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Juneau
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Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure
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Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure

See all things to do
See all things to do
Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure
4.5
About
View the world renowned Flower Towers AND stunning rainforest of the Tongass. Your fully guided tour offers you a unique experience that combines natural landscapes and non-native manicured gardens . The gardens are the creation of Steve and Cindy Bowhay a guide tell you the unforgettable tale of the Flower Towers, named America's Most Interesting Landmark in 2012 Reader's Digest. Bright floral arrangements and elegant landscapes complement the natural beauty of the rainforest and the cascading waterfalls nearby. At the 580 ft level you will find an amazing panoramic viewpoint of Juneau, and the Chilkat Mountains. You return to the lower gardens in the Visitor's Center atrium and hanging flower gardens ! The Visitor's Center features a live video feed aimed at an active bald eagles nest that is found on the property. You can find online at our website as well. The Garden Gift Shop sells garden specific gifts and the Garden Cafe serves drinks, and light snacks.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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See what travelers are saying
  • Ruyhies
    Santee, California68 contributions
    Disappointing for the Money
    I think these trees (which the owners of the garden placed upside down in the ground and did not fall in this position from the landfall) are pretty but not worth the money to get in. They have vehicles that took you on a ride through the forest but maybe only 20 trees that were placed upside down. Disappointing for the money. I would not recommend
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written July 3, 2023
  • Ann H
    York, United Kingdom2,432 contributions
    Well worth a visit!!
    We were really looking forward to this visit off the cruise ship to this glacial garden. The entrance promised much with lots of upturned trees with flowers and the history behind why they are as they are. We then got into a buggy and were driven up some steep and windy paths with a very competent and knowledgeable driver who made us feel safe and really knew her information about the rainforest and all its surroundings. Not so much colour on the trip up and down but there were some lovely ponds with planting around. Lovely greenhouse back at the entrance with a gift shop and a coffee shop too. We enjoyed it!
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 17, 2023
  • cheri b
    Saint Louis, Missouri291 contributions
    Amazing!
    This was an amazing visit! It was a testimony to the vision and work of one fine Alaskan man. Visitors ride up the mountain viewing the constructed areas and planters all the way up to a viewpoint and down again amist the natural rainforest. The vehicle carries several people and feels like a large golf cart. It is magical for garden/landscape lovers like myself. The tour ends at a visitor's center and cafe. Recommended for nature lovers.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written October 5, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
687 reviews
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25
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14
NeilMyrie
Wellington, New Zealand23 contributions
Beautiful garden, our guide not so good
Aug 2022
This is a really beautiful and unique garden and the view from the top of the hill is spectacular. We have marked down our review because the tour guide, Alex, gave an irritating commentary all the way filled with bad jokes after each one of which he'd say "you're a tough crowd". After hearing that for at least 20 times it was very tedious. The tour is also expensive for what it is and the garden's star, attractions, the upside down trees in the lower garden, can be sen without going on the tour
Written August 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ruyhies
Santee, CA68 contributions
Disappointing for the Money
Jun 2023 • Family
I think these trees (which the owners of the garden placed upside down in the ground and did not fall in this position from the landfall) are pretty but not worth the money to get in. They have vehicles that took you on a ride through the forest but maybe only 20 trees that were placed upside down. Disappointing for the money. I would not recommend
Written July 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Philip G
Telford, UK54 contributions
Not Sure That This is a Garden
Aug 2023 • Couples
I was very disappointed with the few minutes of the tour in what I would count as a garden, which consisted of some lovely planted upturned trees and almost nothing else. The adventure part of the tour consisted of a guide driving us up to the top of the hill through the forest on a difficult, steep and winding path - sometimes with one hand as she held a coffee in the other. Some nice views at the top but disappointing overall.
Written September 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GlacierGardens
Thank you for visiting Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure. Everyone here Glacier Gardens try to give our guest a chance to see a Rainforest close up. The first part of the Gardens is landscaped as a restoration project to restore a stream that was destroyed in a huge landslide. When Steve Bowhay did the Rainforest part of our tour he just wanted guest to get a look at the beautiful landscape God made for us. The guides do strive to show off our little part of Alaska, and hopefully you will leave the Mountain with a little more understanding of the Miracle of the natural Rainforest of Southeast Alaska.
Written September 19, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ann H
York, UK2,432 contributions
Well worth a visit!!
Aug 2023 • Couples
We were really looking forward to this visit off the cruise ship to this glacial garden. The entrance promised much with lots of upturned trees with flowers and the history behind why they are as they are. We then got into a buggy and were driven up some steep and windy paths with a very competent and knowledgeable driver who made us feel safe and really knew her information about the rainforest and all its surroundings. Not so much colour on the trip up and down but there were some lovely ponds with planting around. Lovely greenhouse back at the entrance with a gift shop and a coffee shop too. We enjoyed it!
Written September 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wanderer5868
1 contribution
Glacier Gardens is the most beutiful place ever! MUST SEE
Must See! if you want an adventure this is the place to go. Get ready to snap pictures left and right. first you begin your tour with a trip through the lower gardens, then go in to the wonderfull tongass rain forest. lovely view of the town of Juneau Alaska once you get to the top. Must See While in Juneau!
Written November 18, 2003
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marypoppins913
San Francisco, CA7 contributions
Definitely misrepresentation.
We went to Glacier Gardens expecting (for the price) something like a small Butchart Gardens and were so disappointed to find that the most interesting thing there was building where you buy your way overpriced admission ticket. The rest is a fraud. You speed up the mountain in a golf cart to look at a view which you can get from any number of places for free. The guides just give a speech they know by heart and are unable to answer the most basic questions if they aren't part of the memorized speech. The whole thing is basically contrived to hoodwink the cruise passengers. I feel annoyed with myself for falling for it but after 7 days in Juneau I had seen most of the truly valuable things to see. Save your money for something else.
Written July 28, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are J
Newcastle, Canada262 contributions
Make Your Own Shore Excursion...Ride The Bus!
Jun 2017 • Couples
I would be remiss if I didn't offer a review of our visit to Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventures. My wife and I booked a last minute Alaskan Cruise less than two weeks before sailing south in June on the HAL MS Noordam from Seward to Vancouver.

