Home > Juneau > Juneau Shore Excursion: Mendenhall Glacier Rafting Tour
USD $142.00
Juneau Shore Excursion: Mendenhall Glacier Rafting Tour
Juneau, United States of America
A must-see sight while in port in Juneau is the Mendenhall Glacier and on this exciting 3.5-hour white-water rafting tour, you'll get up close to this impressive natural wonder! Sit back and have fun as your guide paddles you through Class II and III rapids at the foot of the glacier. While you float along the 6-mile (9.6-km) route, take in the amazing sights of the glacier, the sheer mountains and the abundant wildlife. No rafting experience is required and this tour is suitable for the whole family.
Hop off your cruise ship in Juneau and hold on for a safe and exhilarating river-rafting experience on this Mendenhall Glacier rafting tour! As you travel at the foot of the spectacular Mendenhall Glacier, you’ll be awed by views of towering mountains, forests and wildlife.
Your shore excursion begins with a scenic drive up Mendenhall Valley. When you reach the shores of Mendenhall Lake, don protective raingear and a lifejacket, and board your raft. Each raft holds up to 12, and is rowed by an experienced guide.
Glide across the iceberg-studded lake, marveling at the 1.5-mile-wide (2.4 km) glacier, and set course downstream . The 6-mile (9.6-km) route combines windy stretches of water with Class II and III rapids. The rapids are perfectly safe – exciting for beginners and experienced rafters, and appropriate for all ages. The raft lasts approx. 1.5 to 2 hours.
When the river feeds into the lake and the rapids end, soak in the views of the riverbank, lush forests and 7,000-foot (2,134-meter) mountains rising above the valley floor. Learn about the natural history of the river, and keep your eyes open for bald eagles, birds nesting in rocky cliffs, black bears, otters and seals, and salmon during spawning season.
At the finish point, celebrate with an Alaskan-style snack and toast your adventure with a cup of Martha’s Mendenhall Madness (a strong wine cocktail) or hot cider. You can purchase the action photo of yourself as a lasting memento of a trip you’ll never forget.
Worry-free Shore Excursion: We will ensure your timely return to the Juneau port for this activity. In the rare event your ship has departed, we will arrange for transportation to the next port-of-call. If your ship is delayed and you are unable to attend this activity, your money will be refunded. See our terms and conditions for full details.
Beautiful Tour! Alex, our guide, was very professional, knew the river very well, and obviously enjoyed his job! We were pleased to find it was not a true whitewater rafting type tour with heavy rapids. It was more of a float tour. All water gear was provided. Shoes and items were collected prior to departing on the tour and ready for us at the end of the tour.
Review by: Emily M, July 2018
The experience was worry-free. Our guide was fantastic. It was fun for the entire family! I would do it again. The staff was knowledgeable and courteous.
Review by: RJCrowley, November 2017
The raft ride across the lake and down the river was very interesting and fun. the guide was a student from Minnesota and really enjoyed his job. The post rafting snacks are pretty lame. It rained during most of our ride which made it pretty cold.
Review by: Gary B, October 2017
Nice tour but not much to see on the river except the back yards of people's homes
Review by: Scott O, August 2017
We didn't know there were only 4 rafts where everyone paddles. I'd recommend you include a note to the vendor if that is what you desire. Our raft as most had a guide controlling his set of oars, and the passengers were along for the ride. Still a very enjoyable trip down a glacial river - great views of Mendenhall Glacier, there was a bald eagle sitting on a branch about 15 feet away from our raft at one point. You may be disappointed if your expecting a full on whitewater rafting experience, but it is a very beautiful, interesting, and enjoyable way to see part of Juneau. Well coordinated with bus shuttle from port to river and return. Bus driver gave narration along the trip, both directions. Many eagle and salmon sightings!
Review by: Yolanda W, September 2016
Fun rafting and beautiful scenery. Our guide was very skilled at guiding us through the class 3 rapids.
Review by: Kim H, July 2016
This was a good tour. Our guide worked hard to ensure we had a good trip. We got to see two black bear cubs playing on the river bank.
Review by: Steve S, June 2016
White water was weak . Maybe two feet ab never got close to mendhonhal glacier
Review by: Teri Z, June 2016
Rafting experience was great- we had the raft where you had to paddle with the guide and I would recommend it. Was a rainy day but ride was beautiful and fun and our guide was very knowledgable.
