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Mendenhall Lake Kayaking Adventure

3 ½ Hours Duration

From pick-up to drop-off

First-Timers Welcome!

No kayak experience necessary

Small Group Setting

Up to 8 guests per tour

Exclusive Experience

Not available through most cruise lines

Description

For many travelers arriving to Juneau, Mendenhall Glacier is on the top of the bucket list. This Mendenhall Glacier guided kayak tour allows you to experience it from a much different perspective than many tours... putting you in the seat of a kayak right on Mendenhall Lake! Surrounded by floating icebergs, paddle near the face of the glacier accompanied by a guide in a small-group setting. Permits to kayak on Mendenhall Lake are extremely limited, so don't miss this opportunity to experience this glacier up close and personal!

Pick-up near the cruise docks is included and from there a short ride over to the kayak base at Auke Harbor allows time to get properly fitted for gear and equipment. A transfer over to the west side of Mendenhall Lake at the kayak launch station is followed by a safety orientation before launching the kayaks for a 2-hour guided tour around lake.

You'll have 2 hours to paddle along at your own pace, surrounded by views of the Tongass National Forest and of course looming Mendenhall Glacier. Glide past frozen blue icebergs and eventually drift towards the face of the glacier. The 5.5 mile loop takes you across the lake with changing scenery along the way, including the beautiful Nugget Falls waterfall, before transfer back to the cruise docks. This is a family-friendly excursion for all levels with no previous kayaking experience required.

For a more in-depth glacier experience, consider the Mendenhall Glacier Paddle & Trek.

What's Included

Round Trip Transportation

Knowledgable Guides

Hearty Snack

Rain Gear & Life Jackets

Guide Gratuities

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are on this tour?

There can be up to 8 passengers on this trip, and there is a minimum of 2 guests for the trip to operate. With advanced notice, we can accommodate larger groups on private tours.

Will the trip still operate if it is raining?

All of our tours operate rain or shine. Much of SE Alaska lies in a temperate rainforest, and we would never do anything if we stopped for rain! With that said, if weather conditions are unsafe, the trip will be canceled, and we will provide a refund. This can happen on kayaking or canoeing trips from time to time and will be typically related to sea or lake conditions, not rain.

Do I need previous kayaking experience?

Previous kayaking experience is not required with this trip as long as all participants meet the minimum physical requirements of the tour.

What if our cruise ship's schedule is canceled or delayed?

We will try our best to work with you to reschedule the tour to a later time. If that is not a possibility or your ship doesn't make it into port, then you will receive a refund, less any non-refundable fees.

Are restrooms available during the tour?

You'll have a chance at the kayak base to use the restroom, but after that we will be entering the great outdoors. We recommend all guests follow 'Leave No Trace Principles' and should the need arise, we request packing all trash from the trip including toilet paper. If this is of concern for you, we recommend bringing toilet paper and a ziploc bag for easy packing.

Know Before You Book

Minimum Age: 5 years old • Minimum Weight: 0 lbs • Maximum Weight: 1 lbs

Subject to cancellation if departure minimums are not met.

Not wheelchair accessible. Moderate to good physical condition required.

Small group size.

Cancel up to 14-days before the tour for a refund. No refund is available if canceled within 14-days of the tour. If for any reason your tour is canceled, or if your cruise ship's schedule changes, you will receive a refund. Refunds do not include any non-refundable fees. Contact us by phone or email to request a cancellation.

Quick Facts

City

Juneau

Itinerary • 3h 30min • 5 activities

Your guides will meet you at Mount Roberts Tramway, a short walk from the cruise docks, for narrated transportation to Mendenhall Lake.

Duration

30 minutes

Once you reach the launch site for the tour, your guides will outfit you in rain gear & life jackets before running through a quick safety briefing for your kayaking.

Duration

15 minutes

You'll then hop in your tandem kayaks to paddle across Mendenhall Lake & venture within a safe distance of the face of Mendenhall Glacier before stopping at Nugget Falls for a snack break.

Duration

2 hours

At the end of your paddling, you will take a short time to return your kayaks, remove your borrowed gear, and hop back in the vans.

Duration

15 minutes

At the end of the tour you'll be driven back to Mount Roberts Tramway where you can either hop back on your cruise or go explore the nearby downtown area.

Duration

30 minutes