Hi there!
You can go hiking during your Alaska cruise!
You don’t need to do excursions to get off the cruise ship, and hiking is one of the things that you can do on your own during an Alaska cruise.
You can find good hikes to do on your own in the popular Alaska cruise ports of Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan.
1. West Glacier Trail, Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, Tongass National Forest, Juneau
The West Glacier Trail is the best hike you can do during your Alaska cruise to see a glacier!
By hiking the West Glacier Trail, you will get a much closer view of the famous glacier of Juneau that most people see.
And, you will get a hike through the rainforest to get a feel for the type of wilderness that covers a lot of Southeast Alaska!
The Mendenhall Glacier is the best glacier in Juneau to see on your own, and most people see it from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.
The view from the visitor center is a bit of a distant view.
You can get a better view of the Mendenhall Glacier by hiking the West Glacier Trail to see it.
The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and the West Glacier trailhead are in different areas of the national forest.
So it’s probably not reasonable to go to both if you are taking the bus because of just how much walking is involved.
How difficult is the West Glacier Trail?
The West Glacier Trail is moderately difficult.
You will be going UP steep uneven stairs several times on the trail, which means that you will also be going down steep uneven stairs.
In general, this trail does go UP so you can get a nice view of the Mendenhall Glacier from a higher vantage point.
Most people spend 2 hours on the West Glacier Trail.
How to get to the West Glacier Trail from the Juneau cruise port
You can get to the West Glacier Trail by bus.
For reference on google maps, you will look for the West Glacier trailhead. (map)
You will take a bus from downtown Juneau to the bus stop “near” the West Glacier trailhead.
The nearest bus stop is 1.5 miles away.
Google maps works great for public transportation in Juneau!
There is a bathroom at the West Glacier trailhead, and at Skaters Cabin which you will pass along the way.
Cost to go hiking in Juneau on West Glacier Trail
There is no pay station at the West Glacier trailhead.
If you take the bus to hike the West Glacier Trail, then the Juneau bus will cost $2 each way. Bring exact change.
So the cost to hike the West Glacier Trail is $4.
Learn more for hiking in Juneau cruise port:
2. Totem trail, Totem Bight State Historical Park, Ketchikan
One of the best cruise ports to see totem poles during your Alaska cruise is Ketchikan.
One of the totem pole trails that you can do during your cruise is at Totem Bight State Historical Park.
You can go for a hike to see totem poles in Alaska!
How difficult is the Totem Bight trail?
The totem pole trail through Totem Bight State Historical Park is a leisurely stroll through the forest.
It’s pretty easy.
You can see all the totem poles on the trail in 30 minutes or less.
Be sure to look for the brochure near the fee station that tells you about the different totem poles along the trail!
How to get to the Totem Bight trail from Ketchikan cruise port
You can get to Totem Bight State Park by bus.
For reference on google maps, you will look for Totem Bight State Historical Park. (map)
If you are on a cruise ship on most cruise lines, you will take a bus from downtown Ketchikan to Totem Bight State Historical Park.
If you are on an NCL cruise ship, then there is a bus stop near Ward Cove.
There is a bus stop at Totem Bight state park, so once you get off the bus, you are there!
Google maps works great for public transportation in Ketchikan!
There is a bathroom at Totem Bight State Historical Park.
Cost to go hiking in Ketchikan at Totem Bight State Park
There is an Alaska state park entry fee, so it is $5 to go hiking in Totem Bight State Historical Park.
Learn more for hiking in Ketchikan cruise port:
- Totem Bight State Historical Park totem poles
- How to take the Ketchikan bus
- Bus to Totem Bight State Park
- Where to see totem poles in Alaska
3. Yakutania Point, Skagway
Yakutania Point Trail is a pretty easy hike that will give you some amazing views of mountains and water!
How difficult is the Yakutania Point Trail?
It’s a mostly easy trail through a forest to get to Yakutania Point.
You also continue onwards through the forest to go to Smugglers Cove.
How to get to the Yakutania Point trail from Skagway cruise port
You can walk to the Yakutania Point trailhead by walking from the cruise ship.
For reference on google maps, you will look for the Skagway footbridge. (map)
There are several docks in Skagway, so depending on which one your cruise ship is at, it might take you 10 to 20 minutes to walk to the start of the Yakutania Point Trail.
There is a basic no-flush toilet along the Yakutania Point Trail.
Cost to go hiking in Skagway to Yakutania Point
You can walk to the Yakutania Point trailhead from the cruise port, and there is no entry fee for the area, so it’s FREE to go hiking in Skagway!
Learn more for hiking in Skagway cruise port:
Other hikes you can do in Skagway include hiking from the Dewey Lake trailhead and hiking to Lower Reid Falls from the Gold Rush Cemetery. You can walk to the Dewey Lake trailhead from the cruise port. You can also walk to the Gold Rush Cemetery from the cruise port if you don’t mind walking. Or, if you want the easier option, then you can also take the downtown Skagway shuttle to the cemetery. It’s $5 each way.
4. Totem Trail, Sitka National Historical Park
If your cruise ship is going to Sitka, then another one of the totem pole trails that you can do during your Alaska cruise is at Sitka National Historical Park.