Review by: Elsa C M, September 2015
Incredible experience for the entire family!
Review by: Traci G, August 2015
Hurry up and wait. Felt rushed to get into small van to get to the site in cold rain, put on rain gear and wait 1/2 hr for another group. Not cool. The female guide was perfect, funny and knowledgeable _br/_ Worth the wait, but hey, don't rush people to wait
Review by: Jeanette P, September 2014
Only a couple of very mild rapids. More of a float trip. But our guide Josh was fantastic and made the trip really enjoyable. My 11 year old son and 70 year old in-laws had a great time.
Review by: raymond m, September 2014
did not get as close to glacier as we thought we might, rafting was rather tame and we are in our late sixties_br/_
not considered great value for cost
Review by: George G, August 2014
We loved the rafting trip around Mendenhall Lake and down the river. Our guide, Adam, was excellent: informative, knowledgeable, and always made us feel safe. Other staff members were equally as friendly and helpful. We were only disappointed that we could not see the face of the glacier.
Review by: Stringohana, July 2014
Fun excursion to do while in Alaska!
Review by: Larry O, September 2013
It was really nice to get outside, but the tour itself was way less than we expected! Six of us got into the raft with the guide (a really nice kid!), and he proceeded to paddle us around the lake talking about the Glacier. Pretty boring!!! Never got any closer than about a mile from the Glacier itself. _br/_
Saw no wildlife except 1 Blue Heron (which we have tons of by our home in WA state), and were very disappointed. Then he slowly paddled us down the river with a couple small rapids. _br/_
The most interesting thing we saw were 3 Pugs (doggies) who routinely bark at the rafts as they drift past their house. _br/_
We were told we'd get a great "Alaskan Snack' at the end.. just some Salmon spread on a couple of crackers, and some cheese cubes with salami. Not even a paper plate or plastic knives to dish things up, and also no napkins. Good thing we had a big breakfast on the Ship. _br/_
Would I recommend this tour? Absolutely not. Wish we had not wasted the money and the time on it!
Review by: Yvette M, August 2013
The trip was beautiful! Even at 7am. The guide was very informative but the excitement of "white rough waters was only about ten minutes long". The rest was peaceful floating but still very worth it. You get to see the glacier which was super neat!
Review by: EUGENE L, July 2013
This excursion was the best one of the entire trip. I would definitely recommend this excursion to anyone that went to Alaska. I was a little hesitant using a third party company that was not part of the Cruise line but I am sure glad I did. Best company ever!
Review by: Jeanne, July 2013
I was extremely disappointed with this tour. It was advertised as a rafting tour, but was actually a float with about 5 minutes of rafting out of a total of 1 hour and 20 minutes on the water. The first half hour was spent rowing across a lake (by a very nice, capable young girl) and we were not able to get close to the glacier nor see the waterfall that was there. The staff at the facility was very nice, but the actual trip was a disappointment.
Review by: Wendy B, July 2013
was not on trip but my sons and husband said they loved it.
Review by: smk, July 2013
My husband, two sons and daughter went on this trip and had a blast. The kids would have enjoyed more rapids as much of the trip was floating.
Review by: Joyce K, June 2013
The guide tried to make the tour exciting with conversation and jokes and it was fun, but the rapids were not as great as we thought they would be. It was pleasant, not frightening.
Review by: Sarah P, June 2013
This was a lot of fun and Evan was a great tour guide! It is low key enough for all ages. Breathtaking scenery near the glacier and down the river. The company is a great group of people.
Review by: Stefanie S, September 2012
the trip was really fun and the guide was good-I just thought it was very expensive for what it was.
Review by: Michaela S, August 2012
Only disappointment was that the office staff of the company providing the tour did not react in any way to my consequent call asking them to make a reasonable effort to return the sweatshirt I forgot in one of bins on the tour. Since the departure of the cruise ship was still 10 hours away, I expected at least any kind of communication from them.
Review by: Kerry N, August 2012
Unfortunately the rafting tour was cancelled, instead we went kyacking instead and had a great time amongst the fish, seals and bird life that was around the lake.
Review by: Sreekar K, July 2012
Great experience. Our guide was awesome. Wish the company was more organized at the launch point.
Review by: Sreekar K, June 2012
Great experience. Our guide was awesome. Wish the company was more organized at the launch point.
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