Top Juneau Nature and Wildlife Tours

Whale watching and visiting the Mendenhall Glacier are two of the most popular activities around Juneau. Check them both off your list on this half-day combo tour that includes flexible departure times and round-trip transportation from Mt. Roberts Tramway, making it ideal for a shore excursion or quick trip.

Explore the 3,000-year-old Mendenhall Glacier on this 5.5-hour adventure tour from Alaska’s capital city, Juneau. Paddle out on the iceberg-covered Mendenhall Lake for about an hour until you reach Mendenhall Glacier. Then, spend about an hour to an hour and a half trekking on the rocky moraine near the glacier. Afterward, paddle back to your starting point, and warm up with a hot beverage once you reach the shore. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent flooding and glacial ice erosion, this tour no longer provides access to WALK ON GLACIER ICE

The Mendenhall Glacier is one of Juneau’s most impressive natural wonders, stretching over 13 miles (21 kilometers). On this half-day tour, enjoy spectacular views of the glacier from the viewing platforms and walkways, and learn more about the mighty glacier at the Visitor Center. Then, set sail on a thrilling whale-watching cruise along the coast and look out for humpback whales, as well as other wildlife such as bald eagles and blue heron.

When your ship anchors in Juneau port, get ready for a shore excursion pumped with adventure and incredible views. First, soar by helicopter over Juneau Icefield, and then land on Herbert Glacier to explore the remote landscape by foot. Learn about the surrounding Alaskan wilderness and capture memorable shots during your icefield walk. Cruise ship passengers please note that the shuttle will pick up one hour before listed flight time.

Discover Alaska’s stunning landscapes by air and land on this 2.5-hour helicopter flight and guided glacier walk tour. Take to the skies and enjoy aerial views of Juneau Icefield’s unruly rock formations and icefalls, with a knowledgeable pilot explaining what you see along the way. Then, land on a glacier for a unique walkabout experience in one of more remote spots in the world. Hotel transport from Juneau available. Please note that the shuttle will pick up one hour before listed flight time.

Spend 2 hours out on the Auke Bay Harbor's waters searching for humpback whales during this boat tour from Juneau. Listen to commentary from your guide and keep a lookout for other marine animals such as orca, bald eagles, and sea lions. Snacks, refreshments, and round-trip transportation from the Mt. Roberts Tramway in Juneau provided.

When your cruise stops at Juneau, see whales in their natural habitat on this whale-watching boat trip, all without the fuss of organizing shore transport. Prebook to secure your place, board a comfortable boat with outdoor decks and heated cabins, and cruise Alaska’s waters to see marine life in the wild. Then, enjoy guaranteed sightings of humpback whales, with a naturalist providing commentary on their behaviors as you cruise.

Pair a helicopter flight over the glaciers of Juneau Icefield with a dogsled ride, and you have the perfect Alaska experience. After flying over breathtaking scenery, land at a remote glacier camp for a ride of a lifetime: you’re pulled by Alaskan huskies across fields blanketed with snow, surrounded by towering mountains. Listen to the race stories of struggle and victory from Iditarod mushers, and get in the spirit by dressing up in original Iditarod dogsled gear for memorable photos. Please note that the shuttle will pick up one hour before listed flight time.

Explore the natural beauty of Glacier Gardens, just outside of downtown Juneau, at your leisure with this admission ticket. Located deep in Tongass National Forest, this rain-forest botanical garden offers tours by covered shuttles. See a reclaimed stream and innovative garden designs, and travel up Thunder Mountain, where a cliffside boardwalk leads to stunning views of Juneau. Note: The Glacier Gardens is open May to September.

Make your round-trip transfer between Juneau and Mendenhall Glacier hassle-free with this shuttle service. Discover the beauty of the glacier and its trails at a leisurely pace, and when you’re ready, simply hop back on a shuttle back to port in downtown Juneau. Shuttles leave every 30 minutes during operating hours, giving you plenty of flexibility with your schedule. Plus, during the drive each way, pick up historical fun facts and restaurant recommendations from the driver.

Set voyage into Alaska’s Inside Passage on this whale-watching shore excursion from Juneau port. From the comfort of a heated jet boat or catamaran, enjoy views of fjords and snow-drizzled mountains, and delight in a medley of wildlife including orcas, humpbacks, otters, sea lions and bald eagles. After this memorable cruise, warm up with fresh crab at Juneau's Original Tracy's King Crab. This 3.5-hour shore excursion comes with transport to Auke Bay.

Secure easy and reliable transportation to the Mendenhall Glacier from Juneau with the Blue Bus Glacier Express. Skip the hassle of a rental car and admire views during the bus journey to the glacier. Stay as long as you choose to explore trails, check out wildlife, and go inside the visitor center, and then climb aboard a return bus at a convenient time.

While most visitors only see the Mendenhall Glacier from crowded viewpoints, this tour takes adventurous travelers on a canoe trip to the base of the glacier for a completely different perspective of the majestic ice. With canoe lessons and a guide, the tour is open to first-time paddlers and the mellow water means you can take along a camera and capture the arctic cliffs, icebergs, and pristine blue ice.

