Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier Photo Safari

Juneau, Alaska • May 27, 2015

🐋 Giants and Glaciers of Juneau

The bus departed from the Juneau cruise port under a steady drizzle, its windows fogged from the contrast between the cool morning air and the warmth inside. The group was small—approximately 15 participants—ideal for a tour centered on wildlife observation and nature photography. As we traveled along forested roads just outside the capital, our naturalist guide provided an overview of the day’s plan: a guided hike through Tongass National Forest to view Mendenhall Glacier, followed by a whale watching expedition aboard a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) departing from Auke Bay.

🥾 Stop 1: East Glacier Trail Walk to Mendenhall Glacier

We were dropped off at a designated parking area near the East Glacier Trailhead, located off Glacier Spur Road within Tongass National Forest—the largest national forest in the United States. The trail introduced us to a temperate rainforest ecosystem, dense with Sitka spruce and western hemlock, their trunks cloaked in moss and trailing lichens. The forest floor glowed with vibrant green underbrush, a product of the region’s year-round precipitation.

Although the complete East Glacier Trail is a 3.5-mile loop, our group completed only a short segment—approximately three-quarters of a mile. Early in the walk, we crossed Steep Creek, a glacial stream important for salmon spawning in late summer. A wooden footbridge provided a quiet vantage point to watch the icy water rush below.

Partway through the walk, our guide paused, astonished by the dense swarm of mosquitoes surrounding me. He remarked he’d never seen so many around a single person, underscoring the need for strong insect repellent in Alaska’s backcountry during warmer months.

The trees eventually thinned, revealing a natural overlook of Mendenhall Glacier. From this elevated point, we could see the glacier’s jagged, blue-tinged surface descending from the Coast Mountains—an active river of ice shaped by centuries of snowfall and compression.

The trail descended toward a paved path leading to the official viewing platform, where the glacier’s immense scale and crevasse patterns became clearer. A short climb brought us to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, where we explored interpretive exhibits on glacial formation, retreat, and climate impacts, along with panoramic glacier views through its large windows.

Following the visitor center stop, we reboarded our bus for the second leg of the tour: whale watching in Lynn Canal.

🐋 Stop 2: Whale Watching from a Rigid Inflatable Safari Boat

At Auke Bay Marina, we boarded a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) designed for wildlife viewing. The vessel featured a durable hull with inflatable sponsons, a partially enclosed cabin, and open seating with unobstructed views. Its low profile and padded benches made it ideal for photographing marine life at close range. The sea was calm, and skies remained overcast—typical conditions for Southeast Alaska in late spring.

Soon after departure, a humpback whale was spotted in the distance. The guide explained that by banging on the side of the boat and calling out, one could sometimes draw a whale’s curiosity. She demonstrated the technique, and within moments, a dark shape surfaced and moved directly toward the boat—then vanished beneath it.

Then, without warning, a massive breach occurred just ahead of the bow. The whale’s proximity was so extreme that, with a telephoto lens installed, I couldn’t capture the full creature within the frame. Though the RIB remained stable, the displacement splash caused a slight rock. Startled by the result of her own suggestion, the guide retreated into the cabin and did not reappear for the rest of the trip.

The rest of us remained on deck, cameras ready, as more whales surfaced at intervals—mostly solo, each rising only briefly before diving again. Their powerful exhalations echoed across the water like distant steam bursts.

In addition to humpbacks, we spotted a river otter gliding along the shoreline, distinguished by its slender body and smooth, darting movements. Inland, two bald eagles were seen perched high in the spruce canopy, their white heads easily identifiable against the dark green forest.

💙 Our Favorite Moment:
The whale’s sudden breach just feet from the bow left the entire boat stunned into silence. Cameras lowered, mouths open—we had come hoping to spot a distant tail, but instead found ourselves eye-to-eye with one of the ocean’s true giants.

🧭 Exploring on Our Own

Back in Juneau, we still had time to wander the town before all-aboard. We strolled past jewelry shops, souvenir vendors, and saloons that seemed frozen in gold rush lore. Despite the drizzle, the streets were lively. We found a café to warm up with a café latte before heading back to the ship, thankful for a full morning that felt like days’ worth of experience packed into just a few hours.

✅ Who Is This Tour Best For?

📰 Tour Summary

Excursion Disclaimer:

Descriptions of shore excursions on OceansAfoot reflect individual travel experiences and are not official representations of the cruise lines or tour providers mentioned. All information is based on personal participation, publicly available facts, or traveler observation.

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