Juneau Tours

Appreciate the beautiful panoramic views of the Inside Passage, the Chilkat Mountain Range, and Alaska’s capital city when you take a steep ride above tree line via tramway. This memorable adventure lifts off directly from the cruise ship dock in downtown Juneau; you can’t miss the colorful tramcar decked out in Tlingit designs. Soaring 2,000 feet above sea level, the tram takes you past entrances to old gold mines; you may even spot a bald eagle or other wildlife. The tram can get crowded, but it only takes 6 minutes to reach the top. Once there, drink in the breathtaking scenery and choose from a variety of activities and sights.

Don’t miss the award-winning film “Seeing Daylight,” a story of Tlingit Indian culture and history that shows every half hour. The theater is part of a huge complex nestled among tall Sitka Spruce trees and home to the Raven Eagle gift shop, which sells authentic Alaska Native arts and crafts. Here you get to watch Native artisans work on their masterpieces and learn more about the Tlingit culture by asking them questions. Then fuel up with a snack at the bar and grill and stop by the Nature Center, where the friendly staff can give you trail maps and recommend walking routes of differing intensities (all the trails are well marked and have interpretive signs). Finish your adventure at the Juneau Raptor Center Bald Eagle Display, where you can meet eye-to-eye with an American bald eagle and listen to presentations by expert naturalists.

Tickets include all-day unlimited rides and viewing of "Seeing Daylight," as well as the Juneau Raptor Center’s live bald eagle exhibit. Allow a minimum of one hour for a complete tramway experience.

Climb aboard a catamaran and cruise the Inside Passage in search of humpback whales, killer whales, Stellar sea lions, Dall’s porpoise, bald eagles and other Alaskan creatures. Juneau is the best place in Southeast Alaska for whale watching; the area is known for an abundance of humpback whales. In fact, there’s so much wildlife activity that you’ll get a refund of $100 per adult and $50 per child if you don’t see a whale. But don’t expect that to happen; in the past 10 years, whales have been spotted on every tour! And although you may have seen these great creatures from the deck of a cruise ship, this is an entirely different experience: these 150-passenger catamarans have been specially designed for wildlife viewing and can motor up close to the wildlife for a far more thrilling experience.

Following a short motorcoach ride to scenic Auk Bay, hop on board the enclosed and heated catamaran, then take a seat and relax in front of one of the oversized windows as you leave the harbor en route to the island-studded waters of Stephen’s Passage. Against a majestic backdrop of snow-capped peaks and glaciers, the onboard naturalist will explain the behavior and habitat of wildlife you may encounter. To fully enjoy the sights and sounds, bring a warm, rainproof jacket to wear on the observation deck. And don’t forget your camera—you’ll want to photograph the breathtaking scenery of mountain peaks emerging from the pristine waters. Throughout the cruise your crew will offer complimentary snacks and beverages, and binoculars, maps and wildlife guidebooks are also available for use at no extra cost.

Take an exciting yet mild whitewater journey down the Mendenhall River, around loose icebergs, and through beautiful scenery. The adventure begins with a scenic drive from downtown Juneau to Mendenhall Lake, just 1.5 miles from the face of the enormous 1,500-square-mile Mendenhall Glacier. Each raft carries eight to twelve people and is rowed by an experienced guide; paddle rafts are available for the more adventuresome. Your guide will help you don rain gear, life jackets, and rubber boots before setting out to explore Alaska’s wilderness. Then float across the lake in front of the glacier; it’s a great opportunity to take photographs (we recommend a disposable waterproof camera), as you’ll be treated to spectacular views of hanging glaciers, towering peaks, and glacial topography. You’ll come within inches of large icebergs that have calved off the Mendenhall Glacier. Then hang on! Once you enter the Mendenhall River for the 4-mile trip downriver, you’ll encounter stretches of moderate rapids. About a mile of the river consists of Class 2 and 3 rapids where you may get a light splash of water, while the rest is a calm and scenic float. You’ll pass by homes discovered by longtime Juneau homesteaders, and your guide will tell you all about living and working in Juneau. Once ashore, you’ll enjoy an Alaskan-style snack, featuring smoked salmon, reindeer sausage, cheese, pilot bread, and apple cider. The trip is suitable for all ages, and no experience is needed.

Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip departs from Juneau 3 to 4 times daily and is approximately 3.5 hours with 2.5 – 3 hours on the water; $109 for adults and $73 for children ages 12 & under.

