The big upside is being to stay at the glacier as long you wish. Glacier and waterfall were beautiful! Posted May 5. I called the shuttle company last night to see if we could get a one way ticket back from the M. Glacier and they said no. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. Hear stories and folklore of old gold mining days. There are numerous trails around the area. We are in port from 1-10 and were thinking of going later like 5 when we get back from our other tour. We want to do both these tours. Both busses seemed similar and round trip was the same price as two one-way, so there didn't really seem to be any advantage to one vs. the other. Breathtakingly beautiful, the Mendenhall Glacier fills the valley for as far as the eye can see. Add Cruise Critic's Community Forums to your iPhone's Home Screen! It is on a blue school bus but it is only 15 minute ride. The fee is $3.00 per person unless you have a national parks pass. The Red Trolley Tour will take you over "the bridge" to Douglas Island for a beautiful photo op of downtown and the cruise ships against the snow capped mountains. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. 2-1/2 hours 2 Passenger Minimum. I was there this week. Guides fully narrate history & local color. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. We are planning to catch a one way trip ($8) back from Mendenhall Glacier on either the blue or white buses on Aug 4th. The closest bus stop if 1.3 miles from the visitors center, but some trailheads are closer. When did you do your trip and what time of day were you catching the bus? See humpback and or killer whales, sea lions. Okay I did try again and it looks like it defaulted to the next day, so the price was for 24 hours. HELLO to our friends flying in and cruising in. Thanks. Donning hard hats, the tour proceeds along a boardwalk into a 360 foot-long tunnel. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in. Mendenhall Glacier is Alaskas only drive up glacier and the #1 natural attraction in Juneau. Same pick and drop off areas. Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between. Also included in this tour is the amazing Breaching Whale Statue and Fountain at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park in Downtown Juneau! You can choose to hike to Nugget Falls (plan 1.5 hours for a leisurely walk or at least 1 hour if you hurry), take the Photo Point Trail (20 round trip), look for wildlife along the Steep Creek trail, or stroll up the easy walk to the Visitor Center. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. Extending from Ketchikan in the South to Skagway in the North, the Tongass surrounds Juneau with millions of acres of Sitka Spruce, Red and Yellow Cedar, and Hemlock trees. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Bus/Shuttle to Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau? There is a shuttle you can take from the port to the glacier and I am wondering what are peoples thoughts on that and who do you book the shuttle through? Can anyone please tell me if that is still offered and. One of 38 glaciers flowing from the massive 1,500-square-mile Juneau Ice field. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Roberts Tram there will be a lot of kiosks with vendors selling different tours. The last bus leaves at 6PM. Some taxis will have to leave you 1.5 miles short of the glacier now, same as the city buses. Hop on which ever shows up with room. Experience this unique city tour of Downtown Juneau with our costumed guides. Or do they collect tickets or money as you enter the bus? more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Adults -$69 /child (under 12 years) $49 2 Passenger Minimum. From the colorful port, to the busy capitol building, to the famous whale statue, this unique city has a surprise around every corner. At one point, it shows Calvin Coolidge in a parking lot at theedge of the Glacier in the 1920s that is now 5 miles from where the glacier isnow. Want to avoid the crowd? Pick up and drop off is . Original Poster . We tipped him well, even as we thought the $90 price was somewhat high. Take Egan Drive out of town past the turnoff to the Juneau International Airport and turn right on Mendenhall Loop Road. At this stop you can explore this glacial wonder from a variety of perspectives like Nugget Creek Falls and Photo Point Trail, which winds along Mendenhall Lake to an unobstructed view of the glaciers face. Combine "The Blue Bus" and "The Red Trolley and see it all! U.S. Forest Service Rangers staff . This is a narrated express direct transportation 14 miles from downtown to the Mendenhall Glacier. Shuttle buses also load there. This will be our first cruise to Alaska next week on the Serenade of the Seas. It was chaotic and unorganized, Fantastic! Hear stories and folklore of old gold mining days. Stay as long as you choose to explore trails, check out wildlife, and go inside the visitor center, and then climb aboard a return bus at a convenient time. Keep sending suggestions. The one cheap way to still visit the Mendenhall Glacier is to take the public bus and be dropped about a mile away from the glacier. Keep in mind that Capital transit drops you a mile and a half from the entrance to Mendenhall. Enjoy our narrated tour of historic downtown Juneau with experienced guides. The guide was a hoot. The shuttle is open ended - On Mondays - the Shuttle starts at Noon; Tuesday thru Sunday the shuttle starts at 7:30AM From Auke Bay, At its peak, at the end of the little ice age in the 1700s, half of Alaska was covered in ice up to one mile deep. The deep Fjord reaches nearly 2500 feet in depth and breeds teeming schools of the Herring, Krill, and Salmon upon which the whales feed. We were in Juneau in 2015 and if I remember correctly there was a bus/shuttle that goes to Mendenhall Glacier. View Details Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter Tour & Guided Walk Featured on GOOD MORNING AMERICA -- travel back to the Ice Ages with Alaska's original glacier helicopter tour! He was so friendly very informative . We like the trail oftime, hardly anyone takes it. There is a city bus but I understand it take an hour to get there and they