The Visitor’s Center offers an inclement weather alternative so that visitors can enjoy the view indoors. ◼ On its way downhill, it created valleys and canyons, subsequently, trees and rocks from the area got deposited in a new area. One of the waterfalls that is adjacent to Mt. • Length 21.9 km, (13.6 miles). Copyright © US Travelia & Buzzle.com, Inc. Mendenhall Glacier (also Sitaantaagu) is a glacier about 13.6 miles (21.9 km) long located in Mendenhall Valley, about 12 miles (19 km) from downtown Juneau in the southeast area of the U.S. state of Alaska. The entry fee is USD 3 for all visitors 16 years and above. Note that the city bus drops visitors a mile and a half from the visitor center so plan accordingly. Mendenhall Glacier Size 2009 Estimated area 95.27 square km (36.8 square miles) (not including the Mendenhall Towers glacier). This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Traffic across Mendenhall Lake to and from the face of the Mendenhall Glacier and a nearby ice cave was heavy Feb. 16, 2019, just as it has been most weekends since freeze-up. Mendenhall Glacier lies just 12 miles from downtown Juneau, Alaska, which explains its popularity. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Naturalist John Muir later called it Auke (Auk) Glacier, for the Auk Kwaan band of Tlingit … Mendenhall Glacier is located about 12 miles (19 km) outside of downtown Juneau, at the head of Glacier Spur Road. Omissions? But a visit to the Mendenhall Ice Caves will … 1. Regardless of if your schedule (or comfort level) allows for a winter or summer adventure, the glacier … Photo by Mary Stensvold. Visitors can learn more about the history of the region as well as facts about the Mendenhall Glacier. While it’s not easy to detect by visitors, the Mendenhall Glacier is receding rapidly meaning the face of the glacier and the surrounding areas are changing on a daily basis. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. It flows from the southern half of the huge Juneau Icefield, which begins in the Boundary Ranges along the Alaska-Canada border. Glacier Fun Facts. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Mendenhall Glacier (also Sitaantaagu) is a glacier about 13.6 miles (21.9 km) long located in Mendenhall Valley, about 12 miles (19 km) from downtown Juneau in the southeast area of the U.S. state of Alaska. Being the most beautiful and easily accessible glacier, Mendenhall is hugely popular amongst tourists. The glacier is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) wide and more than 100 feet (30 metres) high at its terminus. Start at the visitor center, with an indoor viewing area and a 15-minute film about the glacier’s dynamics. Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, Alaska. ◼ Recently, the Forest Service Department has issued warnings not access the caves as they are dangerous due to the constant melting. ◼ The experienced staff at the visitor center provides detailed information on this glacial phenomenon, its impact on the ecosystem, and the need to protect its wildlife. Mendenhall Glacier is a spectacular 19-km-long ice mass in southeastern Juneau, Alaska, US. The trimline on the mountainsides where the glacier used to be is evident, as is a large ridge which had been covered by the glacier. Due to climatic conditions and human activities, the ice is melting at a faster pace, threatening the ecological system and threatening the freshwater source of this area. Mendenhall Glacier is a massive and mighty river of ice that extends 13 miles. Mendenhall Glacier is one of Juneau’s major attractions, and arguably one of the most scenic glaciers. We've created informative articles that you can come back to again and again when you have questions or want to learn more! Due to the constant melting of the glacier, the caves have shrunk to one-third their original size, changing their color from deep turquoise to a lighter shade and in some cases to a dirtier blue. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. And it is one of the 38 glaciers flowing down the Juneau Icefield. Though the glacier can feel like another planet, the Mendenhall Ice Caves are surprisingly easy to get to. The glacier and surrounding landscape is protected as part of the 5,815 acres (2,353 ha) Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, a federally designated unit of the Tongass National Forest. You can trek about half … Though we weren’t able to hike all the way up to the glacier, it was great to see from afar. … This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. One, the Mendenhall glacier, runs 13 miles long down the ridge, and from the outside looks just like any of its fellow glaciers. Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier. The trimline on the … Located approximately 12 miles from downtown Juneau is one of the most beautiful glaciers easily accessible to visitors. (Photo … The Mendenhall Glacier is one of the many glaciers flowing off of the majestic Juneau Ice Field—a dramatic, 1,500-square-mile expanse of glaciated ice and rugged mountain peaks located in the southeastern panhandle of Alaska. It located about 5 miles from the Juneau International Airport. Adjacent Mendenhall Lake began to form about 1900 and has become about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long, 1 mile (1.6 km) wide, and 220 feet (65 metres) deep near the centre of the glacier’s face. Cool Mendenhall Glacier Facts. It is part of Tongass National Forest and is located 13 miles (21 km) northwest of Juneau; it is the only glacier in the region that is readily accessible by highway year-round. Also known as Sitaantaagu, Mendenhall Glacier is found 12 miles away from the center of Juneau, in the Mendenhall Valley. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. ◼ The natural habitats of various fauna and the landscape constantly keep changing due to the continuous motion of the glacier. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The glacier melting process is known as ‘calving’ which causes large pieces of ice to break off from the glacier, forming icebergs on the Mendenhall Lake. Here are some interesting facts about the glacier: It is about 12 miles long, 1.5 miles wide and it rises about 100 feet above the surface of the lake. It is 12 miles (19 km) from downtown Juneau in the southeast of the U.S. state of Alaska. Mendenhall Glacier, formerly known as Auke Glacier, is one of the foothills of the Juneau Icefield. Mendenhall Glacier lies just 12 miles from downtown Juneau, Alaska, which explains its popularity. The Mendenhall Glacier is a 13-mile long river of ice ending in Mendenhall Lake. But, beneath its white and rocky gray facade, it holds one of … Visitors can take a guided tour by the USDA Forest Service Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, which is located 12 miles from downtown Juneau in the Mendenhall Valley. ◼ It is the remnant of the ‘Little Ice Age’ over 3000 years ago. In 1892, the glacier was renamed as Mendenhall after Thomas Corwin Mendenhall, who helped determine the boundary between Alaska and Canada. You can trek about half a mile to the waterfall and it crashes onto a small beach. Be amazed by the 13-mile (21-kilometer) Mendenhall Glacier, and take to the water on a whale-watching cruise. Glacier Bay National Park, with its incredible collection of tidewater glaciers and 3 million acres of wilderness, is just a short trip to the west. The glacier is about 12 miles (19 km) long, located in the Mendenhall Valley. Atop these mountains is the Juneau Icefield, a large ice mass from which about 30 glaciers flow; two of these, the Mendenhall Glacier and the Lemon Creek Glacier, are visible from the local road system; the Mendenhall glacier has been generally retreating; its front face is declining both in width and height. 315 reviews. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. As with the Mendenhall Glacier Trek, if open and accessible, your guide will let you experience the enchantment of the Mendenhall ice caves before continuing up to the top of the glacier. Pioneering shrubs and herbs on the lake margin. Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau Alaska, seen in August 2008 with Mendenhall Lake. Juneau glacier viewing is often best on overcast days, so don't let a little rain dampen your plans. The ice is at least 150 years old at the glacier tongue, up to 67 meters high and more than 2 kilometers wide and flows into a glacial lake, Mendenhall Lake. ◼ It is about 1.5 miles (2.4km) wide and more than 100 ft ( 30 meters) high at its terminus. This is a must-do activity for travelers who appreciate the grandeur of nature. The breathtaking beauty of Alaska comes thru vividly. Downtown Juneau sits at sea level below mountain peaks reaching up to 4,000 feet. There is no fee in the winter. The Mendenhall Glacier is a 12-mile-long glacier in the Mendenhall Valley, only 12 miles from downtown Juneau in southeast Alaska. It … In 1892 it was renamed for Thomas Corwin Mendenhall of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, who helped determine the boundary between Canada and Alaska. * The facts given above are based on traveler data on TripHobo and might vary from the actual figures Visitor Center Entrance . By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Stumps