Juneau Sights & Attractions

In 1880, gold was found in Snow Slide Gulch. The town of Juneau was soon born on the beach below. Prospectors mined more miles of tunnels then there are currently roads in all of Juneau. Today Juneau is the state capital with tourism as the largest private sector employer. The biggest is state government employees. No roads or rails access Juneau, air and boat is your only way in.

Hiking Trails

Mount Roberts Aerial Tram

Alaska State Museum

Mendenhall Lake & Glacier

Town Tour

Macaulay Salmon Hatchery

Tours

Shooting into the sky at the edge of town is the Mount Roberts Tram going up 1800 feet. The tram does not go to the top but it does reach a nice vista high enough to give a stunning view of the region and of Juneau. At the top, hiking trails continue higher making this the logical choice for quick views. You can continue up climbing Gastineau Peak and Mt. Juneau.

One of Alaskas biggest; this natural history museum has an extensive collection of Alaskas Native history, culture and artifacts.

Just 20 minutes from town, the Mendenhall Glacier is a great visit. There are views right from the bus stop. For better views, you can hike to 20 minutes to Nugget Falls or even 2.5 miles to the glacier itself. There is also a visitors center with interactive exhibits and films. Near the trailhead are also a few viewing areas over Steep Creek where you can view salmon.

Take a tour or walk the town yourself, the old town is easy to walk around to see sights like the state capitol building, governors house and historic shops.

Spawning salmon swim up a 450-foot fish ladder from mid-June to October. You can watch from a viewing deck and learn about how the hatchery operates and learn about the salmon lifecycle from guides.

Whale Watching - Look for humpback and killer whales, sea lions, seals and eagles while naturalists explain habitat.
Glacier Flightseeing Nearby is the immense Juneau Icefield with spectacular icefalls and rock formations. Most tours will also land on a glacier so you can get out for photos.
Dog Sledding Try Alaskas state sport and meet professional mushers. You can fly to a glacier to try it out on snow or visit the summertime training grounds and ride on a wheeled sled.