getting to mendenhall glacier from cruise ship

We were there 3 weeks ago, We rented a car from National for $59. Douglas tram are an absolute mess, it remained me of people trying to catch a bus leaving a third world country, an unorganized mess or cluster. dig sledded there. The glacier is located about 12 miles north of downtown Juneau. Alaska's most famous and most visited glacier, located just 12 miles from downtown, is protected as part of the 5,815-acre Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. Getting to Mendenhall Glacier - Alaska - Cruise Critic Community 1.5 miles sounds fine, unless it's a rainy windy day. Definitely a highlight of our vacation. Your transfer will be confirmed instantly after making a booking. We arrived at 3 pm, walked the path to the glacier (45 minutes round trip) and picked up the return bus at 4 pm, right on schedule. We had 2 hours at Mendenhall, which was plenty. If you are in a hotel or any part of Juneau you can also try to grab a Uber, Lyft or Taxi. We don't want to take a tour that limits our time there, so that limits some options. When I visited in 2016 the opening to the ice cave was right off the western flank, but these caves have since collapsed. Its probably too late at this point, but for more than 2, a car rental is usually cheaper and gives you flexibility on time spent at locations and where you can go. The glacier has receded to a point were it meets the end moraine. Add Cruise Critic's Community Forums to your iPhone's Home Screen! Follow Skaters Cabin road to the parking lot at the end. The bus driver also is a guide/naturalist and along with interesting information he answered questions we had about Juneau, wildlife, etc. There's a Mendenhall Glacier tour for everyone. Great place to see bears up close at that point. Powered by Invision Community. But because they ran later shuttle buses--as promised--it was not a problem for us.]. As for when to disembark . we asked the bus driver. My daughter is a full time wheelchair user and I am trying to determine if this is an option. Catch the local bus and walk to the visitors centre. Stop at the Visitor Center for an elevated view of the glacier and a look at the interactive exhibits, and informative displays that showcase the awesome force of glaciers before the return trip to Juneau. I used this company to hike to Mendenhall then we did a glacier trek. How To Get Around In Juneau, Alaska As A Tourist (5 Ways) October 6, 2008. But take the phone numbers with you andcall (at least40 minutes ahead of pickup time). #1 Posted July 6, 2018 Our cruise is officially a week away and I'm going through our itinerary. 1. Just updated the post in May 2017, Thanks for the clear instructions on how to get to the ice caves. There are many "must haves" for each person in our family. Where the road forks take the right onto Skaters Cabin road. Check out kayak and canoe tripshere. I would like to share how we got to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center from the cruise port as we arrived on a cruise ship which was docked directly across from the Mt. When I visited the opening was quite obvious. Read our range of informative guides on popular transport routes and companies - including Travelling around the UAE, What are the different types of Renfe trains in Spain? Your biggest concern would be if it was raining and having a baby out in that weather. Nice video presentation. Cost of taxi to Mendenhall glacier visitor centre - Juneau Forum Has anyone done this trip to Mendenhall from pier? . I havent looked at that. I visited in 2016, but I had heard in 2018 the cave I went in had collapsed, and by 2019 another cave had formed at a different location on the glacier. Learn how your comment data is processed. There are ticket booths on the sidewalk. These services will cost a minimum of $35 each way. Sincerely, Piggybacking on to this one, how easy is it to 1. catch a cab from the cruise port area to the glacier and 2. from the glacier to the back to the cruise port area? But, be prepared for wet feet, climbing over "stuff"- rocks etc. If you are flying with Coastal or TEMSCO just take a cab directly to Mendenhal. more, Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier, This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. However, we still need family friendly and comfortable! You are choosing to go at your own risk as glacier travel can be extremely dangerous and even deadly. Juneau to Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area bus services, operated by Capital Transit, arrive at Mendenhall Loop Road and Dredge Lake Road station. Glaciers are constantly shifting, changing, melting, moving, and sometimes growing. All in all, I highly recommend The Blue Bus if you don't want to bother with calling for and waiting on taxis and ubers. Allows you to do more exploring. I hope they havent, but it does seem to happen every few years, When are these photos taken? , It's a big debate whether to do a ship sponsored excursion or arrange one on your own. 8 Best Mendenhall