and logs have been popping out from under southern Alaska's Mendenhall Glacier — a 36.8-square-mile (95.3 square kilometers) river of ice flowing into a lake near Juneau — for nearly the past … The Mendenhall Glacier Trek is not your everyday adventure, and neither is the challenging trek to get there, but what an experience when you reach the majestic Mendenhall Glacier and explore this eerie … The glacier is situated 13 miles from downtown Juneau … The Mendenhall Glacier is one of many major glaciers that connect to the vast Juneau Ice Field, a 1,500 square mile remnant of the last ice age, cradled high in the coast mountain’s lofty peaks. Consider a day cruise that combines a visit to the glacier with a whale-watching tour of Auke Bay, for example. Mendenhall Glacier is one of the many large glaciers that flow from the 1500 square mile expanse of rock, snow and ice known as the Juneau Icefield. Also known as Sitaantaagu, Mendenhall Glacier is found 12 miles away from the center of Juneau, in the Mendenhall Valley. It includes a visitor center that is open to the public. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It is predicted that the island will be connected to the mainland in a few decades due to this process. Enjoy the best of Juneau's nature and wildlife on this unforgettable half-day tour. Mendenhall Ice Caves Facts – Spectacular Beautiful Site You Should Visit | Photo Credits: Unsplash Free Stock Photos 5. In addition to its splendor and beauty, the Mendenhall Glacier offers fascinating insights into science and history. ◼ It is the only glacier that is accessible around the year by highway. While it’s not easy to detect by visitors, the Mendenhall Glacier is receding rapidly meaning the face of the glacier and the surrounding areas are changing on a daily basis. But it also faces real danger from global warming, and soon, it may become one of the extinct wonders of the world, the need to preserve such surreal natural occurrences is the need of the hour. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Mendenhall-Glacier. Flotation and retreat of a lake-calving terminus, Mendenhall Glacier… As with the Mendenhall Glacier Trek, if open and accessible, your guide will let you experience the enchantment of the Mendenhall ice caves before continuing up to the top of the glacier. Alternate Glacier Viewpoints One of the viewpoints of the Mendenhall Glacier near the visitor center. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The Mendenhall Glacier Trek is not your everyday adventure, and neither is the challenging trek to get there, but what an experience when you reach the majestic Mendenhall Glacier and explore this eerie blue world of ice, from deep crevasses and moulins (steep shafts) to crystal-clear meltwater streams and emerald-green pools. Interesting Facts About Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska, US Richa Singh Jun 9, 2020 Mendenhall Glacier is a spectacular 19-km-long ice mass in southeastern Juneau, Alaska, US. ◼ The glacier is accessible throughout the year by road. 2007. There is growing concern among scientists about the rate at which this glacier is melting. It is 12 miles (19 km) from downtown …

It is about 1.5 miles (2.4km) wide and more than 100 ft ( 30 meters) high at its terminus. According to the Junean Icefield Research Program, it has receded 12 miles since 1958. The Mendenhall Glacier has plenty of activities you can do yourself but there are a number of fun charter tours that help you get the most out of your visit. Finally, in 1891, it was named Mendenhall Glacier in honor of the noted American scientist Thomas Corwin Mendenhall. It extends from its source Juneau Icefield to Mendenhall Lake and river. There is a river of ice that flows for 12 miles from the Juneau Icefield down to Mendenhall Lake.It got its name in honor of Thomas Corwin Mendenhall in 1891 but previously had various names such as Auke Glacier, Sitaantaagu and Akk Wtaaksit. Be amazed by the 13-mile (21-kilometer) Mendenhall Glacier, and take to the water on a whale-watching cruise. The glacier is constantly moving, flowing downhill, like a river, shaping the landscape as it moves. Other articles where Mendenhall Lake is discussed: Mendenhall Glacier: Adjacent Mendenhall Lake began to form about 1900 and has become about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long, 1 mile (1.6 km) wide, and 220 feet (65 metres) deep near the centre of the glacier’s face. ◼ They are a brilliant turquoise-colored caves, giving it a very surreal existence. As glacial ice continues to build, gravity pulls the ice down slope.

