Whales and the glacier in one go
Mendenhall Glacier and the whale boats sit on the same side of town, so several operators sell them as one outing. The trade-off is time on land against time in your day. Below we set the combos against each other by time at the ice, then look at the cheaper whale trips that show you the glacier from a distance.
Where the glacier sits
The Mendenhall Glacier ends in a lake about 12 miles (19 km) from downtown Juneau. It pours down from the Juneau Icefield, and Viator's glacier listing gives its length as about 13 miles (21 km). The whale boats leave from Statter Harbor in Auke Bay, which lies in the same general direction from downtown, so one bus can cover both stops in a single loop. Both combos we cover put the glacier first and the boat second.
The recreation area around the lake has a visitor center and several short walks. One listing gives the center's hours as 9 am to 6 pm, so a late departure may arrive after the doors have closed. Most visitors head for Nugget Falls, a tall waterfall on the lake shore near the ice. Dolphin's listing describes that walk as a 2-mile (3.2 km) round trip on a gravel path that takes roughly 45 minutes and suits a stroller. Along the Steep Creek boardwalk you can look down on spawning salmon, and black bears sometimes come to fish there in high summer, though no tour can schedule a bear.
Two ways to fit it in
A whale day can include the glacier in two broad ways. A combo tour puts you on the ground at the recreation area for somewhere between 45 minutes and a little over two hours, then drives you on to the harbor. A whale-only trip skips the walk but may pass within sight of the ice, either from the water or from a roadside viewpoint, for a lower fare.
Your clock usually decides it. Combos run 4.5–5.5 hours door to door, which can squeeze a cruise call, and our port-day guide explains how to work back from all-aboard time. Independent travelers have more room and can visit the glacier on another afternoon.
The glacier options side by side
| Option | From | Length | Glacier time | Nugget Falls | Cancellation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Tales whale and glacier combo | ~$230 | 4.5 h | 45 min on foot, then 2 h on the boat | Very tight | Free up to 24 h |
| Dolphin glacier waterfall and whales | ~$199 | 5–5.5 h | 2 h 15 min on foot | Yes | Free up to 24 h |
| Dolphin's shorter glacier combo | A little less | Shorter | 75 min on foot | No | Check the listing |
| Harv & Marv's 3-hour whale cruise | ~$159 | About 4 h | View from Brotherhood Bridge and the water | No | Non-refundable |
| Whale and lighthouse combo | ~$199 | 4 h 15 min | Brotherhood Bridge viewpoint at the end | No | Non-refundable |
| Ultimate Juneau Whale Watch | ~$156 | 3 h | 5-minute photo stop from the water | No | Free up to 24 h |
Fares are the regular "from" prices per person in US dollars. Glacier views from the boat depend on the weather.
Alaska Tales gives you 45 minutes
The best-known combo is Alaska Tales' whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier trip, from ~$230. It lasts 4.5 hours. A narrated bus takes you to the glacier for 45 minutes of free time, then on to the harbor for a 2-hour cruise with a naturalist aboard. You meet at the same green canopy tent as the company's whale-only trip, on the water side of the tram building. GetYourGuide sells it for ~$230, while Viator lists the same tour about $20 higher, so compare both before you pay.
The weak spot is time. Forty-five minutes covers the visitor center and a look across the lake, and several reviewers say the glacier stop felt short. Nugget Falls, at about 45 minutes there and back, would swallow the whole allowance. A few guests mention fog over the ice or thin snacks, and one called the trip overpriced for what you do. Viator's version lists a 100% guarantee to see whales, but the listing does not say whether a miss earns a refund or a second trip, so ask before you book. AJ Dock passengers also pay a $3 shuttle to the tram, according to Viator.
Glacier first, then the whale boat
Alaska Tales spends 45 minutes at Mendenhall before a 2-hour cruise, from ~$230 on GetYourGuide and about $20 more on Viator. Both let you cancel free until 24 hours ahead.
Dolphin's longer day on the trails
For proper time on foot, Dolphin Jet Boat Tours runs a Mendenhall Glacier waterfall and whale watching tour from ~$199. You get 2 h 15 min at the recreation area, enough for Nugget Falls and a stop at Steep Creek, before the whale cruise. GetYourGuide's listing says you see a whale or get your money back, and cancellation is free until 24 hours before. The drawbacks are length and access. The day runs 5–5.5 hours, which rules it out on many port calls, and the listing says it does not suit people with back problems or wheelchair users.
Dolphin's shorter sibling allows 75 minutes at the glacier for a little less money, with no time for the falls. Juneau Tours & Whale Watch sells a 5-hour Mendenhall Glacier Park combo too, and its listing warns that late departures reach the visitor center after closing.
The cheaper way, with the glacier at a distance
If the walk matters less than the whales, a few whale-only trips show you the ice anyway. Harv & Marv's 3-hour cruise, from ~$159, stops at Brotherhood Bridge for a view of the glacier and adds a look from the water when the weather allows. The whale and lighthouse combo, from ~$199, finishes at the same Brotherhood Bridge viewpoint after its landing on Sentinel Island. Both are sold on Viator only, and the sale is final, which matters more than the fare if your ship schedule could change.
The Ultimate Juneau Whale Watch at ~$156 includes a 5-minute photo stop for the glacier from the water, weather permitting. That stop is the entire glacier part, and gratuities come on top of the fare. It is still the lowest fare here that puts Mendenhall in your camera, and our price comparison lines up every tour with its extras.
When fog hides the ice
Low cloud can sit across the valley for hours, and combo reviewers mention days when fog covered most of the glacier. The tours still run, since the whale part does not depend on the view, and none of the listings we read mention money back for a clouded glacier. If the forecast looks thick and you booked a combo with free cancellation, you can still switch to a whale-only trip until 24 hours before.
The trails are gravel and often damp, so wear shoes with grip and carry a rain layer for both halves of the day. Dressing for rain on the water covers the boat part. Bears at Steep Creek follow the salmon, so July and August give you the better chance of one, as when the whales are in explains. Humpbacks, orcas and the rest describes the animals you might meet once you are afloat.
Who should pick which
- Short port call. A whale-only trip that passes the glacier, such as Harv & Marv's or the Ultimate Juneau Whale Watch, with no walking;
- You want to stand near the ice once. The Alaska Tales combo at ~$230, accepting that 45 minutes goes quickly;
- Nugget Falls is the point. Dolphin's waterfall day at ~$199, if your ship stays long enough and nobody in the group has a bad back;
- A lighthouse appeals more than a glacier. The lighthouse combo, with Brotherhood Bridge thrown in at the end;
- Strollers or slow walkers in the group. The Nugget Falls path suits a stroller, and our guide for families and slower walkers covers the boats;
- Boats make you queasy. Every combo still includes 2 hours on the water, so read the seasickness guide before you choose.