Sitka is another cruise port that you can go for a hike to see totem poles in Alaska!
How difficult is the Sitka totem trail?
The totem pole trail through Sitka National Historical Park is a leisurely stroll through the forest.
It’s pretty easy.
You can see all the totem poles on the trail in 30 minutes or less.
You can even just hike through the forest for 5 to 10 minutes to see totem poles.
Be sure to look to get the national park brochure for more information about Native Alaskans and totem poles!
How to get to the Sitka totem trail from Sitka cruise port
Your cruise ship will probably dock at the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal.
If so, then you will get a free SItka cruise port shuttle to downtown Sitka.
From downtown Sitka, you can walk 15-20 minutes to get to Sitka National Historical Park.
For reference on google maps, you will look for Sitka National Historical Park. (map)
There is a bathroom at Sitka National Historical Park.
There is also a bathroom at the building that you will be dropped off at by the Sitka cruise port shuttle.
Cost to go hiking in Sitka at Sitka National Historical Park
You can take a free shuttle to downtown Sitka, and then you can walk to Sitka National Historical Park, so you won’t need to pay anything to get there.
There is no national park entry fee, so it is FREE to go hiking in Sitka National Historical Park!
Learn more for hiking in Sitka cruise port:
5. Nugget Falls Trail, Juneau
The most popular waterfalls to see during an Alaska cruise is Nugget Falls.
You start the hike to Nugget Falls from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.
One of the most popular things to do from the cruise ship is to go to the Mendenhall Glacier visitor center and Photo Point to see the glacier, and then do the Nugget Falls Trail to the waterfalls.
How difficult is the Nugget Falls Trail?
The Nugget Falls Trail is a leisurely stroll mostly along a gravel trail.
It is pretty easy.
How to get to the Nugget Falls Trail from Juneau cruise port
For reference on google maps, you will go to the Mendenhall Glacier visitor center to do the Nugget Falls Trail. (map)
You can get to Nugget Falls Trail by bus, shuttle, taxi, or tour.
The method of transportation that is best for you will depend on how much convenience you want and how much you want to pay.
Cost to go hiking in Juneau from Mendenhall Glacier visitor center
The cost to hike at Mendenhall Glacier can vary wildly depending on how you choose to get there.
For the cheapest way to get there, if you take the bus to the Mendenhall Glacier visitor center, then the Juneau bus will cost $2 each way. Bring exact change.
If you go on an early season Alaska cruise, then it will cost around $50 for a round trip shuttle to Mendenhall Glacier visitor center.
You might not have the option to go by shuttle if you do a late season Alaska cruise, as the mass shuttles may have run out of commercial national forest permits by that time, as is what happened in 2023. Even if tour companies cannot get commercial permits to take you to the national forest, you can still go on your own, like by bus.
There is a national forest pay station at the Mendenhall Glacier visitor center.
The official national forest entry fee is $5 per person.
If you have an America the Beautiful annual national park pass, then your entry fee for Tongass National Forest is covered with that.
The national forest entry payment is not really enforced, but it’s also great to support America’s public lands, so stop by the visitor center to show your support!
Learn more for hiking in Juneau cruise port:
6. Mount Roberts Alpine Loop Trail, Juneau
The Mount Roberts Alpine Loop Trail is at the top of the Mount Roberts tram.
There are totem poles that line the Mount Roberts Alpine Loop Trail, so this is another totem trail that you can do during your Alaska cruise!
The Mount Roberts tram station is right near where the cruise ship docks in Juneau.
You can take the tram up and hike the Mount Roberts Alpine Loop Trail.
Also at the top of the tram is a little theater that has a film for you to learn about Native Alaskans of the area, the Tlingits.
If you want another way to get a hike through the rainforest to get a feel for the type of wilderness that covers a lot of Southeast Alaska, then you may also want to hike part of the Mount Roberts Trail from Basin Road!
You can start the Mount Roberts Trail from Basin Road and hike one-way to the tram. Then, you can take the tram down to the cruise port.
How difficult is the Mount Roberts Alpine Loop Trail?
The Mount Alpine Loop Trail at the top of the tram is a pretty leisurely trail through the forest.
If you want to hike the Mount Roberts Trail, then depending on which direction you go, that will be UP UP UP or DOWN DOWN DOWN!
So the Mount Roberts Trail from Basin Road to the tram station is a moderately difficult hike
How to get to the Mount Alpine Loop Trail from Juneau cruise port
Depending on how you want to do the hike, you will start from different spots.
If you want the easiest option, then you can take the tram up to the Mount Roberts Alpine Loop Trail, and then also take the tram back down.
In this case, you will simply walk to the Goldbelt tram station near the cruise port. (map)
Depending on where you cruise ship docks, it might be a 5 to 10 minute walk to the tram station.
If you want a hike through a Southeast Alaska rainforest, then you can walk 30 minute to get the Mount Roberts trailhead on Basin Road. (map)
If you want to hike even more, you can start at the Gold Creek Flume trailhead, which is a 35 minute walk from the cruise port. (map)
From here, you can hike the Gold Creek Flume Trail, which will then lead to Basin Road and the Mount Roberts trailhead, and then you can continue hiking to the tram station.