Visit what was once one of the world’s largest hard-rock mining operations and get hands-on experience panning for gold in Gold Creek. Your trip back in time begins in downtown Juneau, where you’ll meet a costumed prospector who will guide you in a comfortable 24-passenger van through a historic residential area en route to Gold Creek.  Trace the route taken by eager prospectors in their search for gold more than 100 years ago—their discovery started the rush that led to the settlement of today’s Juneau. Once at Gold Creek, your guide will give a thorough presentation on panning techniques; the guides have been doing this here for many years; in fact, they look and act like they have gold rush fever! You’ll grab a pan and look for the precious metal in the same creek that contributed to the $80 million of gold found in this area. Best of all, you’re guaranteed to find some! Your guide then recounts the history of Juneau’s gold discovery as you observe the mine’s remnants, including all the industrial artifacts associated with hard-rock gold mining. You’ll return home not only with the gold you find, but also with a deed that claims your stake in this prosperous gold-mining area.

Historic Juneau Gold Mine Tour departs 6 times daily from downtown Juneau and is approximately 1.5 hours; $49 for adults and $33 for children ages 12 & under.

Paddle through some of Alaska’s most pristine salt water aboard a two-person kayak. Your adventure starts in Downtown Juneau: board a transfer bus, cross a bridge to North Douglas Island, and make your way to a rocky beach that stares onto the face of the famous Mendenhall Glacier. You’ll be only 6 miles away from the glacier, which puts the massive 12-mile-long, 1.5-mile-wide icy behemoth into perspective. Then guides will outfit you in life jackets and rain gear before you climb into the kayaks. No experience? No problem! The guides will teach paddling techniques and give a safety orientation before you begin. The stable yet nimble kayaks will allow you to appreciate the grandeur of the glacier and the loud crackling sound it makes as it moves. You’ll visit coves and wetlands and see Alaska’s natural flora and fauna before paddling into the open waters of Auk Bay. And because your kayaks are especially maneuverable, you’ll be able to silently approach seals, sea lions, eagles, and the occasional whale. Your guide will fill you in on the area and give you a sense of how the famed Aleut Indians traveled the coastal waterways of Alaska in search of pelts for the Russian fur-trading companies. You’ll even enjoy a small snack at the end of the tour.

Glacier View Sea Kayaking departs from Juneau 4 times daily and is approximately 3.5 hours with 1.75 hours on the water; $89 for adults and $59 for children ages 12 & under.

Explore the Juneau Icefield, Alaska’s largest consortium of glaciers, where you’ll discover the diversity of Southeast Alaska’s landscape and join professional mountaineering guides on a glacier trek by helicopter. Until recently, Alaska’s glaciers were largely inaccessible to all but hard-core mountain climbers. But today, NorthStar Trekking is providing a new way for active travelers to spend more time enjoying the glaciers surrounding Alaska’s capital city. Choose from one of three options that have been designed to accommodate a broad range of interests and abilities—no experience is needed for any of them.

One way to go is the Glacier Walkabout Tour, which begins with a breathtaking, 30-minute ride on a 6-passenger helicopter. Within seconds after liftoff, you’ll witness the landscape of bright green ridges and forested islands turn to the granite peaks that define the 1,500-square-mile Juneau Icefield. Land, put on your crampons, and begin an easy 1-hour interpretive walk through a beauty that’s uniquely Alaskan. Experience the thrill of walking on a glacier, stare into the vivid blue ice, drink a refreshing glass of glacier water, and learn about glacier environments. If you’re the athletic type and want to spend more time exploring, choose the Glacier Trek. On this 2-hour hike—with extensive walking on uneven and sometimes steep terrain—you’ll learn more about mountaineering gear and glacial features and hazards so you can access more remote areas of the glacier. The physical activity is interspersed with detailed explanations of the glacier environment and surrounding area. And if you’re looking to learn some basic climbing and rope techniques, sign up for the X-Trek, a difficult 4-hour hike on steep terrain that requires some technical climbing. The reward of exploring the glacier’s most pristine and remote areas is worth it.

Normal group sizes are only 12, plus your experienced guides. All outerwear and mountaineering gear is included, and guides will teach their proper use and give a safety briefing. Dress comfortably and bring an extra layer of warmth (and of course your camera). Your guide will provide explanations of glacier environments and allow time for photo opportunities.

Helicopter Glacier Walkabout, $309. Helicopter Glacier Trek, $359. Extended Trek – The “X-Trek,” $459. All tours have several departures each day and depart from Juneau.

An Alaskan feast for all of your senses! Experience Alaska’s outdoor salmon bake—a tradition for more than 30 years. The salmon bake is much more than a meal; it’s a fun outing with live entertainment and Alaskan-themed activities. In 1972, the owners were the first to open an Alaskan-themed salmon bake for visitors, and today, hundreds of ravenous visitors come for lunch and dinner daily. Upon your arrival, Alaskan-caught salmon will be grilling over an open alder wood fire, and you’ll also enjoy a buffet of barbequed chicken and pork ribs, baked beans with reindeer sausage, wild-rice pilaf, fresh salads, clam chowder, coleslaw, and cornbread, along with lemonade, coffee, and tea. (Beer and wine are available for purchase.) Leave room for dessert: you can roast marshmallows over a crackling campfire or dig into delicious blueberry cake. Go back to reload your plate as much as you want, and stay as long as you like! Sit outside to appreciate the wild nature surrounding you, and don’t worry about the weather—there’s seating inside translucent domes in case of rain. After your meal, check out the remnants of the historic Wagner mine and visit the 30-foot waterfall, where you can see live salmon spawning and a variety of birds. Visit the gift shop and have your picture taken with the friendly husky, Mac.

