NorthStar Helicopters - Flightseeing & Guided Glacier Treks

You don’t have to be an expert to scale a glacier. You can take a pleasure stroll across the ice if you like, or, if you’re feeling ambitious, learn on the spot how to climb up an ice wall. NorthStar Helicopters can accommodate both desires, and any kind of ice walk in between, while introducing you to the majestic, 1,500-square-mile Juneau Icefield, Alaska’s largest consortium of glaciers.

NorthStar offers three levels of tours:

Helicopter Glacier Walkabout

(3.25 hours, ages 8+): A unique opportunity for guests of varying ages and fitness levels to get up close and personal with stunning glacier features through an hour-long, interpretive walk on the ice. Participants must be able to walk unassisted for one hour on moderately flat but uneven terrain.

Helicopter Glacier Trek

(4.25 hours, ages 12+): Hike into some of the more remote and scenic areas of the Mendenhall Glacier. This tour provides an amazing blend of scientific discovery, ice exploration, and breathtaking scenery to capture the perfect photos. Participants must have the ability to walk for two full hours over uneven and moderately steep terrain.

Extended Helicopter Glacier Trek

(5.25 hours, ages 15+): This tour is for adventure seekers who wish to maximize their time on the glacier, explore more territory, and learn basic ice climbing techniques by ascending a glacial ice wall. Participants must be in good physical condition and have the ability to walk unassisted for three hours over steep and uneven terrain.

Fly-in Via Helicopter

Whichever trip you choose, your tour will begin at Northstar's private heliport, near the Juneau International Airport, eight miles from downtown Juneau. Then, you take a 20-minute helicopter ride to their trekking site on the world-famous Mendenhall Glacier. Along the way, you will enjoy sweeping views of the Tongass National Forest, dramatic mountain ranges, and expansive flows of ice that change from white to brilliant shades of blue.

NorthStar Helicopters provides all of the mountaineering gear, from outerwear to boots, crampons, trekking poles or ice axes. All tours include a snack and a bottle of water to fortify you as you go along. And if you need a refill on your water? Plenty of people dip their empty bottles into the glacial waters, and rave that it’s the best, cleanest-tasting H₂0 they’ve ever had.