Herbert Glacier
Juneau, Alaska
Herbert Glacier’s white-blue ice fields and dramatic walls offer an accessible yet secluded glacier viewing opportunity in the expansive Juneau Icefield. Reachable on helicopter tours and via a scenic hiking trail, the Herbert Glacier is set against the backdrop of majestic peaks, giving visitors a quintessential Alaska glacier experience.
Further inland and more isolated than the neighboring and better-known Mendenhall Glacier, Herbert Glacier is most commonly visited on helicopter tours, though it can also be reached on foot along the Herbert Glacier Trail—5 miles (8 kilometers) one-way. Helicopter flights include scenic views of the Juneau Icefield and surrounding mountains and rivers. Once you land on the glacier you can explore the relatively flat surface on foot or book a tour that includes a dogsled adventure on the ice.
- The Herbert Glacier offers a less-crowded alternative to the popular Mendenhall Glacier, making it ideal for visitors who want to break away from other travelers.
- The trail to the glacier is flat and well-maintained, making it accessible to a range of fitness levels. Travelers who don’t have time for the hike should choose a helicopter trip.
- The trail offers glacier views but does not provide easy access to walking on the glacier itself.
- Wear warm clothes when visiting the glacier—it can be cold and windy on the ice.
The easiest way to reach the Herbert Glacier is on a sightseeing helicopter tour from Juneau. Travelers with their own cars can visit via the Herbert Glacier Trail. The trailhead is located on the Glacier Highway at mile 28, just past the bridge over the Herbert River.
The best time to visit the Herbert Glacier is from June–August. These are the months when you are most likely to catch good weather—although Alaska weather is always unpredictable. If you want to visit when there are fewer crowds, plan a trip in May or September, but bear in mind that dog sledding may only be available in the peak season.
Combine visiting Herbert Glacier with exploring the Alaska wilderness on a hike along the Herbert Glacier Trail. Set in the Tongass National Forest, the trail is one of the easiest glacier-viewing trails in the region, and its relaxed grade means it can even be traveled with bikes or strollers. Throughout the hike, you can enjoy wild berry picking, views of the Herbert River, old-growth forests, and wildlife viewing—all en route to the glacier.
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