West Glacier Trail
The municipal trail climbs through wet forest, bedrock, and side routes above the lake’s west shore.
Artwork inspired by Rockwell Kent
A rainforest route reaches changing views across the Mendenhall Glacier landscape. The municipal trail climbs through wet forest, bedrock, and side routes above the lake’s west shore. It reveals glacier retreat from a different perspective than the crowded visitor-center side.
Stay on the maintained route to the authorized overlooks, using the lake and glacier as distant orientation rather than invitations to descend. Unofficial paths toward ice caves have caused rescues and fatalities; the glacier, cliffs, and lake edge are not safe extensions of the trail. Its character emerges through rainforest bedrock and west-side overlooks; watching how those elements interact is more useful than rushing to the headline feature.
- Distance
- About 7 miles round trip
- Operator
- City of Juneau
- Character
- Rugged forest trail
Quick guide
- Start with
- Stay on the maintained route to the authorized overlooks, using the lake and glacier as distant orientation rather than invitations to descend.
- Look closely at
- Notice scale, material, and movement around rainforest bedrock before turning to west-side overlooks.
Know before you go
- Start with
- Stay on the maintained route to the authorized overlooks, using the lake and glacier as distant orientation rather than invitations to descend.
- Look closely at
- Notice scale, material, and movement around rainforest bedrock before turning to west-side overlooks.
- Connect the story
- The municipal trail climbs through wet forest, bedrock, and side routes above the lake’s west shore. It reveals glacier retreat from a different perspective than the crowded visitor-center side.
- Plan around
- Allow 3–8 hours. Unofficial paths toward ice caves have caused rescues and fatalities; the glacier, cliffs, and lake edge are not safe extensions of the trail.
Good to know
Unofficial paths toward ice caves have caused rescues and fatalities; the glacier, cliffs, and lake edge are not safe extensions of the trail.
Notice these
- rainforest bedrock
- west-side overlooks
- Mendenhall Lake