If you are cruising in Alaska this summer, chances are pretty good that you will be visiting Alaska’s capital city. Like many cities, you will be spoilt for choice and limited by time. Our family chose to split up, half of us going on a Juneau whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier viewing adventure, while the rest went kayaking.
Read on, and you will find plenty of other things to do in Juneau for nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, adventure seekers, and tourists.
So, how do you decide what to do at your Juneau cruise port stop?
First, a few things to think about. Juneau Alaska is a metropolitan city surrounded by the rugged wilderness that makes Alaska famous. It is the largest US capital city by area, as well as being the only US capital NOT accessible by road.
This is a far more significant fact than one might think when arriving via ship, especially if you don’t have a lot of time here. Juneau is the one port you don’t want to be left at should you be late getting back to the ship.
And while people always think it will never happen to them, our ship left 8 people in Juneau.
We typically recommend independent shore excursions at most cruise ports as they are generally smaller groups for less cost.
However, in the case of Juneau, pay close attention to the amount of time you have in port. If it’s a limited time, we recommend using the ship’s excursions unless the independent tours get back plenty early, or offers a guarantee to get you back on board.
I wouldn’t spend too much time worrying about this, as 900,000 of the 1 million annual Juneau visitors arrive via cruise ship, therefore it’s a city used to this predicament.
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Note: Based on world conditions, we advise checking official channels including cancellation policies prior to booking. Also, with often reduced capacity, booking ahead becomes more important.
Things to do in Juneau
If you are visiting for a limited time, there are several options, but we believe the top two things to do in Juneau either involve whale watching or the Mendenhall Glacier.
- Juneau whale watching
- View or walk on Mendenhall glacier
- Salmon bake
- Kayaking
- Float trips
- Pan for gold
Juneau whale watching
After reviewing the options, Juneau whale watching was my top pick. However, having just gone whale watching at Icy Straight Point, a previous port, this option was not so intriguing to parts of my family.
For me, whale watching is magical. My heart skips a beat with each spout of water shooting into the air as I unconsciously hold my breath and hope for a breach. On our tour day, the whales always gracefully returned to the sea, their tail breaking the surface as they descend.
Interestingly, our local guide knew the whales by name, identifying them by the pattern on the underside of their tail.
We don’t get to pick the day or the weather when we cruise. While it was overcast, foggy, and a bit cold, the magic of the moment was exciting, unlike the colors in the images I was able to capture.
Pre-book a whale watching adventure
One thing to note about cruising Alaska is that top-rated providers that offer small group excursions sell out quickly.
If you have enough time in Juneau, a 3.5-hour independent whale watching adventure like this one from Viator is a great choice. This top-rated tour provides views from outdoor decks or a heated cabin on a boat with no more than 38 travelers, and expert guides. Check the reviews or prebook your whale watching adventure.
Another top-rated whale watching adventure adds a meal of king crab in town. One advantage of this tour is that it includes a worry-free guarantee that it will get you back on the ship. Check price and reviews and enjoy your whale watching and king crab combo meal.
. ©State of Alaska/Reinhard Pantke. Used with permission
Other wildlife – a secondary highlight of our Juneau whale watching adventure
In addition to humpback whales, we spotted seals, sea lions, and a bald eagle. Orca whales and brown bears are often seen on the Juneau whale-watching tours.
Seals Bald eagle
Mendenhall Glacier
Located in the Tongass National Forest, the Mendenhall glacier measures over 12 miles long with a 1.5-mile face. Its popularity is driven by its easy accessibility from the city and it’s frequently referred to as the Juneau glacier. It’s often included in tours as it can be hiked on, or viewed by rafting, kayaking, trekking, or flightseeing.
After our whale watching, we took a drive to a forest about 12 miles out of town. Here we hiked along Nugget Falls trail to the Mendenhall Glacier viewing point.
How to see the Mendenhall Glacier
Chances are good that you will spot the glacier from the road, but to get up close and personal you will want to take a short hike, trek along the glacier, kayak, or take a float trip. While most of these options will probably be available through your cruise ship, you can probably save a good deal of money, and most often be in a much smaller group, if you book independently.
