no1racefan1 Posted March 29 #1 Share Posted March 29 Copied from another forum: UPDATE: Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in Juneau From Travel Juneau, the convention & visitors bureau: The Mendenhall Glacier is just one of Juneau’s many attractions. To make sure we maintain the vibrant ecosystem while providing a quality visitor experience at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center (MGVC), tour and commercial transportation capacity is limited. Travel Juneau highly recommends visitors book their transportation or tours to the glacier well in advance of their arrival in Juneau, as it’s probable that day-of purchase will not be available. Right now, indications are that excursions and activities are up to 80% booked. Capital Transit, the public transit system, is designed for resident transport and does not go directly to the glacier. The nearest bus stop is approximately 1.5 miles one way from the MGVC and very limited opportunities for return taxi services from the area back downtown. Visitors using Capital Transit may experience long wait times between runs and should be aware that there are no services between the bus stop and the visitor center. They may encounter bears along the walking path, especially early in the morning or late evening. Visitors arriving via car rental, on foot, or without a tour operator must purchase an entrance pass at the visitor center. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kat915 Posted March 29 #2 Share Posted March 29 Sounds like this year it might be better to purchase mendenhall excursion through the cruise line. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jannieb Posted March 31 #3 Share Posted March 31 On 3/29/2024 at 2:59 PM, Kat915 said: Sounds like this year it might be better to purchase mendenhall excursion through the cruise line. This tour is already sold out on our May cruise. I was able to book the bus through Juneau tours. Our goal is Nugget Falls rather than the glacier itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleobella Posted April 1 #4 Share Posted April 1 Good info, thanks for posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
royal3 Posted April 5 #5 Share Posted April 5 Not matter the weather, take a rain poncho to the falls. The mist from the falls will get you wet. Also, bring something to dry your camera lens afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frugaltravel Posted April 6 #6 Share Posted April 6 8 hours ago, royal3 said: Not matter the weather, take a rain poncho to the falls. The mist from the falls will get you wet. Also, bring something to dry your camera lens afterwards. No matter what, people should always have rain gear with them when in Alaska. The sun can be shining when you get off the ship and can change to rain by the time you reboard the ship. Same with exploring on land before/after the cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kajasmin Posted April 7 #7 Share Posted April 7 On 3/29/2024 at 2:22 PM, no1racefan1 said: Copied from another forum: UPDATE: Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in Juneau From Travel Juneau, the convention & visitors bureau: The Mendenhall Glacier is just one of Juneau’s many attractions. To make sure we maintain the vibrant ecosystem while providing a quality visitor experience at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center (MGVC), tour and commercial transportation capacity is limited. Travel Juneau highly recommends visitors book their transportation or tours to the glacier well in advance of their arrival in Juneau, as it’s probable that day-of purchase will not be available. Right now, indications are that excursions and activities are up to 80% booked. Capital Transit, the public transit system, is designed for resident transport and does not go directly to the glacier. The nearest bus stop is approximately 1.5 miles one way from the MGVC and very limited opportunities for return taxi services from the area back downtown. Visitors using Capital Transit may experience long wait times between runs and should be aware that there are no services between the bus stop and the visitor center. They may encounter bears along the walking path, especially early in the morning or late evening. Visitors arriving via car rental, on foot, or without a tour operator must purchase an entrance pass at the visitor center. We rented a car so we just drive up and buy, correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare VernRDH Posted April 7 #8 Share Posted April 7 We just booked through Juneau Tours today as we were getting concerned about not being able to pre purchase The Blue Bus. I have called and emailed, but no response and since this is one of our "must do's", I didn't want to risk waiting until we docked and not be able to go. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glaciers Posted April 7 #9 Share Posted April 7 38 minutes ago, kajasmin said: We rented a car so we just drive up and buy, correct? "Fees are not necessary for accessing the parking areas, or hiking Nugget Falls Trail, East Glacier Trail, Powerline Trail, Moraine Ecology Trail, the Trail of Time, and all the Dredge Lakes and West Glacier Trails." https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/about-forest/offices/?cid=stelprdb5400800 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmwnc1959 Posted April 7 #10 Share Posted April 7 (edited) Juneau Says To Book Mendenhall Glacier Ahead of Time or Miss Out https://cruisespotlight.com/juneau-says-to-book-mendenhall-glacier-ahead-of-time-or-miss-out/?fbclid=IwAR2hOSUvR-N1-KX3IBjWJ70iqnGN1KWqJFMU2l-b00a7JQK7TkVkTn5mfzc 🥸 Edited April 7 by dmwnc1959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquahound Posted April 8 #11 Share Posted April 8 12 hours ago, kajasmin said: We rented a car so we just drive up and buy, correct? You got it made then. Just drive there and park. Parking is free and all the trails and views are free. Enjoy! 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie11 Posted April 8 #12 Share Posted April 8 As I remember, the entrance fee to the Visitors Center is waived if you have a National Park pass. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare destar Posted April 8 #13 Share Posted April 8 On 3/30/2024 at 11:30 PM, jannieb said: This tour is already sold out on our May cruise. I was able to book the bus through Juneau tours. Our goal is Nugget Falls rather than the glacier itself. We are on the NCL Encore May 19th sailing, Mendenhall Glacier + salmon bake sold out. Will book Mendanhall with Juneau Tours, thanks for posting. