ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-110627040', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');rent a car from Juneau Car Rentals (office located at the AJ dock) during a Juneau port stop. We (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Pay dirt is guaranteed and you keep what you find! The force of gravity pulls the glacier downhill. MENDENHALL GLACIER - 2023 All You Need to Know BEFORE You - Tripadvisor Mendenhall Glacier Shuttle Service, Roundtrip from Juneau 2023 - Viator We saw the Mendenhall glacier from a distance which was a disappointment. The city bus drops visitors a mile and a half from the Visitor Center. Wish you could get closer to them. from $146.00. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Truly amazing . Allen Marine Tours, Juneau: Address, Phone Number, Allen Marine Tours Reviews: 5/5. 2. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. If you visit between the first of May and the end of September, you will need to pay the $5 admission fee in order to walk along the Photo Point Trail. The bus does not make a stop directly at the dock or at the Visitor Center. Only a couple of very mild rapids. Mendenhall Glacier's Visitor Center features enormous windows that offer a panoramic view of the glacier. And out of Sitka the room was a little overheated for how we were all dressed but excellent viewing opportunities and information in general I would highly recommend them. The Glacier Shuttle is a quick and convenient way to travel to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors' Center. To some people, the idea of going to Mendenhall Glacier by bus is a ridiculous idea that shouldnt even be considered. Our guide worked hard to ensure we had a good trip. Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center - traveljuneau.com Nugget Falls, at the end of Nugget Creek, flows into Mendenhall Lake. See historic hotels and saloons, State Capitol Building, the Governors Mansion, City and State Museum, you may want to hop off for an hour or more at the State Museum andhop back on. I didn't go in. Several other trails offer opportunities to view the glacier and the wildlife of Alaska's Tongass National Forest. The driver was friendly and informative. Posted July 16, 2008. Public bus to Mendenhall Glacier from Juneau cruise port on your own I prefer to avoid cruise ship tours. Port transport from Juneau included. There are several Cruise Ship terminals in the downtown area. The blue bus driver asked for a voucher which we didnt have due to booking online and the driver didnt believe us. as long as you like (entry fee is included) Be sure you dont miss the last Red Trolley pick up for the day because after the Salmon Hatchery we will make a brief stop at the New Life-size Breaching Whale statue and fountain! WHAT TO WEAR HIKING, 2023 Flashpacking America | US outdoor travel blog, Juneau icefield seaplane tour + Taku Glacier Lodge salmon bake, totem poles in Sitka National Historical Park, basic binoculars for wildlife watching on glacier sea days, The Blue Bus transportation to Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau icefield seaplane + Taku Glacier Lodge salmon bake, Klondike Highway to Fraser BC + White Pass summit train, Helicopter + glacier walk to see blue ice, Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness seaplane + wilderness landing, Sitka National Historical Park totem poles. Unhurried trip through spectacular scenery. Fountain at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park in Downtown Juneau! Thanks for the blog post with pictures, Nikki. One of these goes clockwise and the other counterclockwise around the Mendenhall Loop Road. Cant count on the bus driver to be on time picking up from the glacier. You will not receive a refund if you cancel. This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. Local musicians, roast marshmallows stroll to Salmon Falls and explore the remnants of the Wagner Mine. The trail to Nugget Falls branches off from Mendenhall Glacier's Photo Point Trail and takes you to the foot of the waterfall. I walked the trails at a relatively leisurely pace and spent a little bit of time at Nugget Falls, and I had around 1.5 hours in Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. This tour requires a minimum number of passengers. $80 per person Duration 2 1/2 hours 2 Passenger Minimum. Cut-off times are based on the experiences local time. You can buy shuttle tickets easily when you arrive at the Juneau cruise port. See the Red Dog Saloon, Capital building. Duration: 00:30 (Approx.) In Sitka, you can see totem poles in Sitka National Historical Park on your own. The knowledgeable guides will narrate about historic Juneau, gold mining and wildlife on your drive to and from the Glacier. BIG ISLAND 773 reviews #3 of 84 things to do in Juneau Points of Interest & Landmarks Geologic Formations Visit website Call Write a review About Mendenhall Glacier is one of the most beautiful and accessible glaciers in the U.S., loved for its dazzling blue glacial ice that stretches for 13.6 miles. When you get to Mendenhall Glacier . HELLO to our