Less Than One Day in Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier and Crab Legs

How can you spend less than one day on a cruise in Juneau, Alaska?

Spending less than a day in Juneau, Alaska, during a cruise can still be an adventure, even when things don’t go as planned. Our day began with the disappointment of our glacier dog sledding excursion being canceled due to Juneau’s unpredictable weather. However, not ones to be deterred, we quickly shifted gears. Opting to explore on our own—a practice we’re familiar with—we set our sights on Mendenhall Glacier, a must-see we’d previously earmarked.

Our revised day included marveling at the glacier and indulging in local food, Alaskan crab legs, to be exact.

This article will guide you through reaching Mendenhall Glacier, exploring its sights, assessing the Nugget Creek Falls hike, and finding the best spots for crab legs in less than a day.

In this guide, I’ll take you through getting to Mendenhall Glacier, what’s not to miss there if the Nugget Creek Falls hike is a must, and where to find the best Alaskan crab legs—all doable in less than a day in Juneau.

Less Than One Day in Juneau, Alaska

Now, a day in Juneau, Alaska, can be spent exploring the town and its rich history, visiting the local museums like the Alaska State Museum, drinking at Red Dog Saloon, riding Mount Roberts Tramwat, or hiking through the Tongass National Forest. There are whale watching, glacier trekking, or dog sledding opportunities for the more adventurous.

And, of course, if time permits, no visit to Juneau would be complete without indulging in some fresh Alaskan seafood. Whatever your interests may be, Juneau offers plenty of things to do.

After the dog sledding tour was canceled, seeing Mendenhall Glacier was the next best thing for us.

After all, Mendenhall Glacier is the crown jewel of Juneau, and locals are so proud of it. Our Lyft driver spoke of it with pure joy and awe, leaving us at the visitor center excited to see it for the first time. 

What’s great about Mendenhall Glacier is that you can get there independently without a tour. You can even take the local bus. We chose to take a Lyft out of convenience. We’ll get further into the transportation options below.

Visiting Mendenhall Glacier National Park

Seeing Mendenhall Glacier 

Mendenhall Glacier, located in Southeast Alaska in the Mendenhall Valley of Juneau, Alaska, is a 12-mile-long glacier in the Tongass National Forest. It is a popular attraction in Juneau cruise port, attracting over half a million visitors yearly (700,000 in 2023) who witness it and its breathtaking scenery.

Mendenhall Glacier is a natural wonder. The glacier’s melting ice has formed a network of caves that are not visible to the naked eye from the viewing point. You should bring your binoculars to spot these caves.

It is said that by 2050, Mendenhall Glacier will be gone. That’s one reason to hurry up and see it. Sadly, the glacier is melting.

My close friend, who had been there about five years ago, compared her photos to ours, and there is a major difference in how it looked then and now.

The Mendenhall Glacier National Park’s Visitor Center offers a fantastic view of the glacier amongst the souvenirs and other small exhibits. You don’t have to get any closer if you can’t or are limited in time.

If you have time to enter the park, a daily pass costs $5, which you can purchase at the gift shop in the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. You do not need one if you have a National Parks Pass.

(Note: We purchased passes, and nobody ever checked our receipt.)

But if you arrive there by tour, shuttle, or taxi, the cost of the pass is included with the cost of transportation. Make sure to ask.

The Photo Point Trail for Mendenhall Glacier

The Photo Point is not a 5-minute walk from the visitor center. We suggest getting to the viewpoint to see it on foot as it is a stunning sight. This is the closest you’ll be able to see it by going on an expert hike or a helicopter.

You can book other tours to get closer, like kayaking, canoeing, or other boat tours. Those you have to book far in advance. 

This was our first glacier, a wonderful sight to see. You should expect to be sharing the view with many others. 

You can also see Nugget Falls from the Photo Point Trail. It’s incomparable to seeing up close. You will want to loop back around and do the Nugget Falls trail.

When planning a day in Juneau, if Mendenhall Glacier is part of it, carve out time to hike to Nugget Falls. It is worth it.

Tour Ideas:
Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Tour [book now]
Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure Tour [book now]

Hike to Nugget Falls

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The Nugget Falls Trail is a 2-mile round-trip trail. It takes about an hour and a half back and forth, not counting the time you spend by the falls, taking in its grandeur. The trail is paved, and while it is labeled moderate, it was easy for a low-key hiker like me.

If you’re on a tour with time limitations, make sure there is enough time to walk this trail before you plan to do so. Getting halfway and realizing you must turn around without seeing the falls up close would be disheartening because you must return to your tour bus in time.