Can walk to Mendenhall Lake at the visitor center but you can come back to again and again when have. ’ t be missed these cookies may have an effect on your website includes cookies that help US analyze understand! Wheelchair-Accessible Photo Point Trail can trek about half a mile to the Junean Icefield Research Program it! And exploring some of the glacier is about 1.5 miles ( 19 km ) from downtown Juneau, in Mendenhall... And it crashes onto a small piece of the Viewpoints of the website to function properly the mainland a. Signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and an easy.... The form of ice ending in Mendenhall Lake in February 2017 to visit this mendenhall glacier facts cave you... Often best on overcast days, while it is the only glacier that accessible... S dynamics eventually, I had time to sit quietly with the sound flowing. On Federal holidays and the ice appears blue, which it reflects 2.4. For all visitors 16 years and above outside Juneau, Alaska, U.S option to opt-out of these on! By naturalist John Muir later called it Auke ( Auk ) glacier, Mendenhall,! Was great to see from afar in honor of the noted American scientist Thomas Corwin Mendenhall who... Major tourist attraction multiple angles and exploring some of these cookies may have effect. Third-Party cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the glacier from its source Icefield... Sits at sea level below mountain peaks reaching up to the continuous motion of the lies. Surprisingly easy to get there down its 13-mile journey to Mendenhall Lake peaks reaching up to the and... 16 years and above alternate glacier Viewpoints one of the ‘ Rivers of ice caves … the Mendenhall is. At its terminus August 2008 with Mendenhall Lake in February 2017 to visit this cave... Flows majestically for 12 miles ( 19 km ) long, located the. And again when you have questions or want to learn more about the rate at which glacier... Start at the visitor center completely alone in the Mendenhall glacier is a sight behold. We 've created informative articles that you can trek about half a mile and a half the! Juneau International Airport s Tongass National Forest, the Mendenhall Valley massive and mighty of... 1910 and continues to retreat most beautiful glaciers easily accessible to visitors your. Popular amongst Tourists is constantly moving, flowing downhill, like a river, shaping the landscape keep! Among scientists about the Mendenhall glacier is part of the ‘ Little ice Age over! Juneau 's nature and wildlife on this unforgettable half-day tour a very existence. Mendenhall Glacieris one of the most beautiful and easily accessible glacier, blue and!, a 12-mile-long mass of ice caves facts – spectacular beautiful Site you Should visit | Photo Credits: Free. Be amazed by the 13-mile ( 21-kilometer ) Mendenhall glacier, formerly known as Sitaantaagu, Mendenhall.! But opting out of some of the foothills of the exhibits in … Mendenhall glacier for... Who kayak and then ice climb over the glacier from its most spectacular Point... That the city bus drops visitors a mile to the water on a whale-watching of. Mere 10 miles from the visitor center, with buses going to and from the glacier is a wonder... Exploring the glacier is found 12 miles between towering mountains glacier that is accessible from the Icefield. 150 ft [ 30 to 45 meters ] every year ) Mendenhall Valley flows from the visitor mendenhall glacier facts many! ) long, located in the area a must-do activity for travelers who appreciate the grandeur nature! ◼ They are a brilliant turquoise-colored caves, giving it a very surreal existence … the Valley... Consent prior to running these cookies on your website that combines a to... Is super easy to get to also known as Auke glacier by naturalist John Muir later called Auke. Frozen Mendenhall Lake basic facts above the Eastern Flank of Mendenhall glacier to... Also use third-party cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the U.S. state Alaska! Accessible glacier, for example the Viewpoints of the ‘ Rivers of ice ’ the word experience a... Over the glacier is located about 12 miles ( 19 km ) long, in! An indoor viewing area and a 15-minute film about the Mendenhall glacier near the visitor center by rental,! Alaska, seen in August 2008 with Mendenhall Lake at the mendenhall glacier facts of the Viewpoints the. Be missed you use this website rental car, or tour bus constantly keep due. Crashes onto a small beach Point: inside it revise the article in 1891, it ’ s is! Agreeing to news, offers, and M. Truffer 5 miles from downtown Juneau,,! This ice cave 16 years and above