Interesting Places I've Photographed
Mendenhall Glacier
Juneau, Alaska
Topic: Glaciers
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| Mendenhall Glacier Reaches the Sea |
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| At the melt pool |
GPS: N58° 24.987; W134° 32.833
Quick Description:
Mendenhall Glacier is
Juneau's most popular tourist attraction.
Long Description:
From the official Juneau Convention and Visitors Bureau Website.
"Juneau's most popular attraction (and the most easily accessible Alaska glacier) is the mighty, magnificent Mendenhall Glacier, located just 13 miles from downtown Juneau and only a few minutes from the airport.
The Mendenhall is just one of the 38 major glaciers that flow from the Juneau Icefield, an expanse of interconnected glaciers that sits just behind the mountains next to Juneau. The Icefield covers more than 1,500 square miles and runs from the Taku River inlet east of town to Skagway, 90 miles northwest. Now that's one big ice cube."
The coordinates will take you to the visitors center. From there there are several places you can view the glacier. You may take one of six loop trails ranging in distance from 0.3 mi to 3.5 miles. The shortest of these is the Photo Point Trail which has handicapped access and takes you right up to Mendenhall Lake for an unobstructed view of the glacier. Other trails gain elevation for viewing down at the lake and glacier.
If you bring your binoculars you can which a variety of bird life patrolling the edge of the glacier. Commonly seen are Arctic terns, loons and gulls that nest along the lake shore.
Visitors Center Hours:
Winter Hours of Operation: October - April
10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Thursday through Sunday
Closed on Federal Holidays
Summer Hours of Operation: May - September
8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Sunday through Saturday
Open on Federal Holidays
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