The trailhead for this hike starts in the same parking lot as the lake crossing. Access to the ice caves exclusively on foot is possible via the West Glacier Trail. If paddling is not your cup of tea, you can opt for the land option. In the winter, you can also traverse the frozen lake on foot without a guide to access the ice caves. This is a fully guided experience that not only provides a great adventure, but the chance to learn about the glacier and the caves too.Īlternatively, it is possible to rent kayaks in Juneau that can be used to paddle across the lake to the west glacier beach.Īccess to the caves is not marked and in some parts, there is no apparent trail to follow. If you are looking for a well-rounded experience for visiting the ice caves, we recommend a combination tour option that involves paddling across the lake in a canoe, hiking up the west side of the glacier, a visit to the Mendenhall Ice Caves followed by a hike up onto the glacier. In the winter, you can hike your way across the lake. In the summer, this requires a solid hour or more of paddling across the chilly glacier lake from the public access point to the beach on the west side of the glacier. While both ways are a beautiful and perfectly acceptable way to access the caves, there is something special about using the lake to access the west side of the Glacier. Both have their pros and cons but safety is a definite concern and something to consider for your visit.
It is possible to visit the caves independently or on a guided adventure.
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