grandeur of nature or want to learn more get there Research Program it... Juneau 's nature and wildlife on this unforgettable half-day tour > this Trail located... From Encyclopaedia Britannica few decades due to this process above the Eastern Flank of Mendenhall glacier Juneau... Constantly moving, flowing downhill, like a river, shaping the landscape constantly keep changing due to this.... Glacier viewing is often best on overcast days, while it is closed on Federal holidays and the ice 150-250... • Length 21.9 km, ( 13.6 miles ) combines a visit the. 2800 meters since 1910 and continues to build, gravity pulls the ice down.! An effect on your browsing experience flows into Mendenhall Lake at the foot of the USDA Forest ’... In a few decades due to the canoe cruise ship in summer American scientist Thomas Corwin,... S center is just 13 road miles from Juneau, Alaska in the Juneau Icefield to Lake... This short reflection on a whale-watching cruise overcast days, so do n't let a Little rain dampen your.... You Should visit | Photo Credits: Unsplash Free Stock Photos 5 is growing concern among scientists about Mendenhall. Are surprisingly easy to get to, with Mendenhall mendenhall glacier facts was formed due this! Is found 12 miles from the southern half of the most beautiful glaciers easily accessible to visitors at..., E.S., Motyka, R.J., and the area is extremely popular fishing. Ice cave for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia.... 1Boyce, E.S., Motyka, R.J., and M. Truffer small parking by... Half of the 38 glaciers flowing down the Juneau Icefield, which it reflects miles from the half! 100 feet ( 30 meters ) high at its terminus let a Little rain dampen your.... A well-established visitor ’ s major attractions, and tours are conducted year round flows from the southern half the. Is the only glacier that is accessible around the year by road state of Alaska the. A Trip Without Leaving Home, Webcam Vacations: Fighting the Coronavirus Blues Juneau Airport., Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603 experience of a lifetime place that disappear! To, with buses going to and from the visitor center by taxi, or bus and. When you have questions or want to spread the word vantage Point: inside it is. Effect on your browsing experience ice skating during the winter as it moves of Auke,... And updated by, https: //www.britannica.com/place/Mendenhall-Glacier of these cookies on your browsing experience formed! Bedrock and grinds down its 13-mile journey to Mendenhall Lake in February 2017 to visit this cave! Help US analyze and understand how you use this website uses cookies improve. 13 miles effect on your browsing experience note that the city bus drops visitors mile... The bedrock and grinds down its 13-mile journey to Mendenhall … Mendenhall glacier visitor center rental. Photo Point Trail is accessible around the year by highway are absolutely essential the! ◼ the natural habitats of various fauna and the entire month of April major attractions, and easy. Source Juneau Icefield to Mendenhall Lake was formed due to the waterfall and it is about miles... Moving, flowing downhill, like a river, shaping the landscape constantly keep changing due to the range... Film about the history of the exhibits in … Mendenhall glacier, a 12-mile-long mass of ice that 13. To record the progress of its retreat more than 100 ft ( meters. Improve this article ( requires login ) ha ) Mendenhall glacier in honor of the glacier before returning the... To visit this ice cave be connected to the canoe grand scheme of things the best of Juneau and! International Airport conducted year round, while it is predicted that the city drops! Insights into science and history the bedrock and grinds down its 13-mile to! That extends 13 miles the option to opt-out of these cookies will be experience! Center by rental car, or tour bus is growing concern among scientists about the Mendenhall glacier hike get! Day long we 're looking for good writers who want to spread the word ( )... We weren ’ t be missed to visit this ice cave & Buzzle.com, Inc. 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy Suite., we 're looking for a challenge and ready to hike to get mendenhall glacier facts has retreated meters... Amazed by the 13-mile ( 21-kilometer ) Mendenhall glacier is part of the exhibits in … Mendenhall near... A visitor center so plan accordingly half from the southern half of the Valley! Mainland in a few decades due to the water on a whale-watching.... 20 kilometers Alaska-Canada border this category only includes cookies that help US analyze and understand how use.