Cost to go hiking in Juneau on the Mount Roberts Trail
There is no fee for the area the Mount Roberts Trail is in, but there is a fee for the tram.
A roundtrip ticket for the Goldbelt Tram is around $50.
You can buy the ticket at the tram station, or you can buy tram tickets ahead of time through the Goldbelt Tram website or through your cruise line.
It is actually an all-day ticket, so you can go up and down the tram as many times as you want.
I am not sure how much it costs to go one-way if you want to only go up one way. It seems like you might have to buy the regular ticket.
If you want to go down one-way, then there is no ticket to buy to go down.
Instead, you need to spend $20 in the gift shop, and then the receipt will be your “ticket.”
I think spending at the coffee shop is also a part of it. I don’t remember if the restaurant is, so ask about that if you want to eat or drink after your hike!
At least, this is how it was in 2023. If you hike the Mount Roberts Trail to the tram station, you can ask about how to get a ticket to go down when you get to the tram station!
7. Rainbird Trail
Hiking the Rainbird Trail is another hike that can show you what Southeast Alaska rainforests are all about!
Actually, I was not able to complete the Rainbird Trail as I originally set out to, but I still thought it was worth it, and I thought I got a total Southeast Alaska experience!
It was a rainy day in Ketchikan.
Ketchikan is one of the rainiest places in the United States, so I guess this is typical.
Well, on the day I did the Rainbird Trail, all that rain turned parts of the trail into literal streams!
I actually became quite confused and was even wondering if I was even still on the trail or if I somehow go off the trail and I’m just following a stream.
It turns out that was the trail.
And then I got to a point in the trail where I looked ahead to where the stream was continuing and there was a drop off.
No way that’s the trail.
I looked to the left and saw a stream.
That doesn’t look like a trail either.
So being confused, I decided to just turn around at that point.
In turns out, if I would have looked closely when I looked to the left, there was an obvious trail up ahead next to the stream.
I discovered this because once I got back to the start of the Rainbird Trail, a local who had done the trail before was about to start the hike, so I asked if I could follow her, and went back to hike the trail to see where I went wrong.
So then once we got to the spot that I missed, I continued on.
But then, there was a stream crossing, and it was more water than I wanted to walk through, and I didn’t see any rocks I could step on to avoid putting my whole foot in the water. So at that point I turned around for real.
The local went across this stream crossing.
The Rainbird Trail in this condition is a reason to be wearing waterproof shoes!!
…which I was not. ðĪŠ
But despite not doing the whole trail, I thought it was really cool.
I actually thought even just the first 5 minutes of the trail was quite awesome because of the bridge across the stream and moss covered trees.
Or what I think was moss-covered trees. I don’t know my plants, but there was something green on the trees! ðĪŠ
How to get to the Rainbird Trail from Ketchikan cruise port
There are different spots that you can start the Rainbird Trail.
l started from the Rainbird trailhead near the University of Southeast Alaska. (map)
From the cruise ships in downtown Ketchikan, it’s a 45 minute walk to get to the start of the Rainbird Trail.
Or, there is a free downtown shuttle that will get you closer.
There is a bus stop near the Safeway that the shuttle can drop you off at, and from there it’s a 20 minute walk to get to the Rainbird Trail.
If you are on an NCL cruise ship, you will be at Ward Cove.
You can take the free shuttle from Ward Cove to downtown Ketchikan, and then get on the free downtown shuttle.
Or, if you don’t want to have to transfer, you can take a regular bus from near Ward Cove to Safeway.
Cost to go hiking in Ketchikan on the Rainbird Trail
There is no fee for the area the Rainbird Trail is in.
Cruise ships that are not NCL dock in downtown Ketchikan.
There is a free shuttle from downtown Ketchikan to Safeway.
This free shuttle comes around every 20 minutes.
There is also a regular bus to Safeway, and if you see that first and want to get on, that is $2 each way. Bring exact change.
So, it can be FREE to hike the Rainbird Trail in Ketchikan!
What to pack for hiking in Alaska
- Waterproof shoes
- Rain jacket or poncho
- Rain pants
- Hiking backpack
- Waterproof cover for your hiking backpack
- Water bottle (you can fill it up at the water station at the buffet)
- Snacks (clif bars, etc)
- Waterproof phone case
- Hiking poles
- Extra socks
Do you really need all of this for hiking during your Alaska cruise?
No.
Will you have a better hiking experience in Alaska by bringing all of this?
Quite possibly!
The biggest thing about hiking in Southeast Alaska (where you will spend most of the time on your Alaska cruise) is that you want to prepare for RAIN!!
Is it possible that it won’t rain when you go hiking in Alaska?
Sure, it’s possible.
But it’s also quite possible that it will be raining!
And you will have a much better experience if you are prepared for common weather of Southeast Alaska!
As they say in Alaska, there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear!!
If it does end up raining, you will help yourself to not end your hike feeling miserable by being prepared for the rain!
HAPPY HIKING IN ALASKA!
There are partner websites included in this post. I may earn a commission.