Aware that two days before our Juneau stop we would be sailing in Glacier Bay and not knowing ahead of time what the weather would be like and wanting to spend some time exploring downtown Juneau rather than flying to yet another glacier at great expense, my wife found Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventures. With a little research online we discovered that Juneau's Capital Transit Bus Service at $2.00 each one way drops you off just steps from Glacier Gardens...$8 bus ride for two round trip plus Gardens admission which we paid upon arrival!

Some beautiful upside down trees with hanging gardens. Bus Routes 3 or 4 and the buses will drop you off for a hike to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center if you haven't seen enough ice and snow!

An added bonus to Juneau public transit is that one gets a flavour of the Juneau "Burbs" including stops at Bartlett Regional Hospital and a quick glimpse of Lemon Creek Correctional Center :)

Regardless an interesting and economical cruise ship shore alternative to swimming with whales and seals and pretending to be Luke Glacier Walker and well worth the visit!
Written November 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tarkle
North Carolina48 contributions
The flowers are pretty when you enter but other than that it is a waste of money.
We pulled into Glacier Gardens and saw all the upside down trees with flowers in them. They were beautiful. Maybe the sign saying don't photograph until you pay the admission fee should have been a tip. Because after the flowers, there was nothing to see. We went up the mountain into the Tongas rainforest, which you will see all over Alaska and don't need to pay to see. They took us up in a golf cart that we weren't sure would go up the hill. The kid driving it was turning around talking to us and I was sure it was going to be the end of the road for us. They're wasn't actually anything to see when we got up there other than the back of Fred Meyers food store and Juneau Airport. Luckily, we used our Alaska Tour Saver book so it only cost us $25 instead of $50. My advice would be to skip it. See the photo of the flowers I have attached. I just saved you some money.
Written July 6, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
carolinanorte
Chapel Hill, NC155 contributions
Oh Yes! Do visit Glacier Gardens
We were advised by 3 different sets of local residents to tour Glacier Gardens as an alternative to Mt Roberts Tramway. Boy, are we glad we took their advice. The concept of land reclamation is visionary, and the AmeriCorps volunteers who guide your tour and work the site are inspirational!
Written November 25, 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill M
Gardnerville, NV190 contributions
Surprisingly Fun
Jun 2014 • Friends
We weren't sure what to expect; but, we were all pleasantly surprised by how entertaining this was. You don't walk this tour, they drive you through the garden and up the mountain and explain everything as you go. It is absolutely beautiful and worth the visit.
Written September 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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