What’s amazing about Alaska is that glaciers fill your backyard on a regular basis. I mean what do you do with a 2 hour layover in Juneau? Visit a glacier of course. Meet: Mendenhall Glacier.
As part of the Tongass National Forest, the far too easy access visitor center is a mecca for tourists during the summer months. Large crowds and nature are not my cup of tea, but once I set my sight on the glacier, it was easy to see why this glacier was such an attraction. At almost 14 miles long, the glacier is best known as a classic example of how climate change is affecting our planet.
There short 2 mile hike (roundtrip) to a waterfall, but I wasn’t feeling up for the crowds. I did a little bit more reading about the glacier and was shocked about the amount the glacier has receded over the years. I didn’t want to bother to pay to see the exhibits, but if you have some time to kill near the airport, it’s just 15 minutes away by cab and definitely worth a short stop. Other than that, you’ll only have hte bears at the airport to entertain you.
Here are some photos from the air flying away from Juneau.
