Kayak & canoe · JUNEAU KAYAKING TOURS
Good juneau kayaking tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 4 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Paddle roughly five miles across calm Mendenhall Lake toward Mendenhall Glacier in a stable canoe with an expert guide. You will receive safety instruction, waterproof gear, snacks, and a hot drink, with guides such as Luke, Mason, Issy, Ben, and Rod leading recent trips. This is an active canoe trip, not a hike.
“Issy’s great! The tour is a must in Juneau. Best to do there. It’s a wonderful experience. Amazing tour.”
You’ll paddle a 28-foot Tlingit-style canoe across Mendenhall Lake, passing icebergs and aiming for views of Mendenhall Glacier and 377-foot Nugget Falls. Guides such as Elijah, Trent, Leann, and John have been praised for making the trip fun and safe. Expect rain gear, boots, snacks, wildlife sightings, and a real workout.
“We enjoyed the experience despite the rain! Fortunately we were provided with great rain pants, jackets and boots. Our guide John was great! He shared his wealth of knowledge and love of Alaska with us.”
Paddle 5 to 6 miles across Mendenhall Lake in a large guided canoe, then hike about 2 miles on rocky ground near Mendenhall Glacier. Guides provide instruction, rain gear, boots, snacks, and safety support. You do not walk on the glacier, and conditions decide how close you can safely get.
“We had a blast!!! We were reminded that we need to start exercising because our arms got tired during the canoe part, but the canoe was full so it allowed for enough small breaks. The guides were super fun and informative. I would highly recommend. I would also recommend taking or wearing socks as you need to wear the water boots they provide.”
From downtown Juneau, you’ll ride to a launch site, gear up in rainwear and boots, and paddle a stable two-person kayak for about two hours. Guides such as Louis, Lexi, Nisha, and Gabe have been praised for wildlife spotting and local stories. Expect seals, eagles, sea otters, and a distant glacier view, not a close approach to the ice.
“Beautiful scenery. We thought we’d be closer to the Mendenhall Glacier so we were a bit disappointed.”
Pick a coast, a cave or a river.