Step off your cruise ship and into a river raft on this 3.5-hour shore excursion along Mendenhall Glacier. An experienced guide rows your raft, allowing you to soak up the gorgeous mountain scenery as you float along for six miles around the foot of the glacier. Wind through stretches of Class II and III whitewater rapids and wrap up the outing with a delicious riverside snack. Families, beginners and the more experienced all will enjoy this Mendenhall Glacier float trip. Port transport from Juneau included.

Experience some of the best that Juneau has to offer on this full-day tour that features whale watching and a salmon bake. Watch for the giant creatures breaching and playing in Auke Bay. A naturalist on board also points out Steller sea lions, Dall's porpoises, bald eagles and sea birds in the area. Whale sightings are guaranteed. Then, in a historic gold rush setting, enjoy freshly grilled Alaska salmon, part of an all-you-can-eat buffet. Roast marshmallows around a campfire—what’s a better way to end a day of Alaska sightseeing?

Spend your time in Juneau on an Alaskan wilderness hiking adventure as you get up close to the Mendenhall Glacier! This exhilarating tour will show you a stunning piece of Alaskan nature as you hike through the Tongass Rainforest towards the glacier. Then explore the edge of the glacier on foot where you could see ice caves, dramatic crevasses, and fascinating glacial formations. Accessing ice caves, moulins, or any other glacial feature is not guaranteed: The Mendenhall Glacier is in constant change. Your guide will assess each available feature prior to accessing to determine if it’s safe to explore. The Mendenhall Glacier is receding on a daily basis and we are seeing significant changes to the surface of the glacier. There are very limited safe areas to access and explore on the ice with crampons. Safety is our number one priority. We can not guarantee every trip will hike on the glacier.

Mendenhall Glacier and Lake is the Juneau area's premiere wilderness destination for its beauty, scale, and ease of access. This 6.5-hour tour takes you right up to the glacier, past Nugget Falls, and over Mendenhall Lake, combining paddling, ice trekking, and hiking for a full-day's worth of wilderness adventure suitable for the whole family. This tour is available as a shore-excursion for cruise passengers.

Embark on a whale watching excursion that combines the luxury of a private yacht with the chance to see and learn about Alaska’s renown wildlife. Quite unlike the large-boat whale watching outings, which are filled with crowds and deliver information over a loudspeaker, this intimate experience is ideal for travelers looking for a peaceful and intimate encounter with Alaskan wildlife.

Seeking an all-inclusive Alaskan experience? This 6-hour tour from Juneau takes you to Mendenhall Glacier for incredible views of the ice wall. Then, board a jet boat for a whale-watching cruise in Auke Bay with a naturalist guide who gives you an in-depth look at the surrounding marine life. After spotting humpbacks, return to land and watch a Tlingit Master Carver work on 10-foot-tall totem poles and silver jewelry. Dig into a satisfying traditional salmon bake before you're returned to Juneau hotels.

Watch for humpbacks and other marine life in the beautiful Auke Bay on this whale-watching tour from Juneau. While you’re aboard a jet boat with extra-large windows, a naturalist guide provides engaging commentary on the wildlife — including porpoises, sea lions and eagles — and local geology you see along the way. Capture that memorable photo of a breaching whale against the backdrop of the Alaskan mountains.

While your ship is docked in Juneau, pan for gold at Gold Creek and Last Chance Basin on a shore excursion. Enjoy a brief city tour of Juneau and then travel to a remote section along Gold Creek. A guide dressed in 19th-century attire gives you insight into the Alaskan Gold Rush. See where thousands journeyed to during the Gold Rush in search of the precious metal. Learn how to pan in the creek or cull through the waters in the demonstration trough. Round-trip port transport included.

You’re guaranteed to find gold on this adventure to Gold Creek and Last Chance Basin. After a brief tour of Juneau, travel to a remote section along Gold Creek, and with the help of a guide dressed in 19th-century attire, see where thousands journeyed to during the Gold Rush in search of fortune. Learn how to pan in the creek or cull through the waters in the demonstration trough. Round-trip hotel transport from Juneau included.

Go deep into the Alaskan wilderness to a protected wildlife site with the highest concentration of brown bears in the world. This bucket-list day trip to Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Area includes a floatplane flight over Tongass National Forest and a kayak paddle through Windfall Harbor. An informative guide takes your small group of no more than 10 people into the woods to observe brown bears romping in the meadows and catching salmon in rivers. The Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Area issues a limited number of visitation permits, exclusively to tour operators. Avoid disappointment by booking this tour well in advance.

Jump on our small intimate boat and travel up the Inside Passage to the richest Humpback Whale feeding ground in Alaska. See the lush and vibrant temperate rainforest, exquisite snow-capped peaks and flowing glaciers, where your only neighbors are the feeding humpbacks, curious sea lions, playful porpoise, and soaring eagles! We will launch in the small boat and head up into the State Marine Park, there we will pull up to a remote island where we will gear up and start paddling! We will kayak paddle through the humpback whale feeding ground, looking for signs of wildlife and whales. Once you have completed your kayak exploration, be treated to a high quality delicious snack on the private island beach. Stretch your legs, grab a snack, and explore the island's tide pools! Suitable for all experience levels, this eco-adventure is sure to provide a new perspective on what’s possible in the world of remote Alaskan island exploration and is the preeminent paddling and island adventure.