RANDONNÉES AUTOUR DE JUNEAU

Juneau has about 100 developed hiking trails. It is a hiker's paradise. A small guide Juneau Trails, available in all bookshops, was published. Among these trails, the most popular are detailed below and on the website www.alaskaadventuresjuneau.com.

Herbert Glacier Trail: 5 hours round trip, moderate difficulty. Relatively flat trail with good views of the Herbert River. The terrain gradually becomes steeper as you approach the glacier before reaching the moraine left by the glacier. Also accessible by bicycle. Accessible from mile 25 on Glacier Highway.

Mendenhall Wetlands: 45 min, no difficulty. A birdwatcher's paradise, this flat, lakeshore area between the coast and Douglas Island offers many opportunities to observe birdlife, includingCanada geese, ducks, seabirds and bald eagles. Accessible from Ratcliff Road, near the airport.

Mount Juneau: 7 to 8 hours round trip, difficult with very steep passages. Very demanding hike with a very pronounced difference in altitude which offers at the top superb views on Juneau and the Gastineau Channel. Two possible trails for the descent. Ask the Visitors Center for information before leaving and always be careful about bears and weather conditions. Accessible via Perseverance trail, from Basin Road in downtown.