Our Guide to Juneau - Mendenhall Glacier

We're doing a short little series on our favorite places here in Juneau! So many times up at the tram, we are asked where the locals go, or where the prettiest spots are. 

Well, here are your questions answered! Our favorite places to go to, and the places we think you've just gotta see while you're here!

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The glacier is certainly up there in my personal favorite places around Juneau. Not only is the hiking great around this spot, but the views from practically anywhere just can't be beat.

The mountains are usually always visible, even in rainy weather! Tourists coming to Juneau will easily be able to find a bus from downtown to get here, making this a perfect spot to spend an afternoon.

Be careful bringing food, though!
Because of the large black bear population around the glacier, no food is allowed.
In summer, bears are often seen catching salmon or climbing trees near by, so be careful! 

One summer evening my family took some friends to the glacier to see some bears. We had just finished a spaghetti dinner, and my younger sister Valerie (who was very young at the time) had gotten spaghetti sauce all over her shirt. 

A momma bear and her two young cubs were fishing for salmon below a high bridge we were on. One of the little cubs must have smelled Valerie's shirt, because he stood up on his hind legs and sniffed at her as she kneeled down on the bridge to get a better look.
Make sure to stay far from the bears, if you do see one. They are wild animals, and the mother's are especially dangerous if their young cubs are near.

The trails around the Mendenhall Glacier and it's visitor center (offering lots of educational and helpful displays) are easy and available to anyone. 

An easy fifteen minute walk will have you next to Nugget Falls, the large waterfall to the right of the glacier. 

Many icebergs from the calving glacier wash up on the little beach against the waterfall, perfect for photos!

If you can't tell, that's my "Wow! These are colder then I thought they would be!" face.

Ice chunks from the glacier are always floating around the lake, so you'll be sure to see some!

Nugget Falls is very large, and you can often spy mountain goats up along the left hand side of it. Just look for the tiny white dots! Though sadly we didn't see any the day we took this photo...

The other trail that is easily accessed from this spot is the East Glacier trail. This trail involves a bit more uphill hiking, but the views of the glacier and the surrounding valley just cannot be matched! 

Quinn and I hiked this trail with my sister Valerie not long ago and had a great time. Many old pieces of machinery can be seen in the woods from the old mining days on the trail, making it even more fun to explore!

If you want to hike to the glacier, that's a whole different trail on the opposite side of the lake. We hiked that trail at the beginning of the year (and shot a cool video of it) and had lots of fun. It's more for an experienced hiker, as it involves a bit of climbing. To see more of that hike, you can click here.

That's the Mendenhall Glacier for you! 
If you plan to visit Juneau soon, you will have to come see it. It's vanishing fast, so we're trying to appreciate it while we can!