Glacier Tours - Alaska Shore Excursions Hire a guide! I might just have to look to have the glaze shipped! I couldn't have asked for a better excursion in Juneau. He can walk with his cane and has a portable scooter that folds up to the size of a suitcase. Glaciers and especially ice caves are constantly shifting, melting, and collapsing. The glacier is located about 12 miles north of downtown Juneau. There are several transportation options from the Juneau cruise ship docks. Use code ADVENTURESOFNICOLE We took a short bus ride from the cruise ship to the glacier and the visitors center. Kimpton Amazing places deserve to be shared with others - why not Write a Review! So when I found both of these destinations included in one excursion in Juneau, saw it lasted 3 1/2 hours, included facilities at both sites, and we could head back from the salmon bake at our leisure in shuttles that ran frequently back to the pier, count me IN! https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/about-forest/offices/?cid=stelprdb5400800. By Maryland ;) They sent along with the confirmation an area map and things to see. It was a beautiful site, but very disheartening to learn how rapidly the glacier is receding. There is no stopping us! In fact, it was a relaxing atmosphere to enjoy the fresh Alaskan salmon and locally prepared food, especially after the hikes we had just accomplished at the Mendenhall Glacier. Check out theJuneau Travel Guide + 19 Things To Do In Juneau. A wealth of information at the link below, the visitor center is for viewing the glacier and is not on the glacier itself. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner. There was an opportunity to use the restroom beforehand which shortly thereafter we were separated into our respective helicopters by weight by a team member who called out our names to walk us to the helicopter we were assigned to. After arriving back at the center, we returned our glacier boots. The bus that drops you off a mile away is the city bus. We want to go to Mendenhall Glacier but have read that a lot of passengers felt they didnt get enough time there. Can anyone tell me if our National Parks Annual Pass is valid there? #1 Posted July 23, 2012 I will be on Radiance of the Seas next month. Are they easy to find? In 2017 we went to a salmon bake in Liarsville and it just wasnt the same. Thanks again! The best way I can describe what being inside the ice cave is like is to say its what Ive always imagined being trapped inside a sapphire would be like. Looking for a great excursion in Juneau for your family? Yes, the driving distance between Juneau to Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area is 22 km. Once you arrive at Mendenhall Glacier, you'll be dropped at the. Duration: 4.5 hours (Roundtrip from cruise ship terminal. Public Transportation To Mendenhall Glacier Transport In Juneau. Told that if I'm paying $90 for a shuttle bus, i'd come out cheaper renting a car and then I can do things on my own schedule. Im happy to hear this was helpful. LOL. $45 a person seems high to me, but not sure if there are other cheaper options. Powered by Invision Community. With the SHUTTLE buses it is a 20 minute bus ride. The Forest Service web site has info on transportation options. The bus goes from downtown to the Mendenhall Valley, home of . Capital Transit (The City Bus) Juneau's city bus system is reliable, although maybe not the fastest mode of transportation. Also, is it necessary to book transportation now or are there enough options once we get off the ship to just wait?Thanks so much for any help. This is not true. How to Get to Mendenhall Glacier from Juneau Cruise Port Plus it drops off at least a mile from the glacier. We have a midsize car for the day at $67.85 grand total - I booked it in May *LAST YEAR*. Pay fare on the bus. The Glacier Shuttle schedule is set to the arrival and the departure of the cruise ships each day. At this point I'm really wishing I could just Uber. After a stroll around the beautiful grounds (hint: take the walking trail to see the waterfall), browsing the authentic Alaska mementos, and eating every last bite of the Gold Creek Salmon you can possibly muster, they have shuttles to take you back to the ship running every 20 minutes or so. In the winter, if the ice is thick enough it is possible to walk across the frozen lake from the Visitor Center. Kid Friendly Travel You will be able to leave a comment after signing in. If you rent a car, you could drive around and see other things. Welcome to the Juneau cruise port guide. For this excursion, you walk only a short distance from the ship to meet upwith your guide in the bus loop. If you take the MGT bus it is only $8pp each way and I would assume the child is free but not entirely sure. July 7, 2019. Drive Toward Mendenhall Glacier In The Tongass National Forest. On the Celebrity Solstice, a Celebrity Cruises ship, it is offered in the Juneau section of the Excursion Guide asJU33Mendenhall Glacier and Salmon Bake. Buses loop around the loop and then take Glacier Highway to/from downtown. . Nothing like that in Texas. Really pretty. At least one tour company does a hike to the Glacier using the West Glacier Trail. By air, bycruise ship, or by theMarine Highway(aka: the ferry). Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. you don't say what time your ship departs, but keep in mind that the park is open until midnight. Have a wonderful cruise! For this excursion, you walk only a short distance . This can be largely dependent on the weather on a particular year though. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. Depending on the ice you can go to varying depths into the glacier. I don't want to hire a car just for one journey! Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Glacier Avenue and 9th Street and arriving at Mendenhall Loop Road and Dredge Lake Road. From here we walked the 1.5 mile and arrived at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center by 9:25 am. We have booked through Juneau Car Rental for a full size @ $79.35, WAAAY cheaper than the bus, plus less walking for these 4 older folks. We were 4 people in our 50's at that time and found it a very easy walk around the area with the glacier and the waterfall. I will share this with the company! Salamander Resort & Spa "Mom, this is the BEST salmon I've EVER had!" While this is unfortunate, you cant predict these things. Theres a chance that there may be no caves when you plan to visit. Guess I'll rent a car ;), You will be able to leave a comment after signing in. Start shopping plans over atbattleface, my go-to travel insurance choice, or over atWorld Nomads. Juneau Shuttle To The Mendenhall Glacier - Juneau Tours There will be me, DH, and 9 month old. There are places where the trail is covered with glacial material which some people call 'scramble' for good reason. We walked around for a while, went up to the visitors center, took some pictures, and generally admired the view. Does that mean you can just look at the glacier or can you actually walk on it? We loved walking the trails and taking our time at the glacier, knowing that the Blue Bus returned for a pick up every 30 minutes all day long. Plus,I've heard from many people that the salmon in Alaska is out of this world. After some persuasion my brother and I decided to book this excursion while looking through other excursions offered in Juneau. Tim. Public bus to mendenhall glacier | Visting Alaska | Kelsea Ventures Is it necessary to reserve a cab ahead of time? We arrive in Juneau at noon and depart at 9pm. Visit the glacier as part of a tour, which can include a whale-watching cruise, a glacier hike, and canoeing at Lake Mendenhall. I believe only certain companies land on Mendenhall, while other companies land on other glaciers within the ice field. Easy-peasy. Our UK phones may not even work out by the Falls? It was a fantastic experience and well worth the expense. Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, At the cruise ship docks, several bus services offer low-cost rides ($30 round trip) to the Mendenhall Glacier during the summer visitors season. Celebrity Cruises quite popular for evening walks. Hilton It takes approximately 23 min to drive from Juneau to Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. Thanks for starting this Thread and the responses. You must take a helicopter to walk on Mendenhall glacier. Its somewhere that I wanted to stay in forever and run out as fast as I could it is an eerie feeling being under a glacier, but amazing at the same time. Mendenhall Glacier is easily accessible via roads from the local airport, cruise ship terminal and state ferry terminal. Washington D.C. There are 4 of us so that is much cheaper than taking the shuttle to Mendenhall, plus we can go wherever we want to after that. I know I'll NEVER!! The blues flicker and flash and appear to shift to different hues. Roberts Tramway. MidrangeRamada By Windham Juneau|Booking.com|Hotels.com|, SplurgeAlaska's Capital Inn B&B|Booking.com|Hotels.com|. Cost was a big factor when we explored potential activities for our Alaska cruise. For a truly exciting trip, the Ice Adventure tour can include a visit to the famous Mendenhall Glacier Ice Caves if conditions are favorable. Better yet, price a rental car for the day. We took the same excursion in 2013 and Im still talking about the Salmon and that addictive sauce. Juneau Tours Glacier Shuttle departs from a central downtown location and goes to the Mendenhall Glacier and back every 30 minutes on most days, and every 20 minutes on busy days. We were on last week, convenient and simple for the Glacier Express. after 7pm the locals come out. If you're docked right near the tram, there will probably be no need to take a shuttle back to the ship and you can just walk. The visitor center itself has a theatre, a gift shop, and some good info about the glacier. A breathtaking view of Mendenhall Glacier. Or do you have to take a helicopter/plane in order to walk on it? Wine & Spirits. It is an easy walk to the waterfall with pictures that will amaze