Explore The Herbert Glacier Trail This Summer

The Herbert Glacier, accessed via the Herbert Glacier Trail, is one of the most accessible glacier hikes in the Juneau area.  The Herbert Glacier is located in the incredible Tongass National Forest just outside of Juneau and is a wonderful hiking or mountain biking trail to explore this summer.

While you’re exploring the vibrant city of Juneau and our breathtaking natural surroundings, there’s only one place worth staying.  That is our downtown Juneau hotel, Silverbow Inn.  Here, not only will you enjoy your stay in our comfortable and well-appointed guest rooms, but you’ll be treated to our wonderful hospitality and big range of complimentary amenities – including a rooftop hot tub in which you can relax and unwind after a full day of exploring!  Come see what sets us apart from the rest of downtown Juneau’s hotels – book your room at Silverbow Inn Hotel & Suites today!

Hike the Herbert Glacier Trail

There’s a reason the Herbert Glacier Trail is a popular one.  It’s a relatively easy hike, coming in at just under 10 miles round trip and mostly flat in grade, and it leads you through some truly stunning scenery, before finally opening up to majestic glacier views. For the first 3.5 miles of the Herbert Glacier Trail, you’ll be walking on a fairly wide gravel pathway through a mature Hemlock/Spruce forest, eventually becoming a bit more technical as you work your way up the Herbert River Valley to the glacier.

As you make your way along the Herbert Glacier Trail, make sure to admire the diverse ecosystem you’ll encounter.  It’s a wonderful example of post-glacial succession as the ice retreats, as you’ll pass through the mature forest before encountering scrub trees and eventually, rocky moraines.

To get to the Herbert Glacier Trail, you’ll need to head up Glacier Highway in Juneau to milepost 28.  The trail isn’t well marked, but it’s easy to find nonetheless.  We recommend getting an earlier start, too, as there are only 15 parking spots and no overflow parking nearby. Expect this trip to take about 5 hours.

More Glaciers to See in Juneau

It probably comes as no surprise, but glaciers are the #1 attraction in Alaska. As beautiful as the Herbert Glacier Trail is, there are several more glaciers in the Juneau area worth seeing, some of which are easily accessible, and others that require a bit more effort and/or private flights.

Here are a few of our favorite glaciers in Southeast Alaska:

1. