Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip

Name: Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip
Price: 209 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.52 (322 reviews)

Overview

Available languages

English

3 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

A must-see sight while in port in Juneau is the Mendenhall Glacier and on this exciting 3.5-hour white-water rafting tour, you'll get up close to this impressive natural wonder! Sit back and have fun as your guide paddles you through Class II and III rapids at the foot of the glacier. While you float along the 6-mile (9.6-km) route, take in the amazing sights of the glacier, the sheer mountains and the abundant wildlife. No rafting experience is required and this tour is suitable for the whole family. Want to be more active and involved? Ask for a paddle raft, where you will follow your guide's commands and power your raft through the 1-mile stretch of class II rapids. Whatever your preferred activity level, we can accommodate you.

Additional Info

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Children must weigh at least 50 lbs (22 kg) in order to fit into required life jackets

Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult

Please indicate your ship or hotel name when booking your tour

Children 13-17 must have a signed parental consent form to participate in the absence of a parent or guardian

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

What To Expect

Your trip begins with a scenic, narrated motor coach ride to the beautiful Mendenhall Lake where you’ll gear up, board your raft and take off on an unforgettable adventure. Your experienced guide will steer you across the serene waters of the lake, where you will view the majestic Mendenhall Glacier, before your five-mile journey down the Mendenhall River. The speed of the water and level of the rapids can vary depending on the weather. Your highly trained guide will ensure you have a safe and exhilarating rafting experience. Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride in our custom-made rafts, and be sure to hang on during the short section of rapids. Don’t forget to smile for the photographer along the riverbank so you will have a memento of your adventure. Want to be more active and involved? Ask for a paddle raft, where you will follow your guide's commands and power your raft through the 1-mile stretch of class III rapids. Whatever your preferred activity level, we can accommodate you. As your guide explains the natural phenomena at work in this scenic valley, you will marvel at the spectacular vistas of the towering peaks and the Mendenhall glacier as you float downstream. Be on the lookout for wildlife like arctic terns nesting on the shoreline, eagles, salmon, and sometimes, even bears. At the end of your journey, head ashore and enjoy an Alaskan snack, a warm beverage and an opportunity to purchase a photo or souvenir of your rafting experience. Your trip concludes with a short, narrated transfer back to your ship.

2 hours • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Professional guide

Snacks

Worry-Free Shore Excursion Guarantee

Transportation

Gratuities

Souveniers (available for purchase)

Souvenier Photo (available for purchase)

Alcoholic Beverages

Options

Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip

Reviews

4.52

322 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

247

Bad Experience
822joannt,,Oct 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
Trip got canceled. 1 hour notice. Got refund. Zero crowd size. Not enough water I was told. Caught a ride on bus and saw the glacier.
Not worth the money
WiscDeb,,Oct 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
This was disappointing! There was no narration on our trip to the starting point. The process to get geared up was pretty chaotic; it wasn't really clear what we were supposed to do or if it made sense to do it in a particular order. I was really looking forward to seeing the glacier up close and instead, it was sort of visible in the background and we immediately rowed away from it. Forget any real photos showing it. There was also no photo taken of us in the raft for purchase so I guess we saved some money there at least. As far as wildlife, we didn't see any. Not an eagle, not a salmon, nothing. We saw a lot of people's backyards and fencing to prevent flooding. Certainly no spectacular vistas as promised in the excursion description. It was pouring rain which of course couldn't be helped so it was actually kind of a relief to reach the point where we got out. Our shoes remained dry since we wore the provided boots but when we left the lean-to to head up to our bus, there was an absolutely enormous puddle on the path that we had to step in. So much for our dry feet. Considering that two or three tour groups daily travel that path for the raft company, you would think they would make an attempt to put something there or make an alternate path. No narration on the way back in the bus. This excursion was so expensive compared to the other things we did and it just. Plain. Wasn't worth it. We had much more fun doing things that were $60-80 less. You should try something else.
Float Trip... Incredible and amazing!
Cindy D,,Oct 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was definitely the best part of our Alaskan cruise! Even though it was chilly, even though I was tired and tried to get one of my kids to go instead of me... I'm so happy they were going hiking (their Mendenhall hike/canoe trip was cancelled due to weather conditions). Pickup near the ship was easy and we enjoyed the ride out to the starting point. Everyone was gearing up... putting on waterproof overall pants, rubber boots and life jackets (very important!). The team was helpful and assisted those that needed help. Then we split up into two rafts... one for those who wanted to paddle, and those that didn't. After a safety spiel and photos, everyone entered their rafts. It was easier for some than others...but even if you are like myself and not in the best of shape, you will make it in! Our raft was the incredible Jason, AKA Captain Redbeard. He was strong, personable, funny, full of stories. And eagle-eyed... finding countless things flying above us in the sky...eagles and ravens...eagle bird nests too. And we even saw seals a few times, swimming up the river. And he was always in control and we were quite confident in his ability to get us to the end point. The rapids were great fun and we all remained dry despite all the water that splashed on us! It was great adventure and exhilarating. I won't say it ended too soon... I was cold, my fingers and gloves were soaked, and I was happy to get back to the land. But I enjoyed each moment. We were treated to a small snack and warm cider at the end. There are also photos taken by team members of the rafts as they made their way down the river, for purchase. This was the last run for this season of this excursion and I'm glad I got to participate. I give this a 👍🏻!
Great experience!
Q5432YMlisab,,Sep 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our guide, Daniel, was very experienced, engaging, informative, and fun! We felt very safe on our first whitewater trip!
Believe the Negative Reviews
Gnureg,,Sep 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
Of the seven excursions we booked during our cruise, this one was the most expensive. It was not worth it. Seriously consider some of the bad reviews that you see here. The pre-float gear up process is chaos. But, the really bad part is this - if you think you’re going to get up close and personal with a glacier you’re going to be disappointed. You get a glimpse of the glacier and immediately row away from it. The remainder of the float takes you down a river that has a residential area on one side (you get to see the local high school!) and a forest that has no wildlife on the other. Rapids are definitely not 2’s or 3’s. Our guide, Gentry, was great, but he didn’t have a lot to work with as far as where he was forced to take us. You feel bad for the guide and so you tip which means you’ve spent even more money on a dismal experience. After the float, the snacks are whatever someone grabbed from a gas station deli and some lukewarm, watered-down cider.
First time rafting - great
Ian H,,Sep 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great time - Jamie was a great rafter and she looked after us really well. First time I have done it and really enjoyed it. The river was running fast after the recent and current rain. It was a shame the weather at the start meant the view of the glacier was not as good as it should have been. Would recommend and would say book it online and not through the cruise line as far better value and the money goes to the local firm. I read poor reviews but they were spot on turned up exactly where they said and people who booked on the ship and paid a lot more were on the same trip.
Cade - The Best Raft Guide Ever
katey489,,Sep 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Cade was the best raft guide on that lake, and probably in Alaska overall. First of all, he totally saved my life when he clipped that hidden fourth buckle on my life vest. He showed tremendous strategy as he chose our seating arrangement. The entire adventure was top-notch because of his excellent jokes, and I laughed at all of them! 10/10 would recommend rafting with him again!!!
Workers were all nice....
kristi M,,Sep 9, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00
Workers were all nice. Joe at port check in was super. Bus ride to river was nice and just enough information.
Beautiful and Entertaining
96nicolek,,Sep 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was such a wonderful experience. Jason was friendly and funny. His wit kept us entertained throughout the journey. He was great with kids and adults alike.
No glacier in this glacier excursion
Amelia J,,Sep 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
If you’re hoping for an adventurous, scenic glacier experience — don’t book this one. It’s a complete bait-and-switch. You start at the lake, see the glacier in the distance, and then paddle further away from it the entire time. Instead of wilderness, the views are mostly houses, shacks, and construction sites. You don’t even return to the lake — you end up under a highway near Juneau airport. This was marketed as a glacier float but delivered none of what was promised. Do the kayaking trip instead if you want to actually get near the glacier, and definitely go with a different tour company.