friends flying in and cruising in. The wheelchair-accessible Photo Point Trail is 0.3 miles long. Donning hard hats, the tour proceeds along a boardwalk into a 360 foot-long tunnel. There is a $5 entrance fee for 16 & over at the visitor center during summer months (May 1 to September 30) when the visitor center is open from 8:00am-7:30pm daily. Most definitely worth every excursion penny spent, this was an excellent couple of hours, getting really up close to the incredible glacier as well as seeing sea lions up close and going through the ice field near the glacier in a way our cruise liner couldnt. If its canceled due to poor weather, youll be offered a different date or a full refund. The national forest service imposes a five dollar fee for entry into the visitor center but that fee is included in the cost of your tour. Expedia offers one-of-a-kind activities that allow you to explore Juneau your way. I bought return tickets here to save buying them on the way back. Family friendly adventure! While at the glacier be sure to visit the glacier visitor Center building and Gift Shop. You'll find whale watching, local art and music, more, Fresh food from the ocean to the table, craft breweries, gin & whiskey, food tours. THEODORE ROOSEVELT ND BADLANDS SD Experience this unique city tour of Downtown Juneau with our costumed guides. Best of all, it offers a marvelous view of Mendenhall Lake, Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls. YOU decide when you go and return! Also on this tour you will get to meet "Thaku" the amazing life size Breaching Whale Statue in Fountain at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park in Downtown Juneau! If you have aFederal Recreation Lands Senior pass, you will not need to pay the fee. We had a fantastic time on the tour. The Blue Bus Glacier Express Is a fully narrated trip to the Mendenhall Glacier 4 See all photos BEST SELLER The Blue Bus Glacier Express Is a fully narrated trip to the Mendenhall Glacier By M&M Tours of Juneau 63 reviews Lowest price guarantee Reserve now & pay later Free cancellation Ages 0-100, max of 40 per group Duration: 1-8 hours So much still to see! Go when you are ready and return before last Blue Bus!! The scenery was beautiful and we had a wonderful guide. not considered great value for cost. The Blue Bus Glacier Express Is a fully narrated trip to the Mendenhall Glacier. There is staff there that help those in need. The easiest way to get to Mendenhall Glacier from the cruise ship is to take an excursion organized by your cruise ship. I went to the ticket booth to inquire about whether I would be able to get a one-way shuttle ticket. We could have made it if we went straight to Mendenhall but we actually did do the City tour. Jump to content. Families, couples, and business travelers can all find the perfect activity in Juneau to create life-long memories with the help of Expedia. This powder flows into lakes and rivers along with the water that melts from the glacier. Book a Tour Mendenhall Glacier Shuttle Comfortable shuttle service to Juneau's #1 natural attraction. No, they do not sell one-way shuttle tickets. Saturday, It can help you with locating the bus stop, and it can also help you figure out the bus timings. The bus stop closest to the Juneau cruise port to the bus stop closest to the Mendenhall Glacier will be around 45 minutes. I think I'll take MGT Tours by the pier to the glacier. Friday, This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. The company runs scheduled shuttles if you want to linger. YOU decide when you go and return! Nature and Wildlife Tours. BRYCE CANYON UT Highly recommend this your. Funny and courteous. There are NO timed tickets! Nancy Parode is a freelance travel writer who has lived abroad three times. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. . You can catch a bus to Mendenhall Glacier from the downtown transit center., This may be around a 10 minute walk from your cruise ship. But our guide Josh was fantastic and made the trip really enjoyable. From downtown: 12 miles. Photo Point Trail, Nugget Falls Trail, Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center overlook, 5pm: started walking to bus stop to go back to cruise port, 5:35pm: got on bus back to downtown Juneau and cruise port. City tour part rather uneventful.. More Alaska cruise ports on your own: In Ketchikan, you can take a bus to Totem Bight State Historical Park on your own! One of the things youll learn during your Alaska cruise is how glaciers are continually retreating (moving back), and we were walking in ice-free areas that were completely covered in ice just a few years ago! Our tour guide Kenny was awful.. off color jokes & self promoting his CDs & photos. There is a bus stop that is kind of near the Juneau cruise port, and from there, youll take a direct bus to get you close to the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. See a clan house, totems and hear totemic history. We call that the Anytime Express. Mendenhall Glacier lies just 12 miles from downtown Juneau, Alaska, which explains its popularity. Mendenhall Glacier from Hal cruise