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Fly-In Glacier Hike and Packraft

5 Hour Duration

From pick-up to drop-off

Food and Gear Provided

Includes a hearty snack and all equipment

Limited Permits Available

Book early for this high-demand tour

In-Depth Glacier Time

Up to 2 hours on Norris Glacier

Description

Embark on an exhilarating Alaskan adventure that combines flightseeing, glacier hiking, and packrafting, all in one day! This 5-hour tour is the first of its kind in Juneau and promises to be an unforgettable experience.

Your journey begins by boarding a six-passenger floatplane and taking off from the water, soaring towards Norris Glacier. As you fly over the Taku Inlet and Juneau icefields, keep your eyes peeled for mountain goats, black bears, and moose. Once you reach your destination, a lake fed by the Norris Glacier, you'll hike through terrain sculpted by glaciers until you reach a cove where your single-person packraft awaits. Knowledgeable and able guides will provide a brief lesson on paddling techniques before you set off into the water.

As you paddle through the tranquil waters, marvel at the stunning views of the Alaskan wilderness that surrounds you. Glide past icebergs and around the glacier until you reach its base. There, your guides will assist you in getting out of your packraft and into microspikes for the exhilarating hike onto the glacier.

Explore the unique landscape of the glacier on foot, taking in breathtaking views of Norris and Taku glaciers. With each season bringing new glacier features, you never know what you might encounter - from crevasses to glacier pools and more. After completing this once-in-a-lifetime experience on the glacier, paddle back to shore and prepare to return to Juneau on your floatplane.

What's Included

Roundtrip Transportation

Knowledgeable Guides

Hearty Snacks & Bottled Water

All Necessary Paddling Equipment & Glacier Gear

Rain Jacket & Pants, Rubber Boots

US Forest Service Permits

Guide Gratuities

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the weather like on the glacier? Is it cold?

Juneau temperatures during the summer are typically between 50 and 65 degrees, with an average of 56 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius). The temperature on the glacier is about 5 degrees cooler, but can feel up to 15 degrees cooler due to katabatic winds (cold downslope winds coming down the glacier). Please bring layers of clothing including a warm hat and gloves.

Will the trip still operate if it is raining?

All of our tours operate rain or shine. Much of SE Alaska lies in a temperate rainforest, and we would never do anything if we stopped for rain! With that said, if weather conditions are unsafe, the trip will be canceled, and we will provide a refund. This can happen on kayaking or canoeing trips from time to time and will be typically related to sea or lake conditions, not rain.

Know Before You Book

Minimum Age: 10 years old • Maximum Weight: 250 lbs

The minimum age to participate is 10. Children will be in a tandem packraft with an adult. They must be able to swim and paddle the tandem packraft with an adult.

Due to float-plane capacity, the maximum weight for each guest is 250lbs.

The minimum group size is 3, and the maximum of 6. There is a 6 to 1 client to guide ratio.

This tour involves inherent risks, and for their safety, pregnant guests are not allowed on this tour.

Guests must be able and conditioned to paddle 1 hour roundtrip and hike on uneven terrain up to 2 miles. Because of the activities and activity level required, this tour is not wheelchair accessible.

Visiting certain features like ice caves, moulins, etc., and specific amount of time on the ice cannot be guaranteed. Your professional guides will determine what is best and safest for your group based on the conditions that day.

This tour is subject to cancellation if departure minimums not met.

Clients must disclose information regarding pertinent medical conditions/history, allergies and any type of restriction or limitation that might introduce a higher degree of challenge on this trip.

A rescue fee of $250 per client will be charged for any rescue based on the client’s inability to complete the tour due to undisclosed medical conditions/limitations or an insufficient level of physical fitness that significantly inhibits the group’s pace. Clients that require a rescue due to an injury incurred on the trek will not be charged rescue fees, nor will those who have disclosed information regarding medical conditions (and have been approved to participate) prior to the trip date.

Cancel up to 14-days before the tour for a refund. No refund is available if canceled within 14-days of the tour. If for any reason your tour is canceled, or if your cruise ship's schedule changes, you will receive a refund. Refunds do not include any non-refundable fees. Contact us by phone or email to request a cancellation.

Quick Facts

City

Juneau

Itinerary • 5h 00min • 7 activities

Guides will meet you at the base of the Mt. Roberts Tramway. Hotel guests will be picked up at the hotel.

Duration

30 minutes

You'll be outfitted with all appropriate gear for this tour, given a short orientation and safety briefing, and be transported to the floatplane.

Duration

30 minutes

Scenic flight by floatplane to Norris Glacier

Duration

30 minutes

You'll hike from landing towards a cove nearby. From here, you'll be oriented on packrafts and paddling, and paddle out to Norris Glacier, and trek across it, then returning to the packrafts. Once back on shore, you'll make your way back to the floatplane.

Duration

2 hours

Scenic floatplane flight back to Juneau

Duration

30 minutes

You'll return to the office to change out of your gear post-tour.

Duration

30 minutes

After returning your gear, your guides will return you to your hotel or Mt. Roberts Tramway

Duration

30 minutes