only stop at the entrance to the MH glacier. Has anyone taken a cab to the glacier and if so, how much was that? Transportation runs every 30 minutes from Downtown and the Glacier beginning at 8:00am till 6:00pm on most days. Hear the story of this great mine that was the heartbeat of Juneau. Our driver was a native Tlingit who provided colorful and informative commentary. Pick up point is central to the dock unless you are on a Norwegian ship. Like previously mentioned you can hop on a shuttle bus near the cruise port for $45 per person. Mendenhall Glacier Shuttle. Some may even be true! https://alaskashoretours.com/excursions/juneau/whale-watching-mendenhall-glacier-tour/, It looks like at least one of these tours is actually be operated by Juneau Whale Watch. You can explore the glacier in one to two hours. The last bus left the glacier at 3:00 the day we were there. But then, I'm pretty risk averse . Also on this tour you will get to meet "Thaku" the amazing life size Breaching Whale Statue in Fountain at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park in Downtown Juneau! The choice was to either take one of the expensive shuttle buses that departs by the Tramway or take a public bus which required a little more time/walking for only $4 roundtrip pp. Leaving at 5p you'll have to use a cab to return, likely- if you want to walk Nugget Falls trail. Hear the history & colorful local lore of the gold rush days! Have you checked into renting a car for the day? You will be able to leave a comment after signing in. I'm looking for a combo tour myself and I see a number do both. Wonderful time viewing the Mendenhall Glacier. A different option: We take the city bus from the port area to the glacier. talk about a disorganized operation!!! There are 8 of us and I'd like to head back around 4:00. The Glacier Express bus (both the white and the blue) were $45 per person round trip. Board a modern turbine-powered helicopter for a flight to the world-famous Mendenhall Glacier! You can call a cab company and ask for their rates. The walk to the glacier and falls was an easy walk. By some estimates, 20,000 30,000 Bald Eagles live in Juneau, as well as Black Bears, Porcupine, To the West, the calm waters of the Inside Passage, offer excellent fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities. How late do the blue &/or white bus run? I was under the impression that you had to walk the road to Mendenhall from the public bus stop. My understanding it is cheaper to purchase these tickets off the ship. I'd leave plenty of time just in case if you are heading back for another excursion or to make your ship. The bus was easy to find and easy to ride. Or rent your own (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Coordinates Latitude: 58.49583 Longitude: -134.532 Mendenhall Visitor Center is only 13 miles from downtown Juneau. Discover Alaskas capital city! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLadblV5j-E. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-109933243', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise ships this year, will there still be a shuttle from downtown Juneau to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center? Just don't cut it close. The most popular oneis Nugget Falls, nice and easy, flat, about 45 minutes RT. By My family of 4 took the Blue Bus Glacier Express to Mendenhall Glacier. Powered by Invision Community. That's a smart idea. and getting from and to the airport is very easy. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-91755872', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');renting a car if there are 9 of us? What time is the last shuttle? Experience the best of Alaska's Inside Passage on this round trip, overnight, sightseeing, and wildlife cruise. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experiences start time. You may Hop Off, here and enjoy the awesome aquarium with the area to touch, feel and experience. I assume you need cash for the shuttle bus. The buses ran to schedule and the narrated ride offered great information about the area. Book Now and Save! Calling and booking your taxi ahead of time is recommended as the popular time slots fill up quickly. Takes about 45-1 hr and has markers that shows where the glacieruse to reach. I remember when it was $8. As you stand on the banks of the glacier-fed lake, at the foot of the ice flow, cool breezes and fresh air brush your cheeks. The return bus had even smaller seats - elementary student-sized rather than high school student-sized. We bought the tickets online, just googleJuneau tours. we stayed over a week nearby the glacier. If you show your senior pass to the bus driver when you buy your ticket the bus fare is only $40 per person out to Mendenhall. Great, affordable day. deep1. Mendenhall Glacier Shuttle Comfortable shuttle service to Juneau's #1 natural attraction. Keep in mind Juneau IS one of the #1 whale watching destinations in the world! Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. Glad we were on the first bus. My wife suffered so much that I had to send her back to the ship. It was not properly organized and left many people with a bad taste in their mouth from the experience!!! We went back to the sales booth ane asked for our money back. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-110113557', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise is scheduled in July and we are all keeping our fingers crossed. Archie was a a wonderful Transportation - airport to ferry terminal, Pearsons Pond Luxury Suites and Vacation Rentals, Baranof Downtown, BW Signature Collection, Extended Stay America - Juneau - Shell Simmons Drive. There will be 4 of us. City and Glacier Tours, Red Trolley Tours, Gold Mine and Panning Tours, Shrine of St Therese Tours and much more! Our custom design provides unrestricted viewing from inside the cabin as well. There was some confusion at the dock because people with the wrong color ticket thought they were getting on the blue bus. It takes about 45 minutes to get to the stop closest to the glacier (but you will need to walk a little over a mile to the visitors center). Thanks! You may make a reservation for the taxi as well.