But again, I remind you that in Juneau, you don’t want to cut the timing close and miss the ship.
Here are a few top-rated choices:
- Short hike combined with a whale-watching adventure
This 4.5-hour tour is similar to the one we went on (which no longer exists). The main difference is that the time at Mendenhall Glacier is free time, rather than guided, but the Nugget Creek Falls trail is well marked. The whale watching portion of this trip is two hours. Check price or prebook this combo adventure - Kayak
This 3.5-hour kayak trip is what the other half of my family opted for, and they all felt they made a perfect choice. Although, they both said it was more about the kayaking and the wildlife than the glacier. They paddled through Fritz Cove spotting eagles, porpoises, seals, and whales in the distance. Glacier viewing requires a clear day as it remains miles away on this trip. Check price or prebook for kayaking - Float trip*
A 3.5-hour river raft excursion led by an experienced guide. First, float along the foot of the glacier then travel about five miles down the Mendenhall River. You can relax as your guide paddles, or ask for a paddle raft and follow your guide’s instructions through the 1-mile stretch of class III rapids.
Check price or prebook the float trip - Trek*
Adventure seekers, this one is for you. This is an 8-hour challenging adventure designed for travelers able to hike on rocky terrain for about 8 miles over 6.5 hours, carrying a pack containing gear up to 15 pounds. The goal is to both enter ice caves and walk on the glacier, but safety is always placed first, therefore neither is guaranteed. Maximum group size is 12.
Check price or prebook this trek
*Last time I checked, these tours offer Viator’s worry-free guarantee to return you to your ship. Be sure to read the details before booking.
Mendenhall Glacier from the viewing point Nugget Falls trail Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls
Photo credit Rod Ramsell / unsplash
Gold panning with or without a salmon bake
A gold rush followed a major find by Joe Juneau and Richard Harris in 1880 (aided by the Tlingit chief Kowee). Therefore, it’s not surprising that panning for gold is a popular tourist activity today. In fact, there might be a gold panning option on more than one of the shore excursions offered by the ship.
While it’s not how we would choose to spend our time, if it’s your thing, check out these two options:
- A 1.5-hour historic mining and panning adventure includes a Juneau city mini-bus tour. Head to a permitted and secluded section of Gold Creek, learn how and then try panning for gold. A lot to do in a short time, but the reviews are great. Check price and read reviews.
- This 3-4 hour gold panning adventure also includes a salmon bake and a totem pole carving demonstration. Check price and read reviews.
Photography tips for Juneau whale watching or glacier viewing
When whale watching:
- Use a fast shutter speed (sports mode on a point-and-shoot). We found 1/800 fast enough to stop the action, and still allow the water drops to cascade off the tail.
- Set your camera in burst mode as this will give you a series of shots when you hold down the button.
- You will need to set the aperture and ISO based on the conditions of the day.
For the glacier shots,
- Set your aperture to a higher number like f11 or f13 (landscape/mountain mode on a point-and-shoot)
- If you want to intensify the blue of the glaciers, you can set the white balance to “sun”, which adds a cooling filter, whereas the “cloudy filter does the opposite, adding warmth (less blues) to the photo. Personally, I don’t change the white balance in my camera, as I nearly always forget to change it back, therefore messing up other photos later in the day.
- You will need to set the shutter speed (minimum speed 1/30) and ISO based on the conditions of the day.
Or check out these photography tips provided by Alaska.org
Cruise and port planning tips
Spending 160+ days at sea, we discovered a few cruising secrets. In addition to our list of cruise tips, here are our best planning tools:
Cruise: We find great deals on Cruise Direct.
Flights: We like to arrive at least one day prior to disembarkation and use Expedia to discover flight options.
Accommodations before and after: We use Booking.com to find accommodations.
Private tour guides: Looking to maximize our limited time at a port, we often hire private guides from Tours by Locals.
Rental Car: When we need a car, we always use RentalCars.com, a rental car search engine with no hidden costs.
Travel Insurance: We purchase insurance that covers medical and travel emergencies when we head overseas. We use a travel insurance aggregator that gives us a free and easy-to-read comparison of the inclusions of each policy.
