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Juneau, Alaska · Travel guide

Juneau Alaska Mendenhall Glacier and Whale Watching

Juneau is a state capital that you cannot drive to.

By WiserMap TravelUpdated October 2026 9 places10 min read
Juneau, Alaska
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A tall waterfall pouring onto a gravel bar beside a lake with a glacier nearby, Juneau, Alaska Nugget Falls and Steep Creek An aerial tram cabin rising above forest with the town and channel below, Juneau, Alaska Goldbelt Tram and Mount Roberts A brick and marble government building with columns on a downtown street, Juneau, Alaska Alaska State Capitol A small white octagonal church with an onion dome on a hillside street, Juneau, Alaska St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church +5 more places
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Founded after gold was found in 1880 on the traditional lands of the Áak'w Kwáan and T'aaku Kwáan Tlingit, Juneau mixes gold rush history, living Indigenous culture and serious wilderness.

At a glance Juneau
  1. Best timeMay to September for whales, open trails and tours; June and July are the warmest months.
  2. How longThree days covers downtown, the glacier and a whale watch; add a day for a flightseeing or fjord trip.
  3. Getting thereFly into Juneau International Airport, or arrive by cruise ship or Alaska Marine Highway ferry.

Why visit Juneau

Few cities put wild Alaska this close. The Mendenhall Glacier sits at the edge of a residential valley, black bears fish for salmon beside a visitor center boardwalk, and humpback whales spend the summer in the channels a short drive from town.

Juneau is also a cultural capital. The Alaska State Museum and Sealaska Heritage Institute hold some of the finest collections of Alaska Native art anywhere, and downtown is layered with history from the gold rush and territorial era.

Mendenhall Valley and the glacier

Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center

The Mendenhall Glacier, about 13 miles long, flows from the Juneau Icefield into the valley north of the airport. The Forest Service visitor center, the first one the agency built in the nation, overlooks Mendenhall Lake with exhibits on glaciers and wildlife.

A tall waterfall pouring onto a gravel bar beside a lake with a glacier nearby, Juneau, Alaska

Nugget Falls and Steep Creek

The easy Nugget Falls Trail follows the lakeshore to a tall waterfall that crashes onto a gravel bar beside the lake. Back near the parking area, the Steep Creek boardwalk is one of the best places in Alaska to watch black bears; from July into September they come to catch spawning sockeye salmon, often walking right beneath the viewing platforms.

Nugget Falls drops beside Mendenhall Lake and is reached by an easy trail from the visitor center area. Photo: Explorer1940, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

West Glacier Trail

For a more rugged outing, the West Glacier Trail climbs along the opposite side of the lake through forest and over smooth bedrock to viewpoints above the ice. It is a strenuous half-day hike of several hours.

Downtown Juneau: tram, history and culture

An aerial tram cabin rising above forest with the town and channel below, Juneau, Alaska

Goldbelt Tram and Mount Roberts

The Goldbelt Tram, formerly the Mount Roberts Tramway, rises from the cruise ship docks to a station about 1,800 feet up Mount Roberts in roughly six minutes.

The Goldbelt Tram climbs Mount Roberts from the cruise ship docks in about six minutes. Photo: Steve Moses, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

A brick and marble government building with columns on a downtown street, Juneau, Alaska

Alaska State Capitol

Built in 1931 as the territorial capitol, this modest brick and marble building lacks a dome but houses the legislature and governor's office. Historic photographs line the halls, and free tours are offered in summer.

Completed in 1931 as the territorial capitol, the building still houses Alaska's legislature and governor's office. Photo: James Brooks, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

A small white octagonal church with an onion dome on a hillside street, Juneau, Alaska

St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church

Up the hill on Fifth Street, this small octagonal church with an onion dome was built in 1893 for a congregation that included many Tlingit families. It is one of the oldest Orthodox churches in Southeast Alaska and still holds services.

St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, built in 1893, is one of the oldest Orthodox churches in Southeast Alaska. Photo: Gillfoto, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

A modern museum building with large windows in downtown Juneau, Alaska

Alaska State Museum

The state museum is the best single introduction to Alaska, with galleries on Alaska Native cultures from across the state, Russian and American history, natural history and contemporary art. Allow two hours.

The Alaska State Museum shares a building with the state library and archives in downtown Juneau. Photo: gillfoto, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

A building with a large carved and painted Northwest Coast formline design on its facade, Juneau, Alaska

Sealaska Heritage Institute

The Walter Soboleff Building, recognizable by its large formline artwork, presents exhibits on Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian art and culture and hosts artists in residence. Nearby, a growing arts campus celebrates Northwest Coast traditions.

The Walter Soboleff Building houses Sealaska Heritage Institute's exhibits on Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures. Photo: Gillfoto, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Perseverance Trail

From the top of Basin Road, a short walk from downtown, the Perseverance Trail follows Gold Creek into a valley scattered with mining relics and waterfalls.

Douglas Island, Auke Bay and the water

Moss-covered concrete foundations and rusted machinery in a coastal forest, Juneau, Alaska

Treadwell Mine Historic Trail

Across the bridge on Douglas Island, the Treadwell gold mine was once among the largest hard rock gold mines in the world, employing more than two thousand people before a collapse and flood in 1917 ended most work.

