Booking choice: The glacier lake canoe tour, from $251 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Mendenhall Glacier looks small from the viewpoint. On the water or up on the trail, it stops looking small.
Four tours on this site get you closer: two canoe trips, a guided hike and a sea kayak. They differ in effort, in where you are, and in how much of the day is wet.
The quick answer
The glacier lake canoe tour is $251 for 4 hours. The Ice Adventure is $330 for 5 hours with a hike. The guided hike is $249 for 6 hours. The sea kayak tour is $189 for 3.5 hours. None enters the ice caves.
What is the difference between the canoe, the Ice Adventure, the hike and the kayak?
The canoe is paddling only, the Ice Adventure adds a hike, the guided hike is on foot, and the sea kayak is on salt water.
The table sets the four side by side.
| Tour | From | Length | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| The glacier lake canoe tour | $251 | 4 hours | Canoe on Mendenhall Lake, no hike, gear provided |
| The Ice Adventure | $330 | 5 hours | Canoe plus a hike near the glacier, gear provided |
| The guided glacier hike | $249 | 6 hours | Guided hike with scrambling, hotel pickup |
| The sea kayak tour | $189 | 3.5 hours | Small-group sea kayak in a dry suit, with glacier views |
The perfect 5.0 canoe puts you at the base of the ice.
Check dates for the glacier lake canoe tourCan you go into the Mendenhall ice caves?
No. The caves and the ice near the face are unstable, and the Forest Service warns they can collapse.
The caves collapsed in 2014, a man fell through a hole on the glacier in September 2025, and the Forest Service issued a calving warning in February 2025. Tours keep a safe distance. One guest on the guided hike wrote that the ice caves described in the listing no longer exist, so do not book for the caves.
How hard is the glacier canoe tour?
Not hard for a first-timer, but you paddle the whole time. Guests describe it as mildly challenging.
The canoe tour is open to first-time paddlers and starts with a lesson. One guest wrote: "Be prepared to paddle the whole time." Another called it "not too difficult" with a close view of the glacier. Gear includes a rain jacket, pants, boots, gloves and a life vest, and the tour includes a hot drink and snacks.
Is the Ice Adventure worth the extra money?
If you want the hike too. It costs $330 against $251 for the canoe alone and adds a guided hike near the glacier.
It is rated 5.0 from 1,493 reviews and includes a helmet and trekking pole as well as boots and rain gear. Guests say the guides teach you about the plants and rocks on the way.
A canoe across the lake and a hike near the ice, with all gear provided.
Explore the Ice AdventureWho should do the guided hike?
Fit walkers who like a challenge. It is the hardest day here.
The guided hike runs 6 hours and includes a backpack, rain jacket and pants, a snack and hotel pickup. One guest wrote: "This is a hard hike but so worth it." The guide tells you where to put your hands and feet during the scrambling.
If knees, balance or a long day worry you, pick the canoe.
Gear, a guide and a hotel pickup are in the six-hour hike.
Check dates for the guided glacier hikeWhat is the sea kayak tour like?
Calm salt water, a dry suit, and a view of the glacier from a distance. It is beginner friendly.
The sea kayak tour lists a kayak, paddle, life vest, dry suit, footwear, water, snacks and round-trip transport from the cruise docks. Guests report seals and many bald eagles. One wrote: "Very beginner friendly kayaking difficulty". It is rated 4.9 from 119 reviews.
It is not on Mendenhall Lake, so you see the glacier at a distance. Bring warm layers for under the suit.
What should you wear, and what if it rains?
Non-cotton layers, a beanie, wool socks and gloves. Every tour supplies the outer waterproofs.
The canoe tours list warm layers as not included and recommend a beanie, wool socks and non-cotton layers. The hike and the Ice Adventure supply rain gear. Rain is normal in Juneau and the tours run in it. Bring a camera, and photos are not included.
Who should skip each one?
Skip the hike if your legs are tired, the canoe if you cannot paddle for hours, and the kayak if you want to be at the ice.
Viator also lists a river float with Class II and III rapids, which is non-refundable. For something gentler, the Express bus with the trail walk is the easy choice. The tour prices guide compares the costs.
Frequently asked questions
Can you canoe to Mendenhall Glacier?
Yes. The canoe tour paddles across Mendenhall Lake toward the glacier with gear and a guide.
Can you go in the Mendenhall ice caves?
No. The caves and the ice near the face are unstable and no tour enters them.
Is the guided hike hard?
Guests describe a challenging hike with scrambling and switchbacks.
Do you need experience to kayak or canoe?
No. Both are open to beginners, with a lesson on the canoe tour.
Ready to book
Choose your Mendenhall Glacier tour
Every option here can be cancelled for a full refund; the deadline is on each listing. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Tour
A perfect 5.0 paddle to the base of the glacier
Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure
- About 5 hours with transport from downtown Juneau
- Guided canoe paddle on Mendenhall Lake and a hike near the glacier
- Rain jacket and pants, waterproof boots, life vest, helmet, trekking pole
Mendenhall Glacier Guided Hike
A hard day with scrambling and gear provided
