Delve into the wonders of Juneau's wilderness as your professional interpretive guide leads you through the temperate rainforest surrounding the Mendenhall Glacier. Mendenhall, one of the most spectacular - yet accessible - glaciers in North America, is just 13 miles from downtown Juneau. A half-mile wide, it's also part of a 13-mile Juneau Ice Field, which terminates in Mendenhall Lake, where blue icebergs bob in the shadow of the stately Coast Mountains. The glacier is surrounded by trails of varying distances, from which you can gaze at salmon streams or marvel at tumbling waterfalls. Black bears, porcupines, beavers, and bald eagles inhabit the area around the trails, and sightings are likely. Then, take to the water in a vessel designed for marine viewing, with open stern and bow, large panel windows, and a low-to-the-water vantage point. The local captain and professional naturalist intimately know these waters and the humpback whales, orcas, and other sea creatures that inhabit them, and excel at spotting them while keeping a respectful distance. This tour unveils all the natural wonders that Juneau and the Alaskan wilderness have to offer, in a personable setting that engages both the seasoned and the novice traveler.