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Mendenhall Glacier & Nugget Falls

A glacier you can reach by road, 12 miles from downtown, with a visitor center and a flat lakeside trail to the foot of Nugget Falls.

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By Greg Peters, editor · Updated October 2026

Illustrative photo
Where6000 Glacier Spur Road
SeasonVisitor center fully open May-September; grounds open year-round, 6 am-midnight
Hours2026: opened May 1, seven days a week, about 9 am-6 pm (KTOO/Alaska Public)
Cost$5 day-use fee for visitors 16+ (May 1-Sept 30); 15 and under free; $15 season pass. Federal Annual, Senior, Access, Military and Volunteer passes accepted. The Nugget Falls Trail itself needs no pass. A rise to $15 was proposed in 2026; no decision was found
AccessPrivate glacier shuttles take about 30 minutes each way from downtown; buy tickets at booths by the terminals, on the ship or in advance. Capital Transit Routes 8 (Valley Express), 3 or 4 run from the Downtown Transit Center to Dredge Lake Road ($2 adult). From there it is a 1.5-mile, roughly 30-minute flat paved walk. Allow up to 1.5 hours each way by bus.

A glacier you can reach by road, 12 miles from downtown, with a visitor center and a flat lakeside trail to the foot of Nugget Falls.

Highlights

  • Nugget Falls is about 3,900 ft north of the visitor center by OSM
  • Photo Point Trail and Steep Creek, where salmon and bears are seen in season
  • Ramps and elevators reach the visitor center from the parking lots

Facts checked October 18, 2026 with fs.usda.gov, fs.usda.gov, traveljuneau.com. Hours and prices change, so confirm before you go.

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