for a rambling tour of the glacier and learn a bit of history about its recent retreats. Photo: Erin Kirklandįirst, start by a trip to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, located at the end of Glacier Spur Road. Sometimes the fluff is too good to pass up (but it doesn’t happen too often in Southeast Alaska). But Southeast’s scenery and wild places easily cause one to forget about the damp, gloomy skies in favor of uncrowded trails and wide-open spaces to strap on snowshoes and take to the mountains. As such, weather patterns are often far from ideal for those used to fluffy powder and bluebird days for skiing or snowshoeing pursuits. This “panhandle” section of Alaska is located in a temperate rainforest. Typical winters in Juneau and the Mendenhall Valley can swing between snowy and rainy with a few days of brilliant sunshine intermixed.
Mendenhall Valley, Tongass National Forest Please see our disclosure for more details. Additionally, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. These proceeds help us pay for site maintenance and article contributions.
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Mendenhall Glacier takes up the entire landscape near Juneau, Alaska.
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