You will need more than micro or nano crampons. I live in anchorage and am an avid, experienced hiker. The trail is primarily used for hiking and nature trips and is best used from June until August. Much of the trail is close to Byron Creek, where kids can play among the smooth stones, but keep an eye because the water is cold and sometimes rapid. The path is a mile and a half long but to get to the ice caves you'll jump off the path (to the left towards the glacier) after about a mile and start heading through the trees. Your Cruise Ship / Edit . The trail continues in and out of brush and along the top of the moraine, above the glacier. It’s likely that nobody on the ship would take you to the ice caves since it’s not offered to passengers as a tour or anything. It is a near a 3.5 mile hike on the West Glacier Trail, to the ice caves. Many people from all around the world come to Alaska to see this natural phenom​enon. Ice Cave Trail est un sentier allez-retour de 8.2 miles peu fréquenté situé près de Haines Junction, Yukon en Canada. The only way to access them in the summer is by kayak or the West Glacier Trail Hike. *Jessica a reviewer below, tells you not to take this hike and to take the west glacier trail to the west glacier spurt trail. Cleats preferably if you are to walk around on the glacier. At times, the little pink/orange ribbons are few and far between, so don't panic if you're used to more trail blazing - just be prepared to carefully double back if you find yourself in the bushes. Bring a light jacket, as winds tend to pick up around the face of the glacier itself. At this point, you will run out of pink and orange tags and find yourself essentially cliffed out. Overwhelmed by choices? Byron glacier is located in about 49 miles (79 km) south of Anchorage, not far from Girdwood, Alaska. ". Alaska has several huge fields that are larger than some states. The hike isn’t very hard as far as distance or elevation climbed. The second half of the trail is rocky and features a small stream crossing. Alaska Railroad: Adventure Class or Goldstar Dome Car Service? Ice fields are special places. If trying to get to the glacier and/or see ice caves, take West Glacier Trail to West Glacier Spur Trail instead; much easier. Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. Find Shore Tours to Book. Super unique. Located a short 12 miles outside Alaska’s capital city of Juneau, the Mendenhall Ice Caves are ever-changing due to melting ice and glacier recession but an absolute wonder to explore. I have never written a review on a hike, but I felt if I did not share my experience with this trail I was breaking some sort of hikers code. From here, there is no set trail so feel free to go your own route. We did a variation of this hike, and with the occasional loss of GPS, downloading this alltrails map and carefully reading the reviews were both invaluable to our experience. Keep in mind that if you go inside the caves, you are hiking on the actual frozen creek and in some spots towards the very back you can hear the running water below you. Click here for more information. You will be scrambling around without a trace of a trail. " Anchorage - Glaciers/Ice Caves" - Anchorage doesn't have any glaciers close to it that will have ice caves & I wouldn't recommend accessing them - that being said, "close" is a relative term; and I'm betting you actually mean anywhere you might access on your trip to Alaska. HINWEIS: Diese Strecke gilt als "technisch" mit einigen steilen Gefällen, Krabbeln sowie eisigen und rutschigen Bedingungen (wetterabhängig). As you venture inward, it’ll be impossible not to notice the supreme beauty that surrounds you. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. There was one challenging rock climb, but all we had to do was slow down a bit and watch our footing and the entire group made it with no problems. Please check your email to verify your subscription. Use our calculator to find out, Stay casual, dress in layers, and get proper footwear, Guides to the best locations around the state to view wildlife. - Don’t hike alone. The ice cave was unfortunately covered, so we didn't get to see it. The trail starts at a well-marked pullout, about half a mile from the end of the road. I work seasonally for Princess Cruises. The unofficial trail will have pink and orange markers that lead you down into thick brush, slippery rocks, and lead to a very steep lookout on rock peninsula. Toll Free: 1-877-783-5566. - GPS tracking. Perfect combination of easy and difficult hiking. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. / World Famous Snowmobile Tours Just South of Anchorage, AK . However, the trails only lead you to overlooks. At some point during this time you will get to a fork where you will decide to go right down the west glacier spur trail or continue on the west glacier trail. Which one is right for you? It’s better to order a tour with an experienced guide … If your goal is to reach the ice caves, turn right down west glacier spur trail. Length 6.1 mi Elevation gain 626 ft Route type Out & Back Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. Loved it! Mendenhall Lake, mostly frozen over, and the Mendenhall Glacier. ice can be very slippery and dangerous. If you are trying to get to the glacier and / or ice caves this is the trail you want. It is best to see the ice caves in the winter season if you really want to see them ! Byron Glacier, Chugach National Forest, Alaska Nordic skating inside Byron Glacier. The first 1-1.5 miles is pretty easy and follows a well maintained path. This might be one of my most favorite hikes here in Juneau. This is difficult hike and hikers should take proper precautions and read prior reviews before attempting. However, be a smart hiker! Le sentier vous offrira la possibilité d'observer la faune et sa difficulté est évaluée comme difficile. Now this wasn’t an ‘ice tunnel’ but it was pretty great adventure out at Mendenhall Glacier. Portage Valley may be one of the most popular visitor destinations in Alaska, but don't let that scare you away. You can either hike along the glacier's edge, and find ice caves and little streams, or you can head up to one of the ridges. The Jumbo Creek ice cave in Root Glacier lets you stand inside a gorgeous space enclosed by blue-ice. I followed along with my AllTrails Pro app and my Garmin Fenix 5x watch. Follow the winding, mostly flat trail through a rocky, verdant alluvial plain that is now interspersed with tall alders and a smattering of cottonwood and aspen trees. This trail is no walk in the park. Very mixed terrain with enough difficulty to make it a great hike. The views are absolutely breathtaking. When the trees were shorter, you could see the glacier well from the road, but now you have to hike a ways before the ice face comes into view. I can’t stress how important I think it is to bring someone with you who has done the hike “Brice, what is one thing you would want to do in Alaska?” Me: “Crawl in an ice cave”. Select your cruise ship and we’ll display only the tours that work with your schedule in each port. The Ice Caves under Mendenhall Glacier - Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. Very steep climb up a wet rock face. We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip. Wear Water proof hiking boots. Ice Cave Trail is a 6.1 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Auke Bay, Alaska that features a lake and is rated as difficult. You will reach flowing water which you will need to navigate or jump across, big crevices, and slippery boulders covered in moss. Of note, trail milage is incorrect on AllTrails. Be sure to bring rain gear: this valley is known to trap clouds that produce everything from slow drizzles to the less-frequent (but pelting) cloudbursts. Not all the way to the glacier. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. Mendenhall Glacier is a very popular tourist destination, conveniently located just 12 miles from downtown Juneau, Alaska, so if you happen to be in Juneau or are planning a trip there, a visit at least to the glacier is a must. Le sentier offre plusieurs activités et est accessible toute l'année. Popular Alaska Itineraries Using In-State Airlines, Anchorage to Denali National Park Driving Map. More on the west glacier spur trail... this involves scrambling over wet, huge boulders and climbing up a HUGE cliff-like hill where you will be using your hands to climb up the 80 degree angle. Obviously, the glacier itself is rewarding and awe-inspiring and not just a little bittersweet. You can reach the foot of the glacier in less than an hour of hiking, and at that point there are a few options. Mendenhall glacier looks good any which way. I recommend sturdy, grippy hiking shoes and a willingness to use your hands for boulder scrambling. The Ice Cave Creek Trail is a new trail that splits off the Palmer Lake to Limbaugh Canyon (715 Trail) trail to the north. Mendenhall Ice Caves – So what exactly are the Mendenhall ice caves and why do people’s eyes seem to light up with an enchanting glow when they hear those. Much of the trail is close to Byron Creek, where kids can play among the smooth stones, but keep an eye because the water is cold and sometimes rapid. If the trails are as flooded as they were when I did it, nothing will save you However, it can be muddy and quite slippery, in some areas. Guided tours in the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area have to be permitted by the US Forest Service. 10/10 recommend. One of the coolest destinations at the end of this hike with great views of the glacier along the way, my fiancé and I are from Florida and we did it just fine. Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. Can be difficult at times. The only cave we found was too deep with glacier water. Used crampons to climb inside the ice cave. Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. There’s really no designated path so you have to keep checking all trails. I might recommend taking a guided tour if you want to hike the glacier and any caves right now. I’m relatively in good shape but my 57-year-old mom who was in the ICU 6 months ago was able to do it. The West Glacier Trail starts out in a forest and is fairly level. Make sure you pay attention to the orange ties to stay on track when climbing the rocks. If I visited in the summer I wouldn’t enter inside the caves but it would still be awesome to see. In Alaska, however, we also have caves of ice! There are no pink/ orange markers out here. This video is unavailable. We are about a level 7/10 level hikers. Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? Luckily there is service out there. Find Matching Tours. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. Beautiful hike, though. Also a perfect day to hike. The Mendenhall Ice Caves are situated behind Mendenhall Glacier, 12 miles outside of Juneau, Alaska. And while it’s true that the valley's blue ice and glacial scenery is outstanding from Portage Glacier Rd, it gets even better if you take the short hike to Byron Glacier. (Glacier cave is probably a better term, technically speaking). Juneau Ice Caves. Follow the winding, mostly flat trail through a rocky, verdant alluvial plain that is now interspersed with tall alders and a smattering of cottonwood and aspen trees. 7-10 days is the most common. This has been one of my favorite hikes in my life. Read the sign posted at the trail head prior to starting. August 2013 - We thoroughly enjoyed our ten hour trail, glacier, and ice cave hike with our ABA guides, Brigit and Chelsea. The Alaska Railroad is your transportation method. - Pack water, snacks, and layers. Once you get up this, you will likely lose the trail, because THERE IS NO TRAIL. Getting up close and personal with an ice cave in Alaska is not for the faint of heart. Byron Glacier trailhead is near Portage Lake. Definitely wear waterproof shoes as there are areas that were wet and muddy (However, it did just rain a few days in a row prior to the hike). WARNING about this... if you continue on west glacier trail, there will be another fork that IS NOT A MARKED TRAIL. At present there are only 2 companies that go where the ice caves are located, one is a long hike and the other is a canoe trip. The route is easy to follow up a creek bed, which takes you right to the cave, with its huge arch of blue ice. Also, going inside the caves is not recommended. Stops include Seward (Kenai Fjords), Girdwood, Whittier & Spencer Glacier, Stops include Wasilla, Talkeetna, Denali National Park & Fairbanks. *a lot of reviews are saying distances are incorrect, I found this to be untrue. Navigating around the water also posed a great risk of getting lost, as the trail is located in deep brush. Yet it’s hard for an adventure hound not to be totally captivated by the epic pictures floating around the internet. Took us 5 hours in total. The wind off of the glacier is cold and strong. DO NOT PROCEED. This is NOT a 2mi hike to the glacier. This trail was beautiful and remote and really got you up and personal with the glacier. A stay at the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge puts you just four miles from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park’s main visitor center in Copper Center, Alaska, about a … As you fly into Alaska’s capital city of Juneau and descend into the magnificent Mendenhall Glacier, that rare and unique beauty that overcomes you is guaranteed to blow your mind straight into another universe. There are reputedly ice caves in the area (hence, the name), but I haven't located these yet. Why Everyone Should Explore These Ice Caves In Alaska At Least Once. Before you go on ice cave trail, map out your route and become very familiar with it. You should add about .5 miles or so to the end of the trail each way. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights, Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse!). Pepper Peak – One of Eklutna Lake’s best… July 2, 2020 July 2, 2020 This is where you will be parking and is the trailhead for Byron Glacier. WARNING about this... if it has rained recently the trail WILL be flooded. Absolutely beautiful. Kluane Ice Cave trail: Once a well-kept secret by the locals, this hike went viral as scores of Yukoners and tourists have since flocked to this accessible ice cave (which is really a tunnel). Geologic Formations, Visitor Centers. Glacier City Snowmobile Tours will take you on a 30 mile Snowmobile tour of Glaciers and Ice Caves in Alaska. Car, train, or group tour. It’s fun to have an impromptu snowball fight in snowfields left over from winter avalanches, or take one of the multiple side trails that will lead you to the edge of the valley where bouldering opportunities abound. My hike to the ice caves was a crew tour that was led by one of the personal trainers onboard who’s hiked this route many times and knew where to take us. It is not as much physically taxing, as it is mentally. The network of cerulean ice caves is what makes Mendenhall Glacier so unique and special. This trail does offer better frontal views of both the glacier and the Nugget Waterfall but West Glacier Spur Trail did not disappoint. Retrace your steps back to west glacier trail and avoid the temptation of climbing down to the west glacier spur trail which is visible from this look out. See Alaska's highlights by railroad or motorcoach in a group of up to 50, Travel in small groups, stay at exclusive wilderness lodges, and spend more time outdoors, All-inclusive multi-day vacation packages at a remote wilderness lodge, Travel with a professional photographer to the best photo locations around the state, Trips range from backpacking, rafting, to upscale remote lodge retreats, Cruises depart Juneau or Sitka. NOTE: This trail is considered "technical" with some steep drop offs, scrambling, and icy and slick conditions (dependent on weather). It's a one-mile scenic walk to the glacier face along Byron Creek. Head south from Anchorage on the Seward Highway, to the end of the 5-mile Portage Spur Road. Would recommend some spikes. A lot of rock hiking and scrambling up some steep cliffs. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. There are pink and orange ribbons along the way as well if you get turned around. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. Rent a car and travel independently on a set itinerary, with lodging and tours booked in advance. The trail is primarily used for hiking and nature trips and is best used from June until August. Self-drive vacations. Free personal GPS–driven travel guide to Alaska. Please try again. I am late 20’s slightly above average shape. Simply put, it’s very dangerous. Discover Mendenhall Ice Caves in Juneau, Alaska: Breathtakingly blue walls shimmer inside the "Glacier Behind the Town. United States ; Alaska (AK) Juneau ; Juneau - Things to Do ; Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center; Search. The trail head is located near Begich Boggs Visitor Center. - Ice caves are dangerous and there were two that caved in just days before I hiked. Juneau Alaska Adventures offers a guided hike along West Glacier Trail to some of Alaska's great ice caves. Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. 2-5 day small ship explorations. Local: 907-783-5566. Difficult rock scramble throughout. I ended up not making it to the ice caves. This is that exact trail, so I am not sure what she is on about. Watch Queue Queue. The trail was fine, just a few parts where it was iced over, slippery but overall had no problems. 3 times on this trail we had to navigate around 1-2 feet of water, and still ended up with fully submerged shoes. Where I went wrong and where you can go right: Campgrounds, RV Parks & Public Use Cabins. Allison and Paul from Liquid Alaska Tours were greet tour guides. Be careful and take it in while you can. Open today: 8:00 AM … Kick off your journey to the Mendenhall Ice Caves by heading to Juneau, Alaska’s state capital. This trail is fairly easy to find. Be careful to stay on the appropriate trail. The Castner Glacier is an easily accessible glacier toe in the Delta Mountains of the Alaska Range. This short day hike—with an easily accessible trailhead a few hundred meters from the Begich Boggs Visitor Center—offers you big views of the Byron Glacier. See my review there for details. There are a lot of paths that are trodden for the vistas, but not necessarily part of the trail. Difficult and longer but worth it. Outdoors Editor’s note: Trip Report is an ongoing series about trail conditions around Interior Alaska. Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. The views of the glacier and nugget falls are great. The truth is that most people stop at the visitor’s center for a quick walkthrough, take a photo on the deck and then get back on the road, to Whittier or elsewhere. Ice Cave Trail is a 6.1 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Auke Bay, Alaska that features a lake and is rated as difficult. The most intimate multi-day cruise option. We paddled a canoe with ten other tourists and our two guides across Mendenhall Lake towards the glacier. It’s risky and it’s undeniably life threatening. Juneau is situated at the base of the 3,819-foot Mount Roberts on Alaska’s Inside Passage. Watch Queue Queue - Allow 4+ hours Great hike, rain or shine. That said, accessing them is no easy feat. The 3.2-mile (5.1 km) Byron Glacier Trail is flat and well-maintained. - Footwear: No sneakers. Be comfortable navigating without a clear trail. There was a problem with your submission. So I might not take this hike on a wet day. The hike through the switchback was very doable for us. If you choose to continue on west glacier trail, then you will continue hiking uphill adjacent and above the glacier. The term ice cave, it turns out, is sometimes used by geologists to describe a regular bedrock cave that features year-round ice, but as its usually meant when discussing Alaska, ice caves refer, well, to caves within a body of ice, namely a glacier. You will come to where the glacier meets the valley, but be wary as the entire side of the mountain to get down to the glacier is shale and dangerous to walk down. Mendenhall Glacier And ice cave tour This excursion in Juneau, Alaska was a once in a lifetime experience. In winter, you have to hoof it across the frozen lake. It’s been raining so there are a few puddles and slick rocks. My Cruise Planner . We ended up rock climbing down some cliff sides (we slid down some rock that looked like original path and couldn’t get back up). The most famous Alaskan ice caves are located under Mendenhall, Root, Spencer, Matanuska, and Kennicott Glaciers. We were grateful to have our windbreakers because it is colder and windier than you'd expect right at the glacier. We were lucky to hike on a dry day, and I don't think we would have been able to do it on Juneau's typical rainy days with our gear. The Byron Glacier Ice Caves. Forest service warns against winter travel due to steep walls of Byron Valley and high snowfall, which makes the area prone to avalanche risks. Here’s why. 8150 Mendenhall Loop Rd, Tongass National Forest, Juneau, AK 99801. Great hike and very tiring when coming back ! The use of crampons is strongly recommended. If you read nothing else in this post... USE A GPS SYSTEM and track your hike or go with someone who is familiar with the trail. Not on a cruise. Naturally, we couldn’t visit Juneau and miss the chance to experience the ice caves for ourselves. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Hiking through Time . Travel on a set itinerary with lodging and tours booked in advance. When are you coming? Mount McGinnis Trail via West Glacier Trail, John Muir Recreation Cabin via Winter Trail. Center ; Search: adventure Class or Goldstar Dome car Service Forest, Juneau, Alaska was a in! 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