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tj_shopper Posted April 13 #14 Share Posted April 13 On 4/7/2024 at 9:46 PM, Aquahound said: You got it made then. Just drive there and park. Parking is free and all the trails and views are free. Enjoy! 🙂 If all that is free, what do we pay for? Is it to go into the Visiter's Center? Is that a must see? Can we skip that? We just probably want to do the hike and see Nugget Falls. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfilpus Posted April 13 #15 Share Posted April 13 29 minutes ago, tj_shopper said: If all that is free, what do we pay for? Is it to go into the Visiter's Center? Is that a must see? Can we skip that? We just probably want to do the hike and see Nugget Falls. Thanks. According to https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/about-forest/offices/?cid=fseprd502109 , Visitors 16 years and older will need a pass to access the following areas: the Pavillion Photo Point Trail Steep Creek Restrooms Bus Shelter The visitor center 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie11 Posted April 13 #16 Share Posted April 13 (edited) 36 minutes ago, tj_shopper said: If all that is free, what do we pay for? Is it to go into the Visiter's Center? Is that a must see? Can we skip that? We just probably want to do the hike and see Nugget Falls. Thanks. Yes. The fee is for the visitors center. You can park and walk around exempt areas all you want. Passes are $5 each and you get in free with a National Park or America The Beautiful pass. I would recommend buying the pass as it allows access to Photo Point and Steep Creek. Edited April 13 by wolfie11 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamelia Posted April 13 #17 Share Posted April 13 7 minutes ago, dfilpus said: According to https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/about-forest/offices/?cid=fseprd502109 , Visitors 16 years and older will need a pass to access the following areas: the Pavillion Photo Point Trail Steep Creek Restrooms Bus Shelter The visitor center It may be worth noting that there IS a restroom facility available that does NOT require a pass to access. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tj_shopper Posted April 13 #18 Share Posted April 13 Just now, kamelia said: It may be worth noting that there IS a restroom facility available that does NOT require a pass to access. Thank you for that tidbit because I thought we would definitely have to purchase a pass to use the bathroom. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamelia Posted April 13 #19 Share Posted April 13 1 minute ago, tj_shopper said: Thank you for that tidbit because I thought we would definitely have to purchase a pass to use the bathroom. There has always been a facility with flush toilets just before you get to the Visitor's Center, and when we were there last summer there the park service had added a trailer with additional stalls on the other side of the Visitor's Center just before you reach the trails. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tj_shopper Posted April 13 #20 Share Posted April 13 19 minutes ago, wolfie11 said: Yes. The fee is for the visitors center. You can park and walk around all you want. Where do we purchase the pass? There is a group (34) of us that are not doing a tour. There are some that will take the bus, rent a car, get a cab or I've heard of the blue bus. thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfilpus Posted April 13 #21 Share Posted April 13 2 hours ago, tj_shopper said: Where do we purchase the pass? There is a group (34) of us that are not doing a tour. There are some that will take the bus, rent a car, get a cab or I've heard of the blue bus. thanks in advance. In the visitor center. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamelia Posted April 13 #22 Share Posted April 13 2 hours ago, tj_shopper said: Where do we purchase the pass? This is from the Tongass National Park "Welcome to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center" website: "Visitors are required to purchase a pass from May 1–Sept. 30 to enter the Visitor Center. Passes can be purchased at the automated machines available in the Mendenhall Glacier parking lots or inside the visitor center at the Discovery Southeast bookstore. Day use passes sell for $5 per person and collectible season passes will be for sale for $15 for the card holder and one guest the entire season. Those age 15 and younger are free. The passes also allow access to the Pavilion, Photo Point and Steep Creek Trails. Fees are not necessary for accessing the parking areas, or hiking Nugget Falls Trail, East Glacier Trail, Powerline Trail, Moraine Ecology Trail, the Trail of Time, and all the Dredge Lakes and West Glacier Trails. Federal lands passes such as the “America the Beautiful” pass, Senior Pass, or Military Pass are also accepted." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmwnc1959 Posted April 13 #23 Share Posted April 13 (edited) 18 minutes ago, kamelia said: Federal lands passes such as the “America the Beautiful” pass, Senior Pass, or Military Pass are also accepted." Don't forget that if you are a veteran these are easily obtainable online and are free of charge, there is a small $10 processing fee, and they are good for life nationwide. https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/veterans-and-gold-star-families-free-access.htm Edited April 13 by dmwnc1959 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dopey1200 Posted May 14 #24 Share Posted May 14 On 3/30/2024 at 11:30 PM, jannieb said: This tour is already sold out on our May cruise. I was able to book the bus through Juneau tours. Our goal is Nugget Falls rather than the glacier itself. Can you see the glacier from Nugget Falls? We're only going to have 90 minutes at the Mendenhall, but we're hoping to be able to walk to the falls. But I was under the impression that you can see the glacier from the falls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfilpus Posted May 14 #25 Share Posted May 14 2 hours ago, dopey1200 said: Can you see the glacier from Nugget Falls? We're only going to have 90 minutes at the Mendenhall, but we're hoping to be able to walk to the falls. But I was under the impression that you can see the glacier from the falls. You can see the foot of the glacier from the beach in front of the falls. When we were there in 2019, there was a sand spit out into the lake that have you a better angle on the glacier as well as the falls. However, you see more of the glacier from the photo spots along the way out to the falls. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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