You are a step apart from the rest. It takes a certain kind of person to leave the crowd and get out into the woods. That is exactly the type of person we want to take deeper into Juneau’s incredible temperate rainforest and coastal mountains along Mendenhall Glacier. Overview Head over to the west side of the glacier away from the tourist crowd. We start at the West Glacier Trailhead. The first half of the trail starts out very flat and lots of room on the trail. Before you know it, you will start trekking up. A mixture of switch-backs and stone carved stairs keep you moving closer and closer to the Mendenhall Glacier. You will work up a sweat and push yourself. Every viewpoint gets better and better along the trail. Even the most ambitious of hikers won’t be disappointed with the results. Physical rating: 3 of out 5 – You’ll break a sweat Distance: 4-6 miles of hiking on uneven terrain. Expect lots of tree roots, rocks, and uphill walking. Elevation gain: 700-1100 feet (~200-300 meters) depending on groups ability. Duration: 5 ½ to 6 hours. 5 hours of hiking and 1 hour for transportation.