Located in close proximity to downtown Juneau, the majestic Mendenhall Glacier is the only glacier in Southeast Alaska accessible by road. Mendenhall’s grand edifice plunges from the immense Juneau Icefield, dropping 4,500 feet over 13 miles and is the prime landscape for ambitious backcountry hikers looking to explore the tremendous Alaskan landmark.
The four-mile trek is a guided expedition through the Tongass National Forest, the largest temperate rainforest in the world dominated by towering Sitka spruce and hemlock trees to the very top of the eerie blue world of ice. While total elevation gain is only 800 feet, the terrain is steep and challenging as you traipse over a final rock scramble before stopping to take in the breathtaking views of the Mendenhall Glacier and its surrounding peaks.
From here, with the use of crampons visitors will traverse the ice amid landscapes, exploring the eerie blue world of ice, from the deep crevasses and moulins to crystal-clear meltwater streams and emerald-green pools.
The hike is rewarding and the views are tremendous, it truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Due to the dynamic nature of the Mendenhall Glacier features are in constant change meaning no day is ever the same on the ice. Your guide will assess each available feature prior to accessing to determine if it’s safe for you to explore the wondrous spectacle.
The Mendenhall Glacier Trek is a truly awe-inspiring experience and for those looking to fuel their adventurous spirit whilst on a luxury superyacht charter, this is the perfect day-long venture to do so.
If you want to incorporate this glacier trek into your charter itinerary, please speak with your preferred yacht charter broker and be sure to check out our ideas and tips when exploring this region.
Alternatively, you can view the entire fleet of superyachts available for Alaska yacht charters.