This amazing waterfall is located in the Mendenhall Valley near Juneau, Alaska. It is about 377 feet tall and cascades and sprays over 100 feet wide.

As you stand near the waterfall, you can’t help but feel tiny amongst tiny amongst the towering beauty. 

Because it had been a warm summer, the falls flowed strong and were not frozen, as you may see in other photos on the web. My friend told me that the falls and the lake were frozen the last time she was there. Even our Lyft driver told us it completely freezes in winter, and locals can access the falls from other surrounding parts on foot, not just the visitor center. 

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Seeing the Mendenhall Glacier for the first time was an experience, but I was also slightly saddened by the fact that it’s slowly melting. Standing there, you could tell that the glacier had been receding for years, leaving behind a barren landscape that was once covered in ice. 

And even as you stood in front of Nugget Falls, still thriving, the glacier that feeds it has also receded. It’s a sobering reminder that the natural world is constantly changing and that we must cherish and protect the beauty surrounding us.

Tip: Keep your eyes peeled while walking the trail. The area surrounding the falls is home to all sorts of wildlife, like black bears, bald eagles, and salmon.

You never know what you will see. We got to see a porcupine up on a tree. Didn't even know that porcupines could climb trees.

How to Get to Mendenhall Glacier from Juneau Cruise Port?

You have a variety of options to get from Juneau Cruise Port to Mendenhall Glacier. It all depends on budget, convenience, and the level of adventure you’re looking for.

Transportation Options to Mendenhall Glacier from Juneau Cruise Port:

• City Bus
  The city bus is the cheapest way to reach Mendenhall Glacier. It cost $2 each way. There are a few bus stops in Downtown Juneau from which you can take the bus. The city bus will drop you off 1.5 miles from the visitor center, about a 35-minute walk. You can find local transit information from Juneau to Mendenhall Glacier here.

• Shuttle Bus
  This is a popular option because it is convenient and takes you straight to Mendenhall Glacier. The shuttle bus runs every 30 minutes from Juneau Cruise Port to Mendenhall Glacier and back. The cost is $35 per person for a round trip, including the park pass. The most popular shuttle bus company is The Blue Bus Express.

• Taxi
  This option provides more flexibility and comfort than a shuttle bus. While you can hop into a taxi at Juneau Cruise Port, we wouldn’t rely on finding one. Taxis are limited, and if it’s crowded at the port, you may have difficulty finding one available. We recommend calling and booking one in advance or when at the port.
  
  You can even negotiate a city tour with them.
  
  Taxis also sell the passes, but don’t be surprised if it’s at a higher price.
  • Glacier Taxi & Tours (907) 796-2300
  • Juneau Taxi & Tours (907) 790-4511
  • Alaska Taxi & Tours (907) 321-2329

• Car Rental
  You can rent a car and be in charge of your agenda. This is usually our favorite way to explore ports, and we almost rented from the Avis near the cruise port as they had cars available the morning of, but we went with a Lyft instead. From what we could see, driving in Juneau seemed pretty easy, and there was plenty of parking at Mendenhall Glacier.

• Lyft or Uber
  Lyft and Uber are not authorized transportation options (meaning they do not have permits to drop you off or pick you up right in front of the visitor center). However, they are still a viable transportation option.
  
  We requested a Lyft upon getting off the ship to get to Mendenhall Glacier and then requested another one again upon our return. We were just dropped off or had to meet the Lyft a bit ways down.
  
  We purchased our passes at the visitor center for $5 each.
  
  Both times, we had the nicest locals who spoke so highly about their home and provided us with some great tips. One even went out of their way to show us the new Whale Statue. The other said we were better off eating at Tracey’s outside of the downtown area, which we didn’t even know existed.

• Biking
  Biking at Mendenhall Glacier is an adventurous option that our Lyft driver told us was popular. You can rent a bike via a bike rental company in Juneau or book a bike tour, and the journey takes 1-2 hours each way. The route requires a moderate level of fitness.

Juneau Tip: Look up as you're being driven around. You'll be surprised to see bald eagles just hanging out on top of lamp posts.

Tour Ideas:
Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Paddle and Trek [book here]
Mendenhall Lake Kayak and Salmon Bake Adventure [book here]
Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip [book here]

Can you visit Mendenhall Glacier on your own?

Yes, you can visit Mendenhall Glacier National Park on your own. We did so by just taking a Lyft. You do not need to book a tour unless it’s for convenience or if you want to do something more adventurous that involves getting closer to Mendenhall Glacier, like this Mendenhall Glacier Ice Adventure tour.

