Hi there!
The Photo Point Trail is one of the easy walks you can do when you go to Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area.
This is on the side of the Mendenhall Glacier shuttle drop-offs.
Although it is a distant glacier view, the Photo Point Trail is one of the best, easiest, and cheapest ways to see the Mendenhall Glacier.
I actually thought view from the top of the stairs at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center was better, because you get to see the glacier from a higher viewpoint.
Photo Point Trail is around a 15 minute walk round trip from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.
You will see the turn-off for Photo Point Trail on your way to Nugget Falls.
👆 You can see the Mendenhall Glacier from Photo Point.
I went to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center after I went to Photo Point.
And my initial reaction upon seeing the glacier from the top of the stairs at the visitor center was that it was the best view of the glacier!
And so, if you are short on time, I would prioritize going to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center to see the glacier from there, over doing the Photo Point Trail.
But, the Photo Point Trail will get you a little closer, so it might be worth it because of that.
So you might love Photo Point.
If you want get closer to Mendenhall Glacier, then you can do a Mendenhall Glacier tour by canoe!
Photo Point does have some areas to sit around, as long as there aren’t that many people there.
If you start walking Nugget Falls Trail, you’ll come across a side trail, and you can walk down that to get lake side.
Taking a side trail to reach the shoreline will probably mean you’ll find a quieter spot to take a rest!
There are other spots where you can reach the shoreline if you are looking to take it easy, including shortly before you start the Photo Point Trail. I actually think I like the view of the glacier from the shoreline that you can reach directly in front of the visitor center! And it feels more natural since you can walk along the shoreline! Similar to Photo Point, you will see a distant view of the Mendenhall Glacier across the lake.
More below about doing the Photo Point Trail!
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Walking the Photo Point Trail
👆 This is in front of the Mendenhall Visitor Center. To the right is Photo Point. Straight ahead is the lake. Before you start walking to Photo Point, walk to the shoreline here to get a nice view of Mendenhall Glacier across the lake! You can go for a nice shoreline walk here too.
👆 Photo Point and Nugget Falls start off in the same direction from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.
👆 The trail junction for Photo Point and Nugget Falls. Photo Point is on the way to Nugget Falls!
👆 Photo Point Trail is in a U.S. fee area.
👆 Read the history of Photo Point, Nugget Creek, Nugget Falls, and the Mendenhall Glacier.
👆 You’ll get views of the Mendenhall Lake from the Photo Point overlook! You can canoe this lake to get closer to the glacier by doing a Mendenall Glacier tour!
👆 Spot Nugget Falls! (Barely! To the right.)
👆 After you’ve taken in the views from Photo Point, you’ll take the same route back!
👆 You’ll end up at the same trail junction, and you can head back towards the visitor center, or continue on the Nugget Falls Trail!
And that’s a bit about going to Photo Point!
More for your Alaska cruise:
- Bus to Mendenhall Glacier
- Shuttle to Mendenhall Glacier
- Nugget Falls Trail
- Tracy’s King Crab Shack (near Juneau cruise port)
- Yakutania Point Trail
- Juneau excursions
- Whale watching in Alaska
- Seaplane tours in Alaska (to the wilderness!)
- Dog sledding in Alaska
HAPPY WALKING TO PHOTO POINT FOR THE MENDENHALL GLACIER VIEW!
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