anyone. Has anyone used "The Blue Bus" Glacier Express. Ya never know about bears anywhere in Alaska. Both of the bus brands that I found to book to the Glacier were $45 a person round trip. Better yet, rent a car. If you haven't explored downtown Juneau at this point, ask the driver to drop you in the downtown area as they drive through. So we would end up at the Visitors Centre with no taxi or bus booked. The salmon's sweet taste is enhanced by this delicious brown sugar sauce they drizzle over top. Its possible to bring a kayak (or rent one back in Juneau) and kayak across the lake in the summer and land just to the western flank of the glacier. Amazing places deserve to be shared with others - why not Write a Review! The Uber estimate is between $28 and $35 each way. After drooling over this specialty, we were thrilled to hear they sold the sauce in the gift shop. Can you confirm this information is not accurate? Mendenhall Glacier. It's over13 1/2 miles of a glorious Juneau icefield that spills into Mendenhall Lake in the Tongass National Forest. To access the glacier, it requires several hours, fitness and getting to the west side- which the shuttles do not service. Would we be able to get back to the ship dock / Mt Roberts Tramway easily please? - Tripadvisor. I'll be on RCCL Explorer of the Seas next month. This fee gives you access to the Visitor Center, Photo Point Trail, and all on-site restrooms. Of course we purchased a few packages to take back with us. I couldn't agree more. Call the taxi companies and ask what their price will be for the 2019 season. The distance between Juneau and Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area is 15 km. Then someone else said, nope, closer to $60. By All and all a great hike but do not do it expecting caves like those pictured. Have you found any additional information about this yet? This is a long trek and the trail is difficult, can be dangerous in areas, and is mostly unmarked, though there usually is some surveyors tape every so often marking the way. That, in my opinion, is the best part of the Mendenhall Glacier Center experience. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. The one-way trip with Capital Transit from downtown Juneau to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center can take up to 1.5 hours, which includes a walk of about 30 minutes. Visit scenic Photo Point Trail, which winds along Mendenhall Lake for an unobstructed view of the glacier's face. We are on the Eurodam the week of May 12. Phone numbers in this link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/about-forest/offices/?cid=fseprd495443. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, Alaska - TripSavvy Find all the transport options for your trip from Juneau to Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area right here. Glad to hear you made it out there! Take an excursion or tour through the water-filled valleys of Mendenhall Glacier to bathe in the light that reflects off of the compressed ice. I normally book everything to the minute before we even go on holiday. Im glad we choose the public bus route as it was easy peasy and inexpensive. We'd like to go to Mendenhall Glacier, check out the visitor center and do a bit of hiking for a few hours before going into town for shopping, dinner, etc. The Alaska State Museum. Firstly, youll need to get toJuneau. This is not terrain the should be descended by those without significant experience in the mountains. Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center - Yelp I think if you already have a National Park Pass, though, you may not need to pay it. Pictures from 10 to 50 years ago showed how quickly things have changed.It's very eye opening. Salmon bake station tended by grill masters preparing freshly caught wild salmon. Like previously mentioned you can hop on a shuttle bus near the cruise port for $45 per person. Princess Cruises Understand you can take a bus to the glacier. For our day in Juneau, the ship didn't arrive at the pier until 1:30 PM since we were. We parked right down town under the library (a parking garage) and the best I can remember it was free - you can shop from there. I will be on Radiance of the Seas next month. For me the rental car is the best solution. Get from Juneau to Mendenhall Glacier and back quickly and at your convenience with this round-trip shuttle service. Princess Cruise excursion offered a helicopter tour of Mendenhall Glacier. Oh, and cost! There are no ice caves left at this point. In 2019 there are ice caves that have reformed, but the openings to them always are changing so you may need to do some investigating on arrival to locate them. Three or more, you're way ahead including entrance fees for the glacier. Very picturesque. Great tour! If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Bears in the area around the visitor center are a bit hard to find until late July and on into August, when they have to shut down part of the trail along the river due to how many there are. The bus ride can take up to 1 