Juneau Travelers Recommend

With three days to spend in the Alaskan capital, you’ll be able to tour its famous glacier, spot some local wildlife, get a feel for the local pioneer heritage of this gold-mining town, and venture farther afield into the Alaskan wilderness. Read on for how to plan the ultimate three-day trip to Juneau. 

Day 1: Glacier Adventures

The Mendenhall Glacier, one of Alaska’s most popular attractions, lies just outside of Juneau. To get a sense for the true size of the Juneau Ice Field that feeds the glacier, start your day with a helicopter flight over the ice. You’ll get a bird’s-eye view while learning about its geology and environmental importance. Some helicopter tours include a glacier landing for a chance to walk across the ice. The Mendenhall Glacier is also one of the most accessible in Alaska. Now that you’ve seen it from above, see it from the visitor center observation deck, or get a closer look by booking a kayaking tour on Mendenhall Lake or a guided trek across the surface of the ice. After a day of icy exploration, warm up next to an open fire during a traditional Alaskan salmon bake (though the salmon is actually grilled).

Day 2: On the Water

Juneau is famous for its spectacular scenery and wildlife-viewing opportunities. If you’ve ever wanted to see humpback whales in the wild, this is one of the best places to do so. This morning, hop aboard a boat and head out into the waters of the Inside Passage to spot some of the 600 humpbacks who spend their summers here; sightings are practically guaranteed from April to November, and you might also spot orcas, seals, eagles, and bears as well. If you have time to spare in the afternoon, head into downtown Juneau to explore its historic streets, or go just outside of downtown for a peaceful walk through the manicured Glacier Gardens. In the evening, grab a pint at the Alaska Brewing Company’s taproom.

Day 3: Get Wild

Now that you’ve experienced Juneau’s star attractions, take a day to get out and explore the wilder side of Alaska. Take a day trip to the remote Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Area, home to the highest concentration of brown bears in the world, or grab a paddle for a day of kayaking along the wild coastline of the Inside Passage. You could also use today to partake in an Alaskan pastime—experience the thrill of dogsledding at a remote glacier camp, or venture to the waters around Prince of Wales for some of the best fishing in the state (you might even bring home some fresh salmon for dinner). Take this last evening to soak up the historic pioneering atmosphere of downtown Juneau with dinner at a local restaurant.

Juneau, Alaska’s capital city, isn’t accessible by road. Those who make the effort to reach this isolated outpost are rewarded with dramatic scenery, a pioneer vibe, and countless outdoor adventures. Here are some suggestions for how to spend 24 hours in Alaska’s third-largest city.

Morning: Mendenhall Glacier

If you only have time for one thing in Juneau, make it a trip to Mendenhall Glacier, one of Alaska’s most popular attractions. A visitor center near the glacier features exhibits and a large map of the Juneau Ice Field, as well as an observatory with telescopes to get a better view of the ice. Glacier tours cater to all levels of adventure; paddle a kayak or canoe across Mendenhall Lake for an unobstructed view, or strap on some crampons for a trek across the glacier’s surface to see its ice caves, crevasses, and other formations up close.

Afternoon: Whale Watching

Juneau ranks among the best places in the world for wildlife viewing—orcas, bears, seals, eagles, and especially humpback whales. This afternoon take to the waters of the Inside Passage to spot some of the 600 humpbacks that migrate here between April and November. Alternatively, if you’re in the mood for adventure, spend your afternoon exploring the Alaskan rain forest within Tongass National Forest by zipline to see trees that are more than 400 years old.

Night: Alaskan Salmon Bake

A trip to Alaska wouldn’t be complete without one quintessential food experience: a salmon bake. This evening, fuel up after your day of adventures with an all-you-can-eat meal featuring grilled wild salmon, blueberry crisp, baked beans, and salad. For dessert, gather around a campfire to roast marshmallows. Many salmon-bake experiences also include a chance to pan for gold at a nearby creek or watch a master Tlingit carver at work.

With two days to spend in the Alaskan capital, you’ll have time not only to explore its star attractions and experience a bit of local culture, but also to cross a couple of bucket list experiences off your list. Read on for tips on how to make the most of your 48 hours in Juneau.

Day 1: Essential Juneau

**Morning:**Spend your first day in Juneau hitting all the highlights of this Alaskan outpost, starting with the Mendenhall Glacier. This drive-up glacier ranks among the state’s most visited attractions, and there are plenty of ways to experience it. Take in the river of ice from the Mendenhall Visitor Center, or get closer with a kayaking tour of Mendenhall Lake or a guided trek across the ice itself.

**Afternoon:**If there’s one thing Juneau is as famous for as ice, it’s wildlife. This afternoon, board a boat and head out into the waters of the Inside Passage in search of whales. Orcas and seals are common sightings, but the stars of the show are some 600 humpback whales that spend their summers in these frigid waters. Between April and November, sightings are just about guaranteed. 

**Night:**Finish off your day of essential Alaskan experiences with a local culinary tradition: the salmon bake. This quintessential all-you-can-eat feast features Alaskan salmon grilled over an alder wood fire. In Juneau, most salmon bakes include a bit of mining history as well, giving visitors the chance to learn about the Wagner Mine or even pan for gold in a nearby creek.

Day 2: Bucket List Experiences

**Morning:**It’s hard to get a feel for the immensity of the Juneau Ice Field from ground level. This morning, take to the air for a helicopter flight above this sea of ice. Land on Herbert Glacier to walk across this remote and icy landscape while learning about its unique geology. Alternatively, see several regional glaciers while flightseeing aboard a floatplane.

**Afternoon:**After the thrill of a helicopter flight, experience the thrill of the wind in your face as you race across snow-covered fields, pulled by a team of Alaskan huskies. Dogsledding holds an important place in Juneau’s cultural heritage; learn about managing a team of dogs and hear stories of Iditarod mushers during an afternoon at a secluded camp.

**Night:**Unwind after your final day of Alaskan adventure at one of the state’s oldest breweries, Alaska Brewing Company. Learn about how the beer is made while touring the facilities, then sample some of the finished products. If beer’s not your thing, head into downtown Juneau instead for and spend your last evening exploring its historic streets.

Juneau, the only American capital inaccessible by road, maintains the feeling of a frontier town, permeated by its gold rush heritage. From exploring a mine to gold panning in a creek, there’s a range of ways for visitors to experience Alaska’s gold rush history. Here’s what you need to know.

Gold Rush History

Juneau’s history and  the history of the gold rush go hand in hand. Prospectors Joe Juneau and Richard Harris founded the town—then called Harrisburg—in 1880 after hearing rumors of gold from Tlingit Chief Kowee. The pair of founders soon discovered gold in what is now called Gold Creek, and then Juneau was home to three of the world’s biggest gold mines over the next 60 years.

Ways to Experience Gold Rush History

• Learn to pan the waters of Gold Creek or Last Chance Basin for precious metals.
• Keep the gold you find while exploring the gold fields of Juneau.
• Hear stories of the Juneau gold rush from a guide in 19th-century attire.
• Visit the entrance of Wagner Mine, where relics of the area’s mining past remain.
• Brush up on your gold rush history at the Last Chance Mining Museum and Historic Park.