Is Mendenhall Glacier worth seeing?

Yes, with just a day in Juneau, Mendenhall Glacier is worth seeing if you have the opportunity and can fit it in. It is an incredible natural wonder and one of the most accessible glaciers you can see in person from land.

Alaskan Crab Legs at Tracy’s Crab Shack

Having Alaskan crab legs was at the top of my list for our Alaska cruise. We didn’t know what cruise port we’d fit this in, but it was on my list.

I knew in advance that Tracy’s King Crab Shack in Juneau is one of the popular spots to eat crab, but I wasn’t married to the idea. Just because it’s popular doesn’t mean that’s where we should go.

However, on our way back from Mendenhall Glacier, we spoke to the Lyft driver about crab legs, and he said Tracy’s was THE place for crabs in the area. However, the best for him was the ones he fished himself and cooked at home.

Alas, we couldn’t go out fishing for our crab. There wasn’t even enough time if it was even an option. Although there are tours, you can book to go crabbing.

Then he remembered that Tracy’s opened a 2nd location right outside Downtown, away from the busy port, and recommended we go there to avoid lines and crowds.

He had us at…”away from the busy cruise area” and then at “avoid lines.”

So, he dropped us off at Tracy’s King Crab Shack near the US Coast Guard, about a 15-20 minute walk from Juneau, which we didn’t mind walking back on our return.

Tracy’s 2nd location on Whittier Street differs from the one at the cruise pier. This location is more open with outdoor sheltered seating that is also heated, which we appreciated because it rained hard while we ate. The best part is the beautiful views of the waterfront at this location.

Now, there are instructions upon entering and a huge sign as you do that tells you how to order.

• First, you order at the first window.
• Second, grab a seat, and don’t forget to share with a neighbor.
• Third, listen for your name to be called – they bring out the food to you.
• Fourth, ENJOY. We sure did!

Tracy’s offers two types of King Crab: Red and golden. It also offers Snow and Dungeness Crab, crab bisque, crab cakes, fried shrimp, and other dishes.

We ordered a pound of the Red King Crab and a pound of the Golden King Grab, beer-battered shrimp, and a side of tater chips.

We sat down inside with a view of the water. Our food came out not long after, and it was a beautiful spread of crab legs with melted butter and sides.

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The crabs were better than I imagined them to be. I’ve had Alaskan King Crab, but it’s not as fresh. You could taste the sweetness of the fresh crab, and then you dipped it in butter, which just brought it to a whole other level.

And the beer-battered shrimp was good, too.

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Hubby normally doesn’t eat fish. Sometimes, he’ll have fried shrimp, but I convinced him to try the crab legs. He loved the Red King Crab. He said the Golden King Crab had more of a fishy taste to it, which I agreed with. I enjoyed the Red King Crab way more, but I still ate it all and felt it was worth the experience.

It is an expensive experience at $70 per lb. Not one that I regret during our one day in Juneau.

[Tracy’s King Crab Shack Location 2 Menu]

Once you leave Tracy’s 2nd location, you can walk (or call a Lyft) back to the Historic District of Juneau and the Juneau cruise port.

Or you can go in the other direction and stroll along the Juneau Seawalk.

The Juneau Seawalk has beautiful waterfront views, and it’s a 12-minute walk from Tracy’s 2nd location to The Whale Project. It’s something else you can fit into a day in Juneau, Alaska. Just remember to give yourself time to walk back to the cruise port.

Other Spots for Crab Legs During an Alaska Cruise

Ketchikan, Alaska

• Book the Crab Feast at Goerge Inlet Lodge in advance.
• Ketchikan Crab & Go | 5 Salmon Landing, Ketchikan, AK 99901

Icy Strait Point

• Crab House | 108 Cannery Rd, Hoonah, AK 99829

Additional Things to Do With a Day in Juneau

You can add to your one-day itinerary in Juneau or mix and match. If you plan accordingly, these are some other popular attractions and activities you can fit into your day.

• Explore Historic Downtown Juneau
• Stop by for drinks at the iconic Red Dog Saloon
• Go on a Ride on the Mount Roberts Tramway
• Visit the Alaska State Museum
• Book a Whale Watching Tour
• Go on a Gold Panning Adventure
• Book a food tour with Juneau Food Tour

BEFORE YOU SET SAIL, HERE ARE SOME RELATED ARTICLES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS:

• Tips for an Alaska Cruise
• How to Make the Most of a Cruise Day in Glacier Bay
• Skagway Bus and Train Excursion
• Seattle Cruise Port Guide