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Juneau is Alaska's capital, a compact city wedged between the Gastineau Channel and steep, rain-soaked mountains in the state's southeastern panhandle. No road connects it to the rest of North America, so everything and everyone arrives by sea or air. The town grew out of an 1880s gold strike, and Tlingit communities had lived along these waterways long before that, a heritage that remains visible in local art and institutions.
The biggest draw sits a short drive from downtown: the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, where trails lead to Nugget Falls and along Steep Creek, a spot known for watching salmon and sometimes bears in season. The West Glacier Trail offers a rougher route along the ice. Back in town, the Goldbelt Tram climbs Mount Roberts for wide channel views, and a walk through downtown passes the Alaska State Capitol, the onion-domed St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, the Alaska State Museum and the Sealaska Heritage Institute. Hikers also follow the Perseverance Trail into old mining country or explore the Treadwell Mine ruins on Douglas Island.
Juneau suits travelers who want glaciers and wildlife without leaving a city behind. Cruise ships keep summer days busy, so evenings and early mornings feel calmer. Rain is common in every season, and whale-watching trips run mainly in summer.
WiserMap travel guideJuneau Alaska Mendenhall Glacier and Whale WatchingPlan Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls, the Goldbelt Tram, downtown museums, whale watching, Treadwell ruins, icefield flights and seasonal tips.Read the guide
A visitor center facing the Mendenhall Glacier and its lake about 13 miles from downtown, with exhibits on glaciers, a film and ranger talks. Paths lead to viewpoints of the ice. Tip: in summer, the city bus or a shuttle from downtown is easier than finding parking.
Nugget Falls is a powerful waterfall next to the glacier, reached by a flat 2-mile round-trip trail from the visitor center. Steep Creek has a boardwalk where black bears often fish for salmon in late summer. Tip: keep a safe distance from bears and follow ranger guidance.
An unusual capitol building that looks more like an office block, with marble columns at its front. Free tours in summer show the legislative chambers and historic photos. Tip: it is a short walk from the cruise docks and can be combined with other downtown sights.
A small octagonal wooden church built in 1894, the oldest original Russian Orthodox church in Southeast Alaska. It has an onion dome and a richly decorated icon screen. Tip: it is open for visits in summer, with a small donation requested, and services are still held.
A peaceful stone chapel on a small island about 22 miles north of downtown, reached by a causeway. The grounds include walking paths, a labyrinth and the Stations of the Cross in the forest. Tip: watch the shoreline for seals and whales, as views over Lynn Canal are wonderful.
An aerial tram rises from the cruise ship docks to about 1,800 feet up Mount Roberts, with views over Juneau and the Gastineau Channel. At the top are trails, a nature center and a restaurant. Tip: you can hike up the Mount Roberts Trail and buy a one-way ticket down.
Part of the Andrew P. Kashevaroff building, the museum covers Alaska Native cultures, Russian America and the state's later history, with a large clan house and natural history displays. It shares the building with the state library and archives. Tip: plan about two hours.
The Walter Soboleff Building downtown, with a clan house and exhibits on Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian art and culture. Across the street is an arts campus where carvers and weavers work. Tip: look for its striking carved red cedar panels on the outside of the building.
Alaska's first road, built for gold mining, now a popular trail leading from near downtown into the Gold Creek valley past waterfalls and old mine ruins. Mountain goats can sometimes be seen on the slopes. Tip: avalanche danger can close the trail in spring, so check conditions.
A trail on Douglas Island through the forest-covered ruins of the Treadwell gold mine, once one of the largest in the world until a cave-in in 1917. Signs explain the remains of buildings and machinery. Tip: combine it with a walk on nearby Sandy Beach.
Boat tours leave from Auke Bay, north of downtown, to waters where humpback whales feed in summer, often bubble-net feeding in groups. Orcas, sea lions and bald eagles are also common. Tip: many tours include a bus from downtown and are timed for cruise passengers.
The vast Juneau Icefield above the city feeds dozens of glaciers and can be visited on helicopter tours that land on the ice, some with dog sledding. Day boats go south to Tracy Arm fjord and the Sawyer Glaciers. Tip: book flights for morning, as weather often cancels tours.
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