Cruising Orca at Sunset | Photography Print

I went to Mendenhall to photograph Nugget Falls, but a bear crossing the road was my first surprise. Frost along the trail, the last yellow leaves, and fresh snow on the mountains kept me stopping. It was a little glimpse of Juneau between fall and winter, and plenty to notice before reaching the waterfall.

As Juneau grows quieter in October, other sounds come forward. On a walk through the woods, I hear water where summer was quiet, watch clouds move through the mountains, and catch the beat of a bald eagle’s wings overhead.

Alaska’s glaciers are not a single kind of experience. Some are reached by road, others appear slowly at the end of a fjord, and some only make sense when seen from the air. This guide explores the glaciers of Southeast Alaska and farther north through the different landscapes and journeys that reveal them.

Just after Labor Day, Juneau begins to feel different. A quiet morning at Mendenhall Glacier, with fewer visitors, no salmon and no bears, revealed the subtle weight of Alaska’s changing season.

Planning an Alaska trip does not require figuring out every detail at once. Start with the decisions that shape the trip, including where you want to go, what experiences matter most, and what needs to be reserved early. The rest can come later.

Late August in Southeast Alaska feels like standing between seasons. Summer has not disappeared, but the light has begun to change, the air carries a little more coolness, and signs of what comes next are starting to appear across the landscape.

Some Alaska experiences are worth booking because they provide access, local knowledge, equipment, or a way into places you could not meaningfully reach alone. Others are better when you leave yourself time to walk, notice, and choose your own pace. Here is how I would decide where to spend and where to explore independently.

Thinking about fishing in Juneau? Here’s what to know before you book, from salmon, halibut and rockfish to charter regulations, timing, what the experience is actually like and how to choose the right trip.

Whale watching is one of Alaska's signature experiences, but not every trip feels the same. A Southeast Alaska local explains what actually matters when choosing a whale-watching tour: from boat size and time on the water to private charters, photography and responsible wildlife viewing.

Bear viewing is one of Alaska’s extraordinary wildlife experiences but what is it actually like to stand beside a salmon stream and watch a wild brown bear move through the landscape? After a fly-out bear-viewing trip from Juneau to Chichagof Island, here’s what I learned about the bears, the experience, and what travelers should know before they go.