hour, and the closest bus stop is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away from the Visitor Center. angela auclair / Getty Images During peak season, which is May through September, admission to the glacier viewing area and all trails except the Photo Point Trail is free, but the Visitor Center charges a $5 admission fee for visitors ages 16 and older. Immediately upon arriving, you'll take in the delicious smoky aromas and festivities. Besides booking an excursion what are my options for getting to Mendenhall and back? #1 Posted April 22, 2019 Hello, Heading on a RCl Alaskan cruise in July. Pennsylvania Getting out to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center & Recreation Area. On our walk to the visitors centre we saw a black bear crossing the road. However, I was determined to sample this local specialty when in Alaska. I'd take the city bus https://www.traveljuneau.com/plan-your-trip/getting-here-and-around/public-transportation/ and walk the mile from the entrance before I'd ever ride theGlacier Express shuttle bus. Google them and call them. In summary, this is one of the most incredible things I have ever taken part of. Bay Area Calfornia Its still memorable to me how stunning it was. Are there multiple shuttle companies? Planned tours through the ship sounded nice, but everything I read said that if you wanted to see the Falls you might have trouble getting back to the pick up point in time. I can't recall but I don't think it was more than $40 RT pp, maybe less. View all of our Juneau whale watching tours. The Adventures of Nicole is a participant in the Tongass National Forest - Offices - US Forest Service Not to seem petty, but there is no place in Juneau that is a LONG drive from anyplace else.. How do the shuttles work - it sounds like there are kiosks when you get off the ship. Head northwest on Egan Drive, take a right onto Mendenhall Loop Road which will turn into Glacier Spur Rd. The glacier is always a wonder. Improve this listing. Avis just moved. Juneau is the smallest state capital of the largest state of the United States: Alaska. Shop the best flight deals on Expedia and Skyscanner. Juneau to Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area - Rome2rio Posted April 4, 2010. We took a small trail around that gave us some good walking and good views of the glacier. If you're on the same ship, same dates, we owe you at least a beer or two? Told renting a car would be a pain in the butt just for driving to Mendenhall and that I should just take a taxi. River Cruises By which street corner is the bus back to the Docks? Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Rome2Rio uses cookies to help personalize content and show you personalised ads. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Q&A: Cruise Insurance with Steve Dasseos of the TripInsuranceStore.com - Summer Session '23, ANNOUNCEMENT: Regent Seven Seas Cruises 2025-2026 Voyage Collection Debut. How apt are you to see bears if you take any of the shorter trails around the Mendenhall Visitor Center? I breathed a sign of relief and knew I had picked our excursion well. Im not in Juneau right now, so I dont have any more current information on if the caves have collapsed. This is the beginning of the West Glacier Trail. Or do you have to book a journey back in advance? The Mendenhall Glacier is 12 miles outside of Juneau and there are several options for getting there. Thank you so much for this article. Lots of good information about the glacier and the falls. Amazing isnt it? Sounds like a good plan to me. A great place to visit. I just bought an Ergo since the baby outgrew the Bjorn. We'll be there again in a few weeks and will get another car. There is a thread somewhere here in this section that explains the $7 fee for entry. I think you have more flexibility if you rent a car, there's a lot to see there in the Juneau area. Our facility and lands are managed by the federal government through the United States Forest Service. We started out years ago paying only $5 a person each way, then it went to $6 and now it is $8. The easiest way to explore the glacier is by purchasing a tour at the shore excursion desk on your cruise ship or through a third-party shore excursion company. Hyatt Hotels the Mendenhall shuttle bus loads at the tram parking lot. I have a thing for little-visited parts of the world, breakaway regions, and remote places. The area around the glacier is hard packed sand so not sure how easy a stroller would be to push but it shouldn't be too bad. Upon arrival at the glacier, your guide will point out the areas of special interest and self-guided trails through Tongass National Forest. Been told to take City bus for like $2 a person. 5 went for $50 while we paid $48 for our 3. As a side note, I had read a very touching book, A Wolf Called Romeo, about a friendly wolf who had lived in this area. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 5. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States.
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