Day Trips from Juneau: 7 Best Escapes by Water and Air

Juneau is the only US state capital inaccessible by road — no highway connects it to the rest of Alaska or to Canada. That geographic isolation is, paradoxically, what makes it one of the most adventure-rich cities in the country. Every day trip from Juneau involves either water or air, which means every excursion here feels genuinely different from anywhere else.

Mendenhall Glacier — 30 minutes from downtown

The Mendenhall Glacier flows 13 miles from the Juneau Icefield down to Mendenhall Lake, where it terminates in a calving face visible from the visitor center shoreline. The icefield covering the mountains above Juneau is the fifth-largest in the Western Hemisphere.

Entry: Approximately $5 per person for the visitor center and short trails as of 2026. The East Glacier Trail (3.5 miles round-trip) reaches the closest approach to the glacier face. The West Glacier Trail (7 miles out and back) crosses older glacial terrain to ice caves below the glacier’s edge — these ice caves form and collapse seasonally; check with the USFS Mendenhall Visitor Center for current conditions.

Getting there: GLIDE (Glacier Link to the Ice and Downtown Experience) buses run from downtown Juneau approximately every 30 minutes in summer — approximately $5 each way as of 2026. Drive via Glacier Spur Road off the Egan Expressway, 13 miles, 30 minutes.

Helicopter and floatplane glacier tours: Multiple operators (Temsco Helicopters, Era Alaska) run glacier landings from the Juneau airport starting from approximately $350–450 per person as of 2026. Dog-sledding on the glacier via helicopter is available from approximately $550 per person.

Best season: Year through September. Glacier is accessible year-round but summer offers the most trail access. Note: Mendenhall has retreated significantly over recent decades — current conditions differ from older guidebooks.

Tracy Arm Fjord — Full day cruise from Juneau

Tracy Arm is a 30-mile fjord south of Juneau carved by glaciers and ending at Sawyer Glacier, a tidewater glacier that calves directly into the ocean. Cruise ships and small boat operators make the 50-mile run from Juneau — the journey passes through walls of granite rising 3,000 feet from the water, waterfalls, seals hauled out on ice floes, and frequently orcas.

Tours: Tracy Arm Fjord day trips depart downtown Juneau daily in summer — Allen Marine Tours runs from approximately $200 per adult as of 2026, with the trip taking about 8–9 hours total. Small-boat operators (Adventure Bound Alaska, Orca Enterprises) offer similar itineraries from approximately $195.

Best season: May through September. Pack layers regardless of forecast — the fjord is significantly colder than downtown Juneau.

Whale Watching in Stephens Passage — Half day from Juneau

Humpback whales feed in Stephens Passage throughout the summer. Whale watching tours from Juneau depart downtown’s Aurora Harbor morning and afternoon — Orca Enterprises (Auke Bay), Allen Marine, and Gastineau Guiding are the main options, running approximately 3.5–4 hours from approximately $150 per adult as of 2026.

August through September offers the best odds of seeing humpbacks bubble-net feeding — a coordinated hunting behavior unique to Southeast Alaska populations. Steller sea lions, Dall’s porpoise, and harbor seals are reliably sighted on most trips year-round.

Departure: Downtown Juneau, various docks. Check departure times as they vary by operator and season.

Skagway by Fast Ferry — 4 hours each way

The Alaska Marine Highway fast catamaran (when running) or Auke Bay Lines runs to Skagway in approximately 4 hours each way — a long day but a different kind of Southeast Alaska experience. Skagway is the preserved boomtown from the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush.

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (downtown Skagway, free) covers the town’s stampeder history through excellent ranger programs and a well-preserved commercial district. The White Pass & Yukon Route railway (approximately $170 round-trip to White Pass Summit as of 2026, check wpyr.com for current schedule) climbs 2,865 feet in 20 miles on narrow-gauge track built in 1898 — one of the steepest rail grades in North America.

Ferry: Alaska Marine Highway System (dot.alaska.gov/amhs). Schedule varies seasonally — confirm departure times and book in advance. One-way fare approximately $65–85 per adult as of 2026.

Best season: May through September — the Skagway tourist season.

Haines by Ferry — 1 hour each way

The Alaska Marine Highway ferry to Haines takes about 1 hour, and the town offers a quieter, more local Alaska experience than Juneau’s cruise-ship-heavy downtown. The American Bald Eagle Foundation museum (entry approximately $15 as of 2026) has a substantial live bird rehabilitation facility.

Fort William H. Seward (now a national historic landmark, free to walk) was the first permanent US Army post in Alaska. In late October through November, the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve hosts 3,000–4,000 bald eagles congregating to feed on a late salmon run — one of the largest gatherings of bald eagles in the world.

Ferry: Alaska Marine Highway System. Haines is the most practical ferry day trip from Juneau — approximately $45–55 per adult each way as of 2026. Confirm current schedule at dot.alaska.gov/amhs.

Best season: Summer for ferry reliability; late October–November specifically for the eagle gathering.

Glacier Helicopter Tours and Icefield Landings — Full experience from Juneau Airport

The Juneau Icefield, which feeds dozens of glaciers including Mendenhall, is most dramatically experienced by air. Helicopter operators running from Juneau Airport and some from downtown Juneau include:

• Temsco Helicopters: Icefield landing and walk, from approximately $350 as of 2026
• Era Alaska: Dog-sled tours on the icefield, from approximately $550 as of 2026
• Coastal Helicopters: Custom glacier tours, check coasalhelicopters.com for current pricing

Floatplane tours over the icefield (NorthStar Trekking, Wings of Alaska) provide broader aerial views at slightly lower prices from approximately $275 as of 2026.

Best season: May through September. Icefield landings can be cancelled due to weather — operators typically offer refunds or reschedules.

Admiralty Island and Pack Creek Bear Observatory — 30-minute floatplane from Juneau

Admiralty Island National Monument has the highest density of brown bears in North America — approximately 1,700 bears on a 96-mile-long island. Pack Creek, on the island’s west coast, is one of the few places in Alaska where bears can be reliably observed feeding on salmon in close proximity to people.

Access: Floatplane from Juneau only (Wings of Alaska, Ward Air). Guided day trips to Pack Creek during the July–September salmon run cost approximately $650–850 per person as of 2026 and include Forest Service permit fees. Visitor numbers are strictly limited by permit — book months in advance.

Permit: USFS permit required from June 25–September 10. Check the Admiralty Island National Monument page at fs.usda.gov for current permit availability and pricing.

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For more on exploring Juneau itself, see our guides to things to do in Juneau, where to stay in Juneau, and where to eat in Juneau.