Mendenhall Glacier viewpoints and Glacier Bay cruises
Alaska's capital sits below the Juneau Icefield. Glacier Bay is a separate boat-and-flight destination accessed through Gustavus.
Alaska local guide · Draft
Juneau & Glacier Bay
Alaska's capital sits below the Juneau Icefield. Glacier Bay is a separate boat-and-flight destination accessed through Gustavus.
- Gateway towns
- Juneau & Glacier Bay
- Nearest major airport
- Juneau International (JNU); Ketchikan (KTN) and Sitka (SIT)
- Best months
- May–September
- Getting there
- Fly or ferry to Juneau; regional flights or seasonal ferry to Gustavus.
Overview
Alaska's capital sits below the Juneau Icefield. Glacier Bay is a separate boat-and-flight destination accessed through Gustavus.
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Highlights
Alaska's capital sits below the Juneau Icefield. Glacier Bay is a separate boat-and-flight destination accessed through Gustavus.
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Mountains
The local skyline shapes weather and access.
Juneau Icefield and Fairweather Range
Conditions range from valley walks to technical alpine terrain. Match the route to your experience and obtain local advice.
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State & National Parks
Protected lands have different access, camping and activity rules.
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Check the land manager's current visitor information before arranging travel.
Type: national park
Land manager: National Park Service
Permits: Confirm reservations, commercial operator permissions and backcountry requirements with the land manager.
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Hiking
Routes depend on weather, land access and seasonal conditions.
Perseverance Trail, Juneau
Carry navigation, rain layers and bear-safety equipment; confirm current trail or route conditions.
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: About 6 mi round trip
Access: Fly or ferry to Juneau; regional flights or seasonal ferry to Gustavus.
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Fishing
Species availability depends on the exact water, season and current closures.
Juneau coastal waters
Use current ADF&G sport-fishing regulations and emergency orders; listed species are not a guarantee of an open fishery.
Salmon · Halibut
Current ADF&G sport-fishing regulations and emergency orders
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Hunting
Hunting is location- and permit-specific; park and preserve rules differ.
Licenses and land access
Do not assume that public land allows sport hunting. Verify the precise unit, land designation and any permit before planning.
Game management unit: 1C / 4
Nonresidents: Nonresidents hunting brown/grizzly bear, Dall sheep or mountain goat need a licensed Alaska guide or an eligible Alaska-resident relative; nonresident aliens require a guide for all big game. Check current permits, seasons and emergency orders.
Seasons, permits and land restrictions change. Check current Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulations before planning a hunt.
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Four-Wheel Drive & Backroads
A four-wheel-drive vehicle does not create a right to drive off-road.
Roads and vehicle access
Juneau has local roads only; Glacier Bay has no through-road.
Conditions: Verify seasonal openings, washouts and land permissions.
Vehicle: Check rental exclusions; do not enter uncertain water crossings.
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Rafting & Paddling
Water trips require cold-water equipment and a realistic evacuation plan.
Glacier Bay sea kayaking; permit/orientation and tide planning
Glacier Bay sea kayaking; permit/orientation and tide planning
Difficulty: Reach- and weather-dependent; obtain local advice
Season: Generally summer; verify water levels, ice and operator schedules
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Wildlife
View wildlife without approaching, feeding or blocking travel routes.
Humpback whales, sea otters and mountain goats
Use binoculars and keep appropriate distance; bears may be encountered away from viewing sites.
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Camping
Confirm legal sites, reservations and food-storage requirements.
Bartlett Cove campground; confirm park orientation requirements
Facilities and seasons vary; pack out waste and store food securely away from wildlife.
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Other Activities
Local operators and cultural institutions offer different ways to explore.
Mendenhall Glacier viewpoints and Glacier Bay cruises
Confirm availability directly, and respect community guidance and access permissions.
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Access & Logistics
Allow extra time for weather and seasonal transport changes.
Getting there and around
Fly or ferry to Juneau; regional flights or seasonal ferry to Gustavus.
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Gallery
In pictures
Southeast / Inside Passage
More in this region
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Ketchikan is a fishing port and cultural hub on Revillagigedo Island. Misty Fjords' granite walls, lakes and rainforest lie east of town.
Prince of Wales Island
A large forested island with Haida and Tlingit communities, salmon streams and an extensive logging-road network.
Wrangell & Petersburg
Fishing towns beside the Stikine River delta and glacier-filled waterways of the central Inside Passage.
Sitka
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Haines & Skagway
Two northern Inside Passage ports connect Alaska's coast with highways through Canada, beneath steep coastal mountains.
Yakutat
Yakutat lies on the Gulf of Alaska beside enormous icefields, the Situk River and the traditional lands of the Yakutat Tlingit people.
