Mendenhall Glacier
Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, Tongass National Forest · Juneau, Alaska
A river of ice about 13 miles long flowing down from the Juneau Icefield into Mendenhall Lake, 12 miles from downtown Juneau, and one of the most visited sights in Alaska. From the visitor centre, opened in 1962 as the first built by the US Forest Service, short trails lead to Photo Point, to the 377-foot Nugget Falls beside the ice, and along Steep Creek, where black bears fish for sockeye salmon in late summer. The glacier has retreated sharply over the past century, and icebergs calve into the lake. Each summer meltwater trapped in Suicide Basin above the glacier can burst out underneath it, flooding the lake, the river and even trails near the visitor centre. In summer 2026 the visitor centre charged $5 for ages 16 and over and was open 9 AM-6 PM daily. Juneau has no road link to the rest of Alaska, so visitors arrive by ship or plane.
8510 Mendenhall Loop Road, Juneau, Alaska, 99801, United States
Visitor centre: summer (May-September 2026) daily 9 AM-6 PM; winter (November-March) Friday and Saturday 10 AM-4 PM, closed federal holidays. Trails and viewpoints are open daily. Suicide Basin floods can close trails near the lake in summer (check juneauflood.org).
Mendenhall Glacier on Spottos · Explore more places on Spottos