Mendenhall Glacier Tours & Tickets

During summer (May 1–September 30) the visitor center is open Sunday through Friday from 10:00 to 17:00 and is closed on Saturdays. Call +1-907-789-0097 or check fs.usda.gov for intermittent spring and fall hours.

A day-use fee of $5 USD per person applies to visitors age 16 and older from May 1 through September 30; this covers entry to the visitor center, the Pavilion, Photo Point, and Steep Creek Trails. America the Beautiful federal lands passes are also accepted. Hiking the Nugget Falls Trail, East Glacier Trail, and several other trails on the grounds is free.

Arrive at the 10:00 opening to beat cruise ship tour groups, which typically arrive between 11:00 and 14:00. Saturday is the one day the visitor center is closed, and the lightest weekday crowds tend to be on Monday and Tuesday mornings.

Rental car is the most direct option, a 20–25 minute drive from downtown via Egan Drive and Glacier Spur Road with free parking on site. Capital Transit public buses stop 1.5 miles away for about $2 each way, requiring a 30-minute walk. Private shuttle services depart from near the cruise docks and drop off directly at the visitor center for roughly $80–$90 round-trip including the park pass.

Yes — the visitor center is reached from its parking lots by stairs, an elevator, and an easy paved ramp. The Photo Point Trail is a short paved walkway suitable for wheelchairs, and Steep Creek Trail features raised boardwalks. Accessible restrooms are available inside the building.

Nugget Falls Trail is a 2-mile round-trip gravel path from the visitor center to a waterfall that drops roughly 375 feet into Mendenhall Lake; the trail is free to hike and takes about one hour round-trip. It is included in most mendenhall glacier tour itineraries.

Black bears are regularly seen at Steep Creek, particularly from late June through September during salmon spawning. Stay on designated trails, maintain a distance of at least 50 yards from bears, never feed wildlife, and consider carrying bear spray on longer hikes. The area is heavily visited and incidents are rare when guidelines are followed.

Wear waterproof, layered clothing and sturdy grip footwear as southeast Alaska weather changes quickly. Bring a refillable water bottle, sunscreen, insect repellent, and binoculars for glacier and wildlife viewing. If you plan to hike beyond the visitor center, bear spray is recommended.

Photography is freely permitted throughout the recreation area, including inside the visitor center. The designated Photo Point platform provides the best unobstructed view of the Juneau Icefield glacier terminus. Commercial filming and drone operation require a Special Use Permit from the Tongass National Forest.

Dogs are welcome on many trails including Nugget Falls Trail and East Glacier Trail but must remain on a leash at all times. Pets are not permitted on Steep Creek Trail or Photo Point Trail due to active wildlife habitat. Check current trail-specific rules at the visitor center.

Most trails, including Nugget Falls Trail, are free to access without entering the visitor center. If you arrive on a Saturday, you can still walk the free trails on the grounds; the visitor center building and fee-access trails (Steep Creek, Photo Point) will be closed.

Visitors 15 and under enter free year-round. The $5 day-use fee applies only to those age 16 and older, and only from May 1 through September 30.