Ruins of the Treadwell gold mine, once among the largest hard rock gold mines in the world, line a forest trail on Douglas Island. Photo: Joseph from Cabin On The Road, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

A small stone chapel on a wooded islet joined to the shore by a causeway, Juneau, Alaska

Shrine of St. Therese

About 23 miles north of downtown along the Glacier Highway, a small stone chapel sits on a wooded islet reached by a causeway, with views across Lynn Canal. Gardens and a labyrinth surround the grounds.

The stone chapel of the Shrine of St. Therese sits on a small island reached by a causeway north of Auke Bay. Photo: Gillfoto, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The tail fluke of a humpback whale rising from dark water near forested mountains, Juneau, Alaska

Whale watching from Auke Bay

Humpback whales return to the waters around Juneau each summer, and tours leave from Auke Bay for Stephens Passage and nearby channels, where you may also see orcas, sea lions, porpoises and bald eagles. Most trips last three to four hours.

Humpback whales feed in the waters around Juneau through the summer months. Photo: Gillfoto, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Juneau Icefield and Tracy Arm

Helicopter and floatplane tours fly over the Juneau Icefield, often landing on a glacier or at a remote lodge on the Taku River. Boat trips also run south to Tracy Arm, a fjord ending at the twin Sawyer Glaciers.

Food and local flavors

Seafood is the reason to eat in Juneau.

The city has a strong craft beer scene led by the Alaskan Brewing Company, founded here in 1986, whose amber ale is sold statewide, plus several smaller downtown breweries. Coffee shops are everywhere, a necessity on rainy days.

Popular dishes to try in Juneau

King crab in Juneau, Alaska
King crab In summer you can find king crab legs, halibut fish and chips, salmon grilled over alder, and fresh spot prawns, often served from waterfront stands and casual shacks along…Photo: Ad Meskens You are free to use this picture for any purpose as long…, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Salmon in Juneau, Alaska
Salmon Smoked salmon and salmon jerky make good trail snacks and gifts.Photo: Dankarl, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Halibut in Juneau, Alaska
Halibut In summer you can find king crab legs, halibut fish and chips, salmon grilled over alder, and fresh spot prawns, often served from waterfront stands and casual shacks along…Photo: Cullen328, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Alaskan Brewing in Juneau
Alaskan Brewing The city has a strong craft beer scene led by the Alaskan Brewing Company, founded here in 1986, whose amber ale is sold statewide, plus several smaller downtown breweries.Photo: Bernt Rostad from Oslo, Norway, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Where to stay

Downtown. The historic core puts museums, restaurants, the tram and the waterfront within walking distance.

Douglas Island. Across the bridge, Douglas offers quiet rentals near the Treadwell trails and the Eaglecrest ski area.

Auke Bay and out the road. Lodges and cabins north of town sit near the ferry terminal, whale watching docks and beaches.

Where to stay in Juneau

Downtown Juneau, Juneau, Alaska
Downtown Juneau One of the best areas to base yourself in Juneau.Photo: Gillfoto, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Auke Bay, Juneau, Alaska
Auke Bay This residential area has chain lodging, supermarkets and quick access to the glacier and Auke Bay.Photo: Gillfoto, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Treadwell mine, Juneau, Alaska
Treadwell mine One of the best areas to base yourself in Juneau.Photo: Mfwills, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Eaglecrest, Juneau, Alaska
Eaglecrest Across the bridge, Douglas offers quiet rentals near the Treadwell trails and the Eaglecrest ski area.Photo: gillfoto, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Best time to visit

The main season runs from May to September, when cruise ships call, tours operate and whales feed nearby.

Downtown can be very crowded when several large ships are in port, so check the cruise ship schedule and plan glacier visits for mornings or evenings.

Getting there and getting around

By air. Juneau International Airport, about nine miles from downtown, has daily jet service from Seattle and Anchorage plus small carriers serving Southeast Alaska towns.

By sea. The Alaska Marine Highway ferry connects Juneau with other Inside Passage towns and with Haines and Skagway, which have road links.

Getting around. Downtown is walkable but steep.

A suggested itinerary

First day

Start at the Alaska State Museum, walk up to St. Nicholas Church and the Capitol, then visit Sealaska Heritage.

Second day

Head to the Mendenhall Glacier early. Walk to Nugget Falls, watch for bears at Steep Creek, then drive out to Auke Bay for an afternoon whale watching trip.

Third day

Take an icefield flightseeing tour or a boat trip toward the fjords. In the afternoon, cross to Douglas Island for the Treadwell trail and Sandy Beach, or hike the Perseverance Trail from downtown.

Practical tips

  • Pack a real rain jacket, waterproof shoes and warm layers, even in July.
  • Book whale watching, flightseeing and lodging early for June through August.
  • Check the cruise ship schedule and visit popular sights early or late on heavy port days.
  • Keep a safe distance from bears, never leave food unattended, and carry bear spray on longer trails.
  • Do not walk onto glaciers or near calving ice without a guide.

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