dock?? The bus was not a first class coach but the price was not a first class price. $30 plus sales tax @ 5%. Re: Getting to Mendenhall Glacier on own? Once the buses start arriving, we head out to other areas to explore. Get to know #JuneauFlavor! Mendenhall Glacier is one of the most beautiful and accessible glaciers in the U.S., loved for its dazzling blue glacial ice that stretches for 13.6 miles. Allen Marine Tours. Beautiful views. (map), Your ultimate destination is the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and it is on google maps. ( A 5% Sales Tax Will Be Added in the Cart ), Adults$45 / Kids (under 12 years) $35 roundtrip. Getting to Mendenhall Glacier on own? - Juneau Forum It was beautiful, along with nugget Falls. Alaska Glacier Cruises: Best Alaska Glaciers Vacation | Royal Caribbean BOOK NOW or Call 907-500-5186 for booking and availability. And the most difficult way to get to Mendenhall Glacier (because of all the walking) is to go by bus on your own. Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews, Riveting River Ride w/ Momentous Mountain & Glacier Views, Juneau Shore Excursion: Mendenhall Glacier Trek, Juneau Shore Excursion: Mendenhall Glacier Canoe, Paddle, and Trek, Historic Gold Panning Adventure & Salmon Bake, Historic Gold Mining and Panning Adventure, Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau Highlights and Mendenhall Glacier Tour. 1 year ago Save Alaska cruise next year. Be sure to bring a camera for the stop on Douglas Island's panoramic view of Juneau against the snowcapped mountains and your cruise ship. Thats where youll find the best view of the Mendenhall Glacier! It was a much better price compared to the cruise ship. He was so much fun! . Our guide, Adam, was excellent: informative, knowledgeable, and always made us feel safe. 6:20pm: arrived at downtown Juneau bus stop, walk back to Juneau cruise port! GRAND TETON WY So whether Mendenhall Glacier is reasonable to go by bus will depend on how much youre willing to walk. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-110626212', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise next year. Hurry up and wait. It was a canoe on the lake (you will be paddling! M & M Tours Limited is an equal opportunity employer. Started about 45 min late. Marvel at majestic humpback whales in the company of a naturalist guide, and select from a range of trails to . TROLLEY NOT AVAILABLE - Combine "The Blue Bus" and "The Red Trolley and see it all! What time is the evening whale quest offered? if your ship is arriving before 10:30am, you can choose a departure time that is 30 minutes after your arrival. HALEAKALA HI The cheapest way to get to Mendenhall Glacier is by bus. Juneau is bear country. 773 reviews #3 of 84 things to do in Juneau Points of Interest & Landmarks Geologic Formations Visit website Call Write a review About Mendenhall Glacier is one of the most beautiful and accessible glaciers in the U.S., loved for its dazzling blue glacial ice that stretches for 13.6 miles. M&M staff was very accommodating. Depending on how fast or slow you walk, this means that you may be walking 30 to 40 minutes one way to get to and from the bus stop. Juneau's Premier Whale Watching! Planning on doing it August 1 on a NCL cruise but I cannot see what the start and end times are of it and Allen Marine won't tell me (they just said book direct with the cruise line except I haven't booked it yet!). shuttle ticket seller: Why would you do that? Combine this fantastic tour with the Whale Watching Tour and save!! You want a little mist when you visit the Misties! White water was weak . 3. seals, porpoise, eagles, waterfalls, glaciers and the historic Eldred Rock.. $35 per person - Runs once an hour (15 minutes past the hour). SOUTH DAKOTA Just how steep is it? the guide was a student from Minnesota and really enjoyed his job. So for example, here is how my Mendenhall Glacier afternoon went: Once you arrive at the Mendenhall Glacier parking lot, you will be on your way to do Photo Point Trail and Nugget Falls Trail! (Add 1 hour for each Hop Off). There are also two private tour companies that offer shuttle bus service between Juneau's cruise dock and the glacier, M&M Tours of Juneau, and Juneau Tours. 01 of 03 hi mochatacoma do you know exactly how far the water falls are from the visitor center? Could have provided a better experience if bus was better equipped to un-fog windows. Mendenhall Glacier - worth it? - Page 2 - Alaska - Cruise Critic We saw lots of bald eagles, even a nest. Youre welcome Sam. A glacier forms when the snow pack does not entirely melt away, but is instead compressed by additional snow accumulation. 2023 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. It is a prime example of a receding glacier it is said to recede up to 150 ft per year. 3. Shuttles were packed and we missed one due to overcrowding and needed to wait for the next. Snacks and drinks were supposed to be included and there was nothing of the sort when we finished our float trip. Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Tour - Alaska Shore Excursions Juneau Shore Excursion: Helicopter Tour and Icefield Walk 2023 - Viator I have been on other wale watching cruises for much cheaper and had much better experiences. The knowledgeable guides will narrate about historic Juneau, gold mining and wildlife on your drive to and from the Glacier. Hi Jim. Ill add updating this post to my list of things to do , Your email address will not be published. May be required to be worn by all guest and crew when on the bus due to DOT regulations. The Visitor Center is right there on the hill. I went to Mendenhall Glacier in May 2023. We only had an hour there and would have liked a longer time. You choose when you want to go and you choose when you want to come back. Families, beginners and the more experienced all will enjoy this Mendenhall Glacier float trip. MICHIGAN Do the walk to Nugget Falls, it's short. When I went to the booth, the cost of a round trip ticket for the Mendenhall Glacier shuttle was $45 per person. NATIONAL LAKESHORES The raft ride across the lake and down the river was very interesting and fun. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The bus driver will be announcing upcoming bus stops, so you can follow along that way too. This information is provided by our partners. Yes I visited Alaska in 2013 and wow $94 for two people is a ridiculous amount of money compared to what it used to cost. An experienced guide rows your raft, allowing you to soak up the gorgeous mountain scenery as you float along for six miles around the foot of the glacier. Winter (October to April) is free (no fee required) and visitor center hours are Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am - 4:00pm. SLEEPING BEAR DUNES MI Juneau Glacier Excursion with the Blue Bus Glacier Express 2023 - Viator The second arrived and literally 3 minutes later another blue bus showed up. We had to scramble to get a replacement. Travel to Mendenhall Glacier aboard an air-conditioned bus on this day trip from Juneau and have some free time to explore the area on your own. Follow Me on Bloglovin. There are two different routes that will stop at the correct location. Slowing so we could all get photos of New Eddystone Rock, and allowing people access to the very top deck once in Punchbowl Cove, where the scenery is high, wild, and spectacular, was a plus. The tour guide talked just enough but did not overwhelm. He guided us on his birthday. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Visitors may reach the visitor center by city bus, taxi, tour bus or rental car. You can generally just start walking towards town, and there will be a booth selling tickets for the Mendenhall Glacier shuttle. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. However, not enough time at Mendenhall if you want to hike to nugget falls..which is so amazing. Learn about local ecosystems and conservation in Alaska during this half-day itinerary. However if your ship arrives in Juneau at the AJ Dock (I sailed on the Disney Wonder which did) then there is a shuttle bus from that drops off right by the Tramway. I went with them out of both Juno and sitka. Also included in this tour is the amazing Breaching Whale Statue and Fountain at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park in Downtown Juneau! Hear the story of this great mine that was the heartbeat of Juneau. Transportation - airport to ferry terminal, Pearsons Pond Luxury Suites and Vacation Rentals, Baranof Downtown, BW Signature Collection, Extended Stay America - Juneau - Shell Simmons Drive. You just need to make sure you have cash in dollar bills so you can take the bus. Hear the Hatchery guides explain the, spawning process of our Alaskan Salmon. Is there a good way to get to Mendenhall Glacier on your own (not a tour), so you can stay as long/short as you want? Book Your Tour - Juneau Tours and Excursions - Juneau, AK The service provided was fine for the price. The tour was wonderful. Although in recent years it have exceeded that it lost over 600 ft. Scan the QR code with your device camera and download our app, 138 reviews of this activity. Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experiences start time will not be accepted. The Blue Bus is a no frills direct express trip to the Mendenhall Glacier. Even with that extra time, I had to pay close attention to the bus timings since it seemed like towards the later evening the bus frequency became more limited. This means that you might end up walking an hour or more round trip in order to take the bus. It is impossible to predict when any glacier will calve, but you'll remember it forever if you are lucky enough to be there when it happens. When buying the tickets, they will let you know what time the next bus is due and point you in the direction of the bus stop which is located by the ticket booths. Visitors can walk to Mendenhall Lake at the foot of the glacier via the wheelchair-accessible Photo Point Trail. I would do it again. Bathrooms are available in the stern. Our app deals help you to save on trips so you can travel more and manage it all on the go. We could have made it if we went straight to Mendenhall but we actually did do the City tour. Absolutely fantastic! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. There is however a very easy way to visit the Mendenhall Glacier and to make things even better, it works out much cheaper than the tours that are offered. A sight to see and loved by all! Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate were complementary. Juneau-Douglas City Museum Tours & Tickets, Alaska State Capitol Building Tours & Tickets, Waterfront Promenade and Franklin Street Tours & Tickets. Saxman Village is about 4 miles south of downtown Ketchikan. . Cruise along the shore to observe true Alaskan wildlife at its finest. Still a very enjoyable trip down a glacial river - great views of Mendenhall Glacier, there was a bald eagle sitting on a branch about 15 feet away from our raft at one point. With so many things to do in Juneau, planning the perfect day out may seem like a daunting task. Mendenhall Glacier -Steep Creek - Alaska Department of Fish and Game Actually enjoyed nugget falls more than the glacier. Tanner (our tour guide) was very informative and made our trip very enjoyable! I wish I had more time since I couldn't go to waterfall because my ship came to Juneau in the afternoon (2pm) and the last blue bus pick up is 6:30pm. The shuttle is open ended - On Mondays - the Shuttle starts at Noon; Tuesday thru Sunday the shuttle starts at 7:30AM The Best Way To See Mendenhall Glacier - Forever Karen Let our Bright Blue Bus take you out to the Big Blue Ice. We also saw a whale, sea lions and possibly a porpoise. The tour was ok, about average. See the film about the glaciers and how they are formed. On the sidewalk, under the cables of the Mt. (There are several shuttles at the same meeting point.) WIND CAVE SD The boats are stable, wide, and have enclosed two decks so you can sit at the waterline, or sit higher up if you prefer. (Tip: Your chances of seeing the glacier calve are better on a warm, sunny day.). For example, you can see the suggested bus route if you want to be back to the cruise port by a certain time or if you want to leave at a certain time. The pilot did a masterful job of getting us close to waterfalls, small icebergs and especially the Sawyer Glaciers. You dont get to enjoy the park or visitors center. Its now $45 pp round trip now. They knew where to find the animals for sure. 4.7 (702) Please be advised that you must leave yourself at least 1 hour between your arrival to Juneau and tour start time if traveling by cruise ship and arriving after 10:30am. Mendenhall glacier was very pretty. . Ride the Fjord Express from Juneau to Haines, a spectacular, picturesque mountain community. (map). Book Now . The two-mile trailis very flat and is mostly unpaved. Tour guide was knowledgeable and funny! Visitors will then need to follow the sidewalk from the bus stop 1.5 miles to the end of Glacier Spur Road. Went on a cruise to Alaska in September of 2022 and went on the whale watching with Allen Marine Tours in Juneau. Great bus tour and guide. I already have reservations for our cruises next year. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Q&A: Cruise Insurance with Steve Dasseos of the TripInsuranceStore.com - Summer Session '23, ANNOUNCEMENT: Regent Seven Seas Cruises 2025-2026 Voyage Collection Debut. If its canceled because the minimum isnt met, youll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. Adults $60/Kids (under 12 years) $45 Duration: approx. Don't try to get closer - no photograph is worth a mauling - and don't turn and run, as the bear may decide you are prey. Shoes and items were collected prior to departing on the tour and ready for us at the end of the tour. The Mendenhall Glacier is also accessible by bus from the Juneau cruise port if you dont mind walking a little! Vacation rentals in United States of America, Vacation packages in United States of America, Cancel your hotel or vacation rental booking, Vehicles and venues cleaned with disinfectants, High-touch surfaces cleaned and disinfected. 6:30pm: arrived at Tracys King Crab Shack, located a few minutes walk from the cruise ship. The public transit bus leaves from multiple stops around Juneau. Does anyone have a photo pf the gangway? Highly recommend them to anyone who wants to see whales!!! Blue Bus runs to and from the Glacier every 30 minutes on all ship days. There was one BIG problem that you should consider before booking. He made everything fun and kept us entertained and informed as we went along. On northbound cruises, you'll get the best views of the glaciers on the starboard side of the ship; when you're sailing southward, the port side is the way to go. Google maps makes planning for the Mendenhall Glacier bus easy. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. They were sliding over the whales! No change will be given, so you want to have $4 in dollar bills, $2 each way. They should let the tour be 2 hours at the park. Monday, MAMMOTH CAVE KY This tour was wonderful . Seamlessly combine two of Juneau's favorite activities on this whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier tour. 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