The Mendenhall Wetlands Refuge lies near the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau and provides an easy, short walking path for getting some fresh air. This trail is near the airport, and as the weather in the capital city often prevents the planes from landing, you may have an opportunity to take a stroll down the Mendenhall Wetlands Refuge Trail sometime. The wetlands are ripe with waterfowl and plant life, and this trail comes to life with the sounds of nature. Try the Mendenhall Wetlands Refuge Trail for a short, sweet escape when you need a quick break from it all in Juneau.
Mendenhall Wetlands Refuge Trail is also called the Airport Dike Trail. Interactive Map here.
At the edge of the land and sea, the tidal wetlands offer habitat for a variety of plant and animal life. The 4,000-acre wildlife refuge stretches nine miles along the shores of Gastineau Channel near the center of Juneau.
The Mendenhall Glacier lies nearby and is the source of the fresh water that fills the wetlands, intermixed with the salty sea water of the Gastineau Channel, part of Alaska's Inside Passage.
The fresh water from the glacier mixes with the salty ocean water from the Gastineau Channel and creates an environment where many types of life can survive. Creatures that tolerate different levels of salinity live in the brackish water.
The trail winds through the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Reserve, a beautiful area kept pristine for the local and migratory birds that frequent the spot.
Waterfowl hunting, hiking, wildlife viewing and photography, boating, fishing, scientific and educational studies, and sightseeing are all popular activities in the wetlands.
The trail is paved and well maintained, trailing along the edge of the wetlands near the Juneau Airport. Everyone is comfortable on this path including parents with strollers, runners and bikers.
The best time to see the 140 types of migratory birds that visit the refuge is in April and May and then again in September. The Mendenhall Wetlands Refuge Trail is a sweet place to walk any time of year.
From this smooth, accessible trail you can see Mendenhall Glacier and North Douglas Island. The view is amazing for a path that is so easy to get to and easy to navigate.
Take this short, sweet trail through the verdant wetlands of Alaska's capital to see wild birds and stunning vistas. This short, easy trail is a wonderful way to get some fresh air when near the Juneau Airport.
