Top Hiking Trails in Juneau, AK
Hiking Trails in Juneau
- Traveler favoritesThings to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.
- Traveler rankingHighest rated attractions on Tripadvisor, based on traveler reviews.
Category types
Outdoor Activities
Traveler rating
Good for
8 places sorted by traveler favorites
Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails
What travelers are saying
- Tyler RBoston, MA2 contributions1 hour and 40 minutes from cruise ship to mountain top tram. Some steep steps, and pretty muddy. Come prepared with comfortable hiking clothes—you’ll get sweaty. Some nice views and a good alternative to the cost of a round trip tram ride (~$35). $15 one way down on the tram, but can be substituted for $15 shop and/or restaurant purchase. They didn’t check our tram tickets/receipts though. A good active activity after lounging around the ship!Written September 22, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- leldelleldel@optonline.net146 contributionsTook the tram to 1800 feet then hiked it to the cross on top. The scenery is actually almost unbelievable. Bring Binoculars, Eagles, possibly Bears and tremendous views of the mountains.Written August 29, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Chris LNiles, MI752 contributionsWell constructed boardwalk to get you through an area with great history, a flowing creek and small waterfalls. Some may not like the "controlled" nature of the trail, but if you have small kids with you, the boardwalk and handrails allows everyone to go at his or her own speed. Do be aware there can be rock slides covering the trail, but they can be easily walked over.Written September 15, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- kay-cee-1138Houston, TX345 contributionsThe Outer Loop Point Trail is located on the northwest corner of Douglas Island. Coming from Juneau, the trailhead is just past the Mile 12 marker (an earlier trailhead is for the adjoining Rainforest Trail). Your reviewer found the OLPT to be a quiet and out of the way hike through diverse scenery: forest, beach, and bog. The trail is fairly level and well-maintained, though in places there are wooden steps up and down, and planks over sodden areas and blackwater pools. The path has a few interpretive signs here and there. After you walk the beach portion and then follow the trail as it re-enters the woodline, look to the side to see a tree with five large animal symbols carved on the trunk. A bog in a clearing near the start has a short boardwalk over the water; a few minutes there brought into view some beautiful metallic blue dragonflies.
Walking the trail for a leisurely two hours in August mid-week, we encountered only two or three other hikers. Note that the OLPT is not included in the "Juneau Trails" guidebook, but it is clearly marked and labeled on the very handy (but large) "Juneau Area Trails Guide" sheet map.Written August 21, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - D9553MXmichaelhSan Diego, CA105 contributionsThe trail starts off gradually up a gravel road and spurs off about 200 further up the road than my satellite Garmin. All trails was accurate. This part of the trail is tree lined with views of the waterfalls in the valley. You then continue on an easy upgrade through the forrest to the next junction. The incline increases and so does the vegetation, lots of flowers and berry vines. No berries on the vines 12/23/19. Along the way you step up over rocks and roots. In many places the drop off is steep yet deceptive due to the lush new vegetation is growth beyond waist height. A few times we stuck our walking poles to the downward slide and found nothing but air. The views and the flowers as you hike up are worth the effort. You continue on up to the timberline where you cross two ankle deep but steep waterfalls. Here the views really open up. To me even though it’s steeper in this section of the trail, the terrain was more suitable for traction. We reached the peak, enjoyed the amazing views and had lunch.
The way down is more about not slipping and taking time to enjoy the view. It was pounding on the legs and the quads were a little tight the next day, but definitely worth the effort.
As an overview. If you are in good shape do this hike. Celebrated my 60th on this hike and we made it up and down in a little under five hours. I would rate this hike as hard on the moderate side. Not due to the amount of exertion, but due to the constant need to check your footing. We have hiked Glacier NP to the Tetons this hike compares in beauty.Written June 27, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - ourglobewanderersGolden, CO158 contributionsWe visited Juneau on June 7, 2019 on a cruise stop. Since it we have been here before, and it was a sunny day, we decided to do a hike along the Mendenhall River on the Kaxdigoowu Heen Dei Trail. From the ship, we walked ½ mile or so to the bus stop in front of the “State Archives and Records Center” building on Willoughby Ave. It was easy to find the bus schedule online. We caught the #5 bus towards Nugget Mall, paid the drive $2 (exact change) per person and asked the driver to tell us when we got to the stop at Glacier Highway & Wildmeadow Lane. The city of Juneau’s public bus company is Capital Transit. We rode the bus for about 25 - 30 minutes to our stop, on the Glacier Hwy, right at the Mendenhall River.
We were immediately impressed with the beautiful postcard view of Mendenhall Glacier. There was a parking lot there, and many people & small tour busses were stopping there for the photo op. Across the river we could see a shopping plaza with a Safeway grocery store and other shops.
The trailhead was right at the parking lot. It started off through a meadow-like area, then progressed into the pretty woods with tall trees and lush undergrowth. It is a flat, paved trail, and is about 2 miles to the trail end. We had hoped to be walking right along the river, but actually we could not see the river at all, so we soon got bored with the same continuing scenery. Every half mile so so, there was a bench and a descriptive plaque about the wildlife, culture, fauna, etc.
We returned to town on the #5 bus (the return stop was diagonally across the street from our arrival stop).Written July 15, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - willqhLa Grande, OR41 contributionsLoved this walk through the trees and on the beach, lots of hidden mining treasures along the path tooWritten August 12, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Veronica HunterMedford, NJ5,972 contributionsWest Glacier Trailhead was brought to my attention by a nature loving stranger that I met on the Perseverance Trailhead.
The trail is about a five minute drive from my campsite at Glacier Nalu
I wrapped a belt with bells around my wrist to warn wildlife that I am passing thru.( I bought the belt with bells on Amazon. Pets are trained to pull on it when they need to go outside ) The trail has a peaceful beauty, bridges and steep climbs. The steep climbs have metal fence like support to grab on for balance. I stopped at a viewing location to photograph the lake and glacier. Evaluating the downhill trail in front of me I stopped myself from going to the end. The trail has signs warning you to avoid getting lost. Keeping the lake on my left side, I returned to my car. Feeling grateful for the opportunity to exercise outdoors, I did not care if I did not finish the full length of the trail.Written July 5, 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Juneau
- These places are best for hiking trails in Juneau:
- Mount Roberts Trail
- Perseverance National Recreation Trail
- Gold Creek Flume Trail
- Outer Loop Point Trail
- Mt Juneau Trail
- These are the best places for budget-friendly hiking trails in Juneau:See more budget-friendly hiking trails in Juneau on Tripadvisor