Where are the Mendenhall ice caves?

Juneau, Alaska
The Ice Caves located at the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska are natural ice formations tucked away in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. The caves come and go as mother nature chooses and are accessible only to the most adventurous of travelers.

How old are the Mendenhall ice caves?

3,000 years ago
This is the Mendenhall Glacier, a magnificent 13-mile-long sheet of ice formed some 3,000 years ago. It’s the most famous of Alaska’s ice floes, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to see its vast, frozen expanse.

Why is Mendenhall Glacier famous?

Mendenhall Glacier extends from the Juneau Ice Field, its source, to Mendenhall Lake. The lake is iceberg filled and provides expansive views of the glacier from the water. The retreat of the glacier created the lake in 1929. The glacier has withdrawn an additional 1.75 miles (2.82 kilometers) since that year.

Where is the ice cave in Alaska?

Any of Alaska’s many thousands of glaciers may, at one time or another, feature glacier caves. One of the most popular Alaska destinations for exploring glacier ice caves, though, is the Mendenhall Glacier, a massive body of ice located about 10 miles from downtown Juneau.

Can you visit Mendenhall Glacier on your own?

While many people go to Mendenhall Glacier with a tour group or on a shore excursion, you can also get to the glacier on your own. You can take a taxi from Juneau, drive to the glacier with a rental car, or take the city bus to Glacier Spur Road and walk the rest of the way (1.5 miles).

Who discovered Mendenhall Glacier?

Exhibits in the center cover the history of Mendenhall Glacier, showing how it covered the valley at the time when Joseph Whidbey, master of HMS Discovery during George Vancouver’s 1791–95 expedition, explored the area in 1794.

How much has the Mendenhall Glacier melted?

Since installing a camera at Mendenhall in 2007, Extreme Ice Survey says the glacier has retreated more than 1,830 feet — about one-third of a mile.

Is Mendenhall Glacier melting?

Is the glacier retreating? Yes. A neo-glaciation period began 3,000 years ago and ended in the mid-1700s. At this time, Mendenhall Glacier reached its point of maximum advance, its terminus resting almost 2.5 miles down valley from its present position.

Where are the Mendenhall ice caves in Alaska?

Located a short 12 miles outside Alaska’s capital city of Juneau, the Mendenhall Ice Caves are ever-changing due to melting ice and glacier recession but an absolute wonder to explore. That said, accessing them is no easy feat.

What is the Mendenhall Glacier?

The Mendenhall Glacier is one of many major glaciers that connect to the vast Juneau Ice Field, a 1,500 square mile remnant of the last ice age, cradled high in the coast mountain’s lofty peaks.

Can you see the water cycle in the Mendenhall caves?

These particular caves, known as the Mendenhall Ice Caves, may be one of the few places in nature where you can see the water cycle in action. Visitors can watch the ice melt and turn to meltwater, before refreezing and turning back into the glaciers.

When will the Mendenhall Glacier visitor center be open?

Tongass National Forest – Offices Welcome to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center Summer Hours: Starting June 1st, the visitor center will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and will remain open as long as the community risk levels related to the pandemic allow for safe entry for visitors and employees.