The first 1-1.5 miles is pretty easy and follows a well maintained path. 7-10 days is the most common. Retrace your steps back to west glacier trail and avoid the temptation of climbing down to the west glacier spur trail which is visible from this look out. Great hike and very tiring when coming back ! Much of the trail is close to Byron Creek, where kids can play among the smooth stones, but keep an eye because the water is cold and sometimes rapid. - Don’t hike alone. Please check your email to verify your subscription. I am late 20’s slightly above average shape. See Alaska's highlights by railroad or motorcoach in a group of up to 50, Travel in small groups, stay at exclusive wilderness lodges, and spend more time outdoors, All-inclusive multi-day vacation packages at a remote wilderness lodge, Travel with a professional photographer to the best photo locations around the state, Trips range from backpacking, rafting, to upscale remote lodge retreats, Cruises depart Juneau or Sitka. Outdoors Editor’s note: Trip Report is an ongoing series about trail conditions around Interior Alaska. Not on a cruise. Once you get up this, you will likely lose the trail, because THERE IS NO TRAIL. The ice cave was unfortunately covered, so we didn't get to see it. Loved it! WARNING about this... if you continue on west glacier trail, there will be another fork that IS NOT A MARKED TRAIL. A stay at the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge puts you just four miles from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park’s main visitor center in Copper Center, Alaska, about a … Definitely wear waterproof shoes as there are areas that were wet and muddy (However, it did just rain a few days in a row prior to the hike). I recommend sturdy, grippy hiking shoes and a willingness to use your hands for boulder scrambling. A lot of rock hiking and scrambling up some steep cliffs. As you fly into Alaska’s capital city of Juneau and descend into the magnificent Mendenhall Glacier, that rare and unique beauty that overcomes you is guaranteed to blow your mind straight into another universe. Travel on a set itinerary with lodging and tours booked in advance. Follow the winding, mostly flat trail through a rocky, verdant alluvial plain that is now interspersed with tall alders and a smattering of cottonwood and aspen trees. It is not as much physically taxing, as it is mentally. Use our calculator to find out, Stay casual, dress in layers, and get proper footwear, Guides to the best locations around the state to view wildlife. Watch Queue Queue Mendenhall Glacier is a very popular tourist destination, conveniently located just 12 miles from downtown Juneau, Alaska, so if you happen to be in Juneau or are planning a trip there, a visit at least to the glacier is a must. If your goal is to reach the ice caves, turn right down west glacier spur trail. It is best to see the ice caves in the winter season if you really want to see them ! Many people from all around the world come to Alaska to see this natural phenom​enon. The West Glacier Trail starts out in a forest and is fairly level. I live in anchorage and am an avid, experienced hiker. Geologic Formations, Visitor Centers. Hiking through Time . In winter, you have to hoof it across the frozen lake. Portage Valley may be one of the most popular visitor destinations in Alaska, but don't let that scare you away. You will come to where the glacier meets the valley, but be wary as the entire side of the mountain to get down to the glacier is shale and dangerous to walk down. This short day hike—with an easily accessible trailhead a few hundred meters from the Begich Boggs Visitor Center—offers you big views of the Byron Glacier. Also a perfect day to hike. Stops include Seward (Kenai Fjords), Girdwood, Whittier & Spencer Glacier, Stops include Wasilla, Talkeetna, Denali National Park & Fairbanks. The trail is primarily used for hiking and nature trips and is best used from June until August. Getting up close and personal with an ice cave in Alaska is not for the faint of heart. Can be difficult at times. Self-drive vacations. Mendenhall Ice Caves – So what exactly are the Mendenhall ice caves and why do people’s eyes seem to light up with an enchanting glow when they hear those. 2-5 day small ship explorations. 10/10 recommend. This trail is fairly easy to find. Also, going inside the caves is not recommended. The Ice Cave Creek Trail is a new trail that splits off the Palmer Lake to Limbaugh Canyon (715 Trail) trail to the north. - GPS tracking. You will need more than micro or nano crampons. The route is easy to follow up a creek bed, which takes you right to the cave, with its huge arch of blue ice. My Cruise Planner . Navigating around the water also posed a great risk of getting lost, as the trail is located in deep brush. Be comfortable navigating without a clear trail. The views are absolutely breathtaking. Super unique. I’m relatively in good shape but my 57-year-old mom who was in the ICU 6 months ago was able to do it. I followed along with my AllTrails Pro app and my Garmin Fenix 5x watch. DO NOT PROCEED. Allison and Paul from Liquid Alaska Tours were greet tour guides. Glacier City Snowmobile Tours will take you on a 30 mile Snowmobile tour of Glaciers and Ice Caves in Alaska. The use of crampons is strongly recommended. We ended up rock climbing down some cliff sides (we slid down some rock that looked like original path and couldn’t get back up). Ice fields are special places. Follow the winding, mostly flat trail through a rocky, verdant alluvial plain that is now interspersed with tall alders and a smattering of cottonwood and aspen trees. More on the west glacier spur trail... this involves scrambling over wet, huge boulders and climbing up a HUGE cliff-like hill where you will be using your hands to climb up the 80 degree angle. Open today: 8:00 AM … Juneau is situated at the base of the 3,819-foot Mount Roberts on Alaska’s Inside Passage. Where I went wrong and where you can go right: Popular Alaska Itineraries Using In-State Airlines, Anchorage to Denali National Park Driving Map. The trail head is located near Begich Boggs Visitor Center. Juneau Alaska Adventures offers a guided hike along West Glacier Trail to some of Alaska's great ice caves. The truth is that most people stop at the visitor’s center for a quick walkthrough, take a photo on the deck and then get back on the road, to Whittier or elsewhere. Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. The trail starts at a well-marked pullout, about half a mile from the end of the road. Kick off your journey to the Mendenhall Ice Caves by heading to Juneau, Alaska’s state capital. So I might not take this hike on a wet day. Make sure you pay attention to the orange ties to stay on track when climbing the rocks. Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. Local: 907-783-5566. The Bagley Icefield, which is the largest non-polar … Rent a car and travel independently on a set itinerary, with lodging and tours booked in advance. Head south from Anchorage on the Seward Highway, to the end of the 5-mile Portage Spur Road. 8150 Mendenhall Loop Rd, Tongass National Forest, Juneau, AK 99801. The 3.2-mile (5.1 km) Byron Glacier Trail is flat and well-maintained. There are reputedly ice caves in the area (hence, the name), but I haven't located these yet. Click here for more information. Beautiful hike, though. Watch Queue Queue. Weather and conditions permitting, tourists can then see an expansive dreamlike scene, inside the glacier. The Mendenhall Ice Caves are situated behind Mendenhall Glacier, 12 miles outside of Juneau, Alaska. Le sentier vous offrira la possibilité d'observer la faune et sa difficulté est évaluée comme difficile. Be sure to bring rain gear: this valley is known to trap clouds that produce everything from slow drizzles to the less-frequent (but pelting) cloudbursts. Campgrounds, RV Parks & Public Use Cabins. One of the coolest destinations at the end of this hike with great views of the glacier along the way, my fiancé and I are from Florida and we did it just fine. Took us 5 hours in total. There was a problem with your submission. Juneau Ice Caves. The hike through the switchback was very doable for us. The hike isn’t very hard as far as distance or elevation climbed. That said, accessing them is no easy feat. The most famous Alaskan ice caves are located under Mendenhall, Root, Spencer, Matanuska, and Kennicott Glaciers. - Allow 4+ hours Which one is right for you? Highlights plus less visited destinations. August 2013 - We thoroughly enjoyed our ten hour trail, glacier, and ice cave hike with our ABA guides, Brigit and Chelsea. If you read nothing else in this post... USE A GPS SYSTEM and track your hike or go with someone who is familiar with the trail. Overwhelmed by choices? The Castner Glacier is an easily accessible glacier toe in the Delta Mountains of the Alaska Range. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. Naturally, we couldn’t visit Juneau and miss the chance to experience the ice caves for ourselves. Mendenhall Lake, mostly frozen over, and the Mendenhall Glacier. Much of the trail is close to Byron Creek, where kids can play among the smooth stones, but keep an eye because the water is cold and sometimes rapid. Wear Water proof hiking boots. Great hike, rain or shine. Cleats preferably if you are to walk around on the glacier. It’s better to order a tour with an experienced guide … Mendenhall Glacier And ice cave tour This excursion in Juneau, Alaska was a once in a lifetime experience. This trail does offer better frontal views of both the glacier and the Nugget Waterfall but West Glacier Spur Trail did not disappoint. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. It's a one-mile scenic walk to the glacier face along Byron Creek. Located a short 12 miles outside Alaska’s capital city of Juneau, the Mendenhall Ice Caves are ever-changing due to melting ice and glacier recession but an absolute wonder to explore. / World Famous Snowmobile Tours Just South of Anchorage, AK . When are you coming? When the trees were shorter, you could see the glacier well from the road, but now you have to hike a ways before the ice face comes into view. Of note, trail milage is incorrect on AllTrails. Not all the way to the glacier. We are about a level 7/10 level hikers. Why Everyone Should Explore These Ice Caves In Alaska At Least Once. The Erie Mine Trail continues past the turn to the Root Glacier, running parallel to the glacier for approximately 2.5 more miles. Be careful and take it in while you can. Toll Free: 1-877-783-5566. I ended up not making it to the ice caves. We did a variation of this hike, and with the occasional loss of GPS, downloading this alltrails map and carefully reading the reviews were both invaluable to our experience. Your Cruise Ship / Edit . Perfect combination of easy and difficult hiking. The Alaska Railroad is your transportation method. The Byron Glacier Ice Caves. 7,001 Reviews #5 of 66 things to do in Juneau. If trying to get to the glacier and/or see ice caves, take West Glacier Trail to West Glacier Spur Trail instead; much easier. This is NOT a 2mi hike to the glacier. Free personal GPS–driven travel guide to Alaska. It’s risky and it’s undeniably life threatening. Mount McGinnis Trail via West Glacier Trail, John Muir Recreation Cabin via Winter Trail. The unofficial trail will have pink and orange markers that lead you down into thick brush, slippery rocks, and lead to a very steep lookout on rock peninsula. We paddled a canoe with ten other tourists and our two guides across Mendenhall Lake towards the glacier. At times, the little pink/orange ribbons are few and far between, so don't panic if you're used to more trail blazing - just be prepared to carefully double back if you find yourself in the bushes. Select your cruise ship and we’ll display only the tours that work with your schedule in each port. Would recommend some spikes. The second half of the trail is rocky and features a small stream crossing. *a lot of reviews are saying distances are incorrect, I found this to be untrue. Byron Glacier, Chugach National Forest, Alaska Nordic skating inside Byron Glacier. Discover Mendenhall Ice Caves in Juneau, Alaska: Breathtakingly blue walls shimmer inside the "Glacier Behind the Town. Alaska has several huge fields that are larger than some states. There are a lot of paths that are trodden for the vistas, but not necessarily part of the trail. ice can be very slippery and dangerous. 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