July 7, 2008
Glacier in the heart of Juneau!
Imagine a glacier, pretty much located in the middle of town, between the tourist / cruise ship area and the more residential area headed to Auke Bay. Mendenhall Glacier, which is located 13 miles from downtown, was named after Thomas Corwin Mendenhall who was a Superintendent of the US Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1889 to 1894. John Muir had first named the glacier, Auke Glacier in 1879, after the Aak'w Kwaan of the Tlingit Indians but was renamed to honor Mendenhall in 1892.
The glacier is visible on the drive between downtown and Auke Bay although you can go to the visitor center and take tours landing on the glacier itself....even dog sledding opportunities!
Mendenhall Glacier is 100 feet tall at the face, and about 1.5 miles wide, with a length of over 6 miles! It is a small portion of the Juneau icefield, the interconnected glaciers that sit behind the mountains, adjacent to Juneau.
Some of the tours offered include ground tours to the walk up visitors' center. Flightseeing companies offer aerial tours, and helicopter companies can land on the glacier for a short walk ot a multi hour hike!
The Mendenall Glacier Visitor Center is open May through September: Sunday - Saturday from 8am - 7:30pm and is $3. From October to April, 10am - 4pm, Thurs - Sun, free admission. Don't worry if you are without a car while in Juneau - there are options through tour companies, taxi, rental car, or city bus.
The glacier is visible on the drive between downtown and Auke Bay although you can go to the visitor center and take tours landing on the glacier itself....even dog sledding opportunities!
Mendenhall Glacier is 100 feet tall at the face, and about 1.5 miles wide, with a length of over 6 miles! It is a small portion of the Juneau icefield, the interconnected glaciers that sit behind the mountains, adjacent to Juneau.
Some of the tours offered include ground tours to the walk up visitors' center. Flightseeing companies offer aerial tours, and helicopter companies can land on the glacier for a short walk ot a multi hour hike!
The Mendenall Glacier Visitor Center is open May through September: Sunday - Saturday from 8am - 7:30pm and is $3. From October to April, 10am - 4pm, Thurs - Sun, free admission. Don't worry if you are without a car while in Juneau - there are options through tour companies, taxi, rental car, or city bus.
View from Auke Bay Marina
View of glacier from Auke Bay
View as you drive by on the main...
Different view from Auke Bay
Closer view from Auke Bay