The Gold Creek Salmon Bake serves lunch and dinner daily. Buses pick up at all local hotels in Juneau at 12pm for lunch and 6pm for dinner. Stay as long as you’d like and when you’re ready to return, shuttles run every 20 – 30 minutes; $35 for adults and $23 for children ages 12 & under.

Board a modern turbine-powered helicopter for an unforgettable flight to the world-famous Mendenhall Glacier for an easy glacier trek. If you want to see spectacular peaks and dramatic rock formations, jagged glacier spires, lush forest, and land on a glacier, then a helicopter flightseeing tour will surpass your expectations. As TEMSCO Helicopters has been offering glacier helicopter tours in Alaska since 1983, they know the Juneau Icefield well, and the pilots have been specially trained to give informative, in-depth, and entertaining tours.

Moments after departing Juneau, you’ll enjoy breathtaking vistas that few people ever see. Thriving rain forests, alpine ridges, and mountain peaks create a dramatic setting for the awe-inspiring Mendenhall Glacier. Your flight takes you over the glacier itself, the helicopter’s perspective giving you an eagle’s-eye view of ice spires, aqua-colored crevasses, and azure pools of water. The helicopter will touch down gingerly on the icy terrain, and your pilot will escort you onto the ice for a 20-minute glacier walk. You’ll get an in-depth tour along with time to revel in the serene splendor of the surroundings.

For an even more amazing Alaskan experience, take TEMSCO’s dog-sled tour, which combines helicopter flightseeing with a landing at a dog-sled camp on Mendenhall Glacier. Here, professional mushers and Alaskan sled dogs will have you driving the team or relaxing in the sled as you soak in the awe-inspiring scenery. Mushers will tell stories about the famous Iditarod race, give instruction on dog sledding, and then hop on the sled behind you as you drive the Alaskan huskies all over the glacier. You’ll have plenty of time to talk with the mushers and take pictures with the dogs.

Mendenhall Glacier by Helicopter and Guided Walk departs several times daily and includes approximately 30 minutes of flight time and 20 – 25 minutes on the glacier. Allow up to 45 minutes for transportation from dock departure to dock return and safety briefing; $249
The Dog Sled Tour departs several times daily and is approximately 1.5 hours in length, including about 30 minutes of flight time and 55-60 minutes at the dog camp. Allow an additional 45 minutes for transportation to and from the dock and a safety briefing; $469.

Home to more than 23,000 artifacts, works of fine art, and natural history exhibits, the Alaska State Museum has housed Alaska’s history since 1900. Among its most popular exhibits are clothing, weapons, tools and ceremonial objects from the distinct Alaska Native populations, as well as icons and other memorabilia from Russian-American days. Volunteers offer tours to share their knowledge of Juneau’s history during the summer. The Museum is located in downtown Juneau within walking distance of the cruise ship terminal at 395 Whittier Street. Hours are 8:30am to 5:30pm, seven days a week. General admission is $5.

The city museum is home to 6,000 works of art and items that chronicle the history of the Juneau area. While the state museum focuses on culture, this museum emphasis gold-panning history in Juneau and the rest of the state, and visitors can watch a free half-hour video that tells the story of the city’s gold-mining days. Other permanent exhibits highlight Tlingit native culture and Juneau’s pioneer days. The Juneau-Douglas City Museum is centrally located downtown, at the corner of 4th and Main, across from the State Capitol. General admission is $4 and free to ages 18 & under.

The hatchery incubates some 150 million chum, pink coho, and king salmon annually and is designed to allow visitors to watch the process of harvesting and fertilizing salmon eggs. You’ll learn not just about salmon hatching, but also the commercial fishing industry and marine environments though aquariums with salmon and other sea life native to the area. And from mid-June to October, you can watch salmon swim up a 450-foot fish ladder into a sorting mechanism to be “unzipped” by workers who remove the eggs. General admission: $3.25 for adults, $1.75 for children, $12 for groups (5 adults).

Take a walking tour through the historic district in Marine Park. Pick up a free map at the kiosk and just go! South Franklin Street is the main tourism district and one of the best shopping areas to find everything Alaskan, from cute and furry faux creatures (like iceworms) to handmade native crafts and expensive fine art. To ensure authenticity, look for the polar bear symbol for goods made in Alaska and the Silver Hand label for genuine native crafts. Along the tour you’ll see renovated buildings dating from the early 1900s, the Davis Log Cabin (complete with historical photos), the Alaska Steam Laundry (now the Emporium Mall), the Senate Building, and the Alaskan Hotel and Bar.