Packing Tips: Get a copy of our free packing light for cruise travel checklist when you sign up for our mailing list. (We pack light, yet have everything we need.)
**Find more money-saving resources on our Travel Resources page.
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Will you choose Juneau whale watching or one of the other Juneau cruise port ideas?
Our recommendations at other Alaska cruise ports:
Read Next: Alaska Cruise Tips: Know Before You Sail
Lasma
What a unique and remarkable experience this must be! very impressive! I wish I could visit and see with my own eyes! 🥰
Karen
This was great to read as it brought back so many memories of when my daughter and I traveled to Juneau. Not by cruise. We did a kayaking trip and spent three days on an island camping next to where the whales were. Every day we’d watch the whale watches come in. And we got to see the whales even more when the boats went away. It was magical as you say.
Magdalena
Omg your photos looks amazing! I wanted to take a cruise to Alaska from Canada a year ago! After this post I have to revisit my plan 🙂
Josy A
I am loving your photos of all the whales! Fabulous! Getting up close to Mendenhall Glacier looks fabulous too.
kmf
I’ve got Alaska high on my list. Going on a whale-watching tour would be amazing. Appreciate the photography tips.
Lisa
I think I’d choose to go along with the other half of your family on the kayak trip. Sounds like a lot of fun!
Barbara Radisavljevic
Great photos, as always. I hope I’ll see a whale someday. Maybe next winter.
Wendy
Great tips Rhonda. We are currently RVING to Alaska. We will be cruising with our RV on the Alaska Marine Hwy for 24 days. We stop for a few days on many of the islands you mention and more. While I have some things booked and some where we have writing assignments, I am still looking to maximize the time with other excursions. I will check out some of your recommendations.
Kreete | AdventurousTrails
Great photography tips! I have actually never been whale watching, but managed to spot some humpbacks when hiking along the coast line in Sydney. Amazing sight! The glacier looks unreal too! Would love to see it up close one day!
voyagestic
Lovely photos
Agness of eTramping
Alaska is a breathtaking and remarkable travel destination, Rhonda! When’s the best time of the year to go there?
Rhonda Albom
For me, the best time of year is summer, as I am not a fan of snow. However, this means I will never see the Northern Lights.
Rob+Ann
In keeping with our tradition of being where the wildlife is not, a successful whale watch is not something we’ve experienced. 😉 However, we will keep trying! Thanks for the photo tips – we are really hoping they’ll come in handy next time! This is definitely close to the top or our with list for Alaska – we have not been to Denali, so that ranks #1 at the moment. Then it’s off to (hopefully) see some whales!
Megan Jerrard
Incredible photos Rhonda! Weve been on so many whale watching trips, and know how hard it is to get a shot – they’re so fast! Definitely need the camera set at a fast shutter speed – I think I took 100 photos on high burst the last time, and only just got a tiny bit of him! We loved Alaska, so much wildlife! Epic photo of the eagle as well – such a majestic creature – you managed to fit a lot into a short trip!
Suruchi
These are some of the fantastic photos and the description you have mentioned with each is really helpful. I too need to try my hands on the camera following these tips. Whale watching is really on my list and will love to click pictures as you have mentioned. Thanks for sharing the info.
Elisa
I have never seen a whale so I imagine it must be a very impressive experience. In my opinion, the most difficult part to master when taking glacier pictures is the contrast of colors white-glacier vs surrounding landscape . .
Elena
Stunning photos! I couldn’t stop browsing through them. Whale tales are so perfectly shaped, the eagle – wow, what a majestic bird, the moss and ferns are so luxuriously green. It is a beautifully presented visual story. Thank you for sharing!
Shruti Prabhu
We have never tried whale watching because it is based on luck. You might see a whale or you might not. It’s so great that you did coz we love the pictures! It is so cool that you have also mentioned your camera settings. Are you a professional photographer? The glacier looks so beautiful as well.
