Nugget Falls

Nugget Falls is proof Mendenhall Glacier shouldn’t be just a quick stop on your Alaska itinerary. After viewing the glacier and exploring the exhibits at the visitor center, Nugget Falls is about a 20-minute walk toward the ice. In fact, before the glacier retreated, the falls used to cascade right onto the ice. Today, a sandy flat exists near the base of the falls, so visitors can get an up-close look.

The glacier and the falls are a must-stop on any visit to Juneau, and tours abound that make them ultra-accessible. From guided ice adventures to whale-watching, this is one spot to prioritize on your Alaska travels.

• The trailhead can be found a bit down the Photo Point Trail, which in turn can be found from the visitor center.
• All facilities, including restrooms, can be found at the visitor center.
• The path is mostly flat and entirely gravel, suitable for certain strollers and wheelchairs.
• In the winter, the trail is open for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and Nugget Falls are a 15-minute drive from downtown Juneau, with on-site parking available. If you don’t have a car, the stop is also popular on tours, most of which offer round-trip transportation from the city. Once you’re there, hop on the Nugget Falls Trail, behind the visitor center, to view the cascade.

The best time to see the falls is from June to September, when the weather is warm and the water is rushing. The visitor center is typically open from morning to evening, but try to come as close to when it opens or closes as possible, as this is a very popular Alaska stop.

Mendenhall Glacier is one of Alaska’s easiest to experience glaciers—and since it comes with such a great waterfall, it might be the best to experience, too. But other easy-access glaciers, like Exit Glacier (Seward) and Portage Glacier (Anchorage), are also family-friendly stops and worth the drive. If you have time, try to catch ’em all.