The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Juneau

The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center near Juneau brings you up close to the rugged beauty of Alaska. Here you can not only admire the impressive glacier and the turquoise glacial water, but also gain exciting insights into the geology and ecosystem of this region. The center itself offers exhibitions that illustrate the history and development of the glacier and a fascinating view of the retreating ice. The area around the center is criss-crossed by easily accessible trails such as the Photo Point Trail and the popular Nugget Falls Trail, which takes you to the roaring Nugget Falls. For nature lovers, the Steep Creek Trail is a highlight - especially during salmon season, when bears gather at the stream. From elevated walkways you can observe the animals without disturbing their peace. In winter, a completely different scene awaits you, when nature freezes in silent beauty. Take the time to explore the short Trail of Time, which tells the history of the glacier on information boards and lets you delve deep into the formation of this unique landscape. The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center is more than just a visitor center - it is an experience that shows you the power and fragility of nature first hand.

The Mount Roberts Mountain House is the upper station for the Goldbelt Tramway — but you can also run up the mountain to get here. If you ran up and want to take the tram down, you might be asked to pay $5 for a tram ticket or, alternatively, buy $10 worth of products at the gift shop in the Mountain House, which comes with a free tram ride back down the mountain.

The Airport Dike Trail comes to an end here. You can't turn it into a loop, so you'll need to head back the way you came. But before you go, take a moment to look for birds, like the alternately majestic-and-awkward sandhill crane, on the flat wetlands around you.

The Kaxdigoowu Heen Dei trail ends in a small parking area, at the end of River Road. If you don't want to retrace your steps, you can call a taxi to pick you up. However, the walk back to the trailhead is a fine opportunity to enjoy the wildflowers and meadows alongside the trail.

The CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) originally built this shelter in 1937; it served as the first registry booth at Mendenhall Glacier. It was restored by HistoriCorps workers in 2010, and now stands as a monument along the Trail of Time trail.

Although entering the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center is not required — you can simply hike most of the trails in this area, if you like — it is an excellent way of learning more about the landscapes and wildlife of this area. You can ask questions of park staff, and the windows are situated to offer clear views of Mendenhall Glacier, on the far side of the lake. Pedestal binoculars are available for a closer look. Entering the visitor center does cost $5 per person/day during the May 1 – September 30 busy season, or $15 for a season pass that allows you to bring a guest with you. You can pay for the pass at automated kiosks scattered around the visitor center parking areas, or online at https://www.discoverysoutheast.org/store/ Your payment for the visitor center also allows you to enter the visitor center pavilion, or to visit Photo Point and the Steep Creek Trail. You do not need to pay to hike the other trails in this area. If you reached the visitor center aboard one of the buses from the cruise docks, the price of entry is usually included in the cost of your ticket.

The Mount Roberts Mountain House is the upper station for the Goldbelt Tramway — but you can also hike up the mountain to get here. If you've taken the tram here, you have options: You might choose to continue hiking uphill, eventually reaching the summit of Gastineau Peak; explore a loop of nature trails near the tram station (there is information about them inside the tram station); or even hike back down Mount Roberts, if you decide you don't want to take the tram again. If you hiked up and want to take the tram down, you might be asked to pay $5 for a tram ticket or, alternatively, buy $10 worth of products at the gift shop in the Mountain House, which comes with a free tram ride back down the mountain. Either way, the views here, just above treeline, are spectacular on a clear day.

3,465-foot (1,056 m) Gastineau Peak is the logical — and beautiful — end destination for those who choose to continue hiking past the upper station of the Goldbelt Tram.