Ryan Biddulph
The whales are fabulous Rhonda but that eagle snap is beyond majestic. We see them around these parts in NJ sometimes. Yes I am being serious LOL. My sister even had one in her yard a few years back in Southern New Jersey. Whales are a different story though. Rarely spotted off of the coast. Alaska is about my #1 place to see in the States as it is like another country from most of the USA.
Sandy N Vyjay
The thrill of watching whales comes alive in your pictures. I know you need lots of patience in these kind of situations and many a time the camera does not do justice to the actual experience. Faced a similar situation when on a lake in East Africa, we were looking out for Hippos, who surfaced from beneath the water for a fraction of a second. Your pictures of the Whales as well as the waterfall and the greenery are great.
Michelle | michwanderlust
Love your photos, Rhonda! I can imagine how difficult it is to photograph whales. I once tried to photograph river dolphins but it was impossible. They weren’t breaching the surface so all you could see was a little hump rising above the water for less than a second. Guess it wouldn’t have made an impressive photo anyway!
Jim ~ ReflectionsEnroute
Alaska is just the place for someone with your photography talents, Rhonda! Gorgeous shots as always. How close did your boat get to the whales? #wkendtravelinspiration
eileen g
I hear so many stories of people who go whale watching and don’t get to see whales (or any trip where you are relying on wild animals to turn up for you), I best it was exciting and satisfying to spot a whale. It’s also a tough call between catching a photo and enjoying the moment without worrying about the photo (your photos are great). Glad it was a good experience!
Lyn @ A Hole in my Shoe
Amazing photos Rhonda. Hopefully when I get to Alaska I will be fortunate to see some whales and some of the great wildlife and a get in a good photo or two.
Jessica @ Independent Travel Cats
Looks like you a great cruise, and lucky to see the whales multiple times! Alaska is one of the states I still haven’t been to but family members have had a great time, spending a couple months there exploring and seeing wildlife.
Marcus and Mel
We love the pictures of the eagle and the tail of the whale. So much better to see them here, where they belong instead of the tiny pools of Seaworld.
Keri
I’d love to go whale watching one day, I do hear Alaska is the place to go!
Sarah
Amazing photos, I have been lucky to see a whale just off the shores of Victoria in Australia, however not quick enough to get an amazing photo like you did.
Travelling Dany
Alaska has been on my bucket list forever! I would love to go, especially to see the whales. You were so lucky to find them, and your pictures are amazing! Yet I especially appreciated the eagle pic. How far away were you? It seems you were pretty close!
Rhonda Albom
That eagle was on top of a pole, and I had a 200mm zoom lens.
Danijela WorldGlimpses
This seems like one lovely trip. It doesn’t matter that the whale didn’t jump high out of the water etc, the whale was there and it must have been great to see it. Love the photos of the Mendenhall Glacier. 😉
Vanessa
I don’t know what’s better, the sight of the whale or the sight of the glacier! Alaska really seems like a paradise to me and I’m dying to visit!
Dannielle
I’m obsessed with marine life so I’d definitely do this! Seeing a whale jump from the water is one of the highlights of my life – and I’ve seen it happen twice!
Lady Fi
Wow – what an amazing adventure! And such fabulous photos.
Anda
If I have one regret about our trip to Alaska is that I haven’t seen any wildlife, except for a Golden Eagle that was wounded and kept in a cage. I would have loved to photograph a mouse or a black bear, or a whale. You were luckier than we were and you took some amazing photos on this trip.
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit
Spectacular. I recently did whale watching in Australia, but Alaska would be next level!
Pat
Such an amazing glacier to see, Rhonda! It must have also an amazing sight to see the whale so close. We hope to visit Alaska with the next few years so your tips will be very valuable to us–thanks!
Trekking with Becky
Wow! Alaska is incredible. It seems like the perfect escape from city craziness. I want to see a glacier; would you say that Mendenhall’s the best? It’s amazing!
Klara S
Stunning photos. I hope I’ll visit Alaska some day. Greetings from Poland.
Ruth | Tanama Tales
Rhonda, your photos are fantastic! After exploring Iceland, I feel like Alaska is a logical place to visit (it takes less time to reach and it will be more affordable). Glaciers have to be one of the most spectacular natural features I have seen.
shere
I would also pick the whale watching 🙂 we saw whales in South Africa. There you don’t need to go on a boat, they just “pass by”.
