GLACIER MENDENHALL

This glacier plus thirty-seven others form the "Juneau Icefield", which is as big as Switzerland. The Mendenhall Glacier is the most accessible of all, it is only 13 miles from the town of Juneau, a road leads to it. What a sight to see this immense tongue of ice crossing the mountains to reach the lake bearing its name. This lake attracts salmon and all kinds of animals and birds. A platform to the left of the parking lot overlooks Steep Creek, a small river where the salmon come up with gusto and gives the chance to sometimes see a bear with her cub! The site is also the starting point for many hikes, all of them easy. The most accessible is the Nugget Fall Trail, which takes you directly to the foot of the waterfall right next to the glacier. It takes about an hour to walk there and back. Along the way, you will see other corners of the glacier and the lake where the chunks of ice that have broken away from the glacier are thrown in. There are two other much longer hikes, which certainly require a little more experience, so it takes a day to make the round trip.

A multitude of other popular attractions can be enjoyed within the site: hiking on the glacier as well as exploring caves under the ice! Several adventure companies in the region offer these types of guided excursions for the more adventurous and equip visitors with crampon boots and safety ropes: a great immersive experience!