Alaska is a place I would love to visit, just a shame the cruise we won had to be in the Mediterranean.
Jill
I was lucky enough to see a whale breach while I was on a ferry in Alaska – and we kayaked with whales about 100 feet away in Alaska also. That was one of the most incredible things I’ve experienced. Stunning photos, as usual!
Kathy Marris
What a magical experience. I can see why a lot of people go on Alaskan cruises. It is a remarkable territory. Thanks for the photo tips.
Mary {The World Is A Book}
We’ve visited Juneau twice during cruise ship stops and loved the city. I wish we had time to do the whale watching. We have always ended up at Mendenhall Glacier. During our last visit, we were lucky enough to have my friend who lives there now take us around. It’s such a beautiful port. Love the photos and brought up such great memories.
Lolo
I visited Alaska as a kid and remember it being so amazing! I’d love to go back and explore more and be able to see some whales! I’ve also heard that Juneau is very beautiful! #Wkendtravelsinpiration
Tanja (the Red phone box travels)
amazing! your should start selling your photos:) really great photography!
zongrik
wow. i wish i could go.
zongrik
tremendous
Alissa Apel
How fascinating to watch! Seeing a whale and an eagle aren’t species you see every day.
janet
It would be great to see those in person! If only I can get a chance soon…
Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields
The biggest disappointment I had in Alaska was not seeing any whales. We saw some way in the distance but it didn’t really count. I have made up for it ten fold since with whale watching in Australia but if I ever go back to Alaska my first priority will be whales.
Judee
Extraordinary photos of your day in Juneau – I went whale watching in Cape Cod and it was quite a thrill ! My favorite photo is your Eagle- I’ve never seen one in the wild
Mayuri
Wow! These pics are awesome. Mendenhall Glacier pic is my favorite. 🙂
Deb Nance
If I had a whale tale I would flip it up in the air all day long! So much fun for you.
Patricia
Beautiful photos! I like how sharp and detailed the pics are! 🙂 You have a good eye for things! I have been to Alaska, but not to all the parts you went to. I did go to Denali though. It was gorgeous!
Zehra Victoria
This looks so amazing! Whale watching has always been on my to-do list. I recently went snorkelling with whalsharks in Australia which was already breathtaking. But this is something else!!
Lydia C. Lee
Great tips on burst. I took a million photos whale watching but alas for the 2 full body breaches I just got blue sky (I was so excited I just waved my camera around in the air…opps!)
April
I enjoyed this so much!! Your pictures are breath-taking, my fave was the eagle. Pinned and following. I found you on Wonderful Wednesday.Love your blog!!
Teresa Kindred
Love it! Great photos of nature! Thank you!
Sandee
Really great shots. We are going to Kauai in January of 2019 for two weeks. We hope to do some whale watching while we are there. It would be awesome to see them.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Patrick weseman
So beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
Stunning photos Rhonda. People keep saying that an Alaskan cruise is a great one but I’m not sure. Yes, it’s beautiful but it’s still cold and I want the heat if I’m taking a cruise. Maybe it’s just me. Probably, I’m a little weird.
See ya.
Cruisin Paul
Rhonda Albom
The warm, hot tropical sun is the only thing you would be giving up on an Alaskan cruise. Personally, I loved it.
Bill
That is so awesome going whale watching, I’m very envious of you.
Tamar Strauss-Benjamin
Wow wow wow!!
stevebethere
Fab photos Rhonda I have only seen a dolphin at the zoo I have never seen a whale in the flesh as such lol, beautiful scenery always enjoy your photos as I never get out of London heheh!
Have a glaciertastic day 🙂
Amy
I’ve never seen a whale or a dolphin for that matter, but hopefully come summer we will be going on a dolphin sightseeing tour.
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Hi Rhonda – those are stunning photos – incredibly helpful to have all the details under each one … and great to have the book available for future reference- must be so useful for budding photographers … one day I’ll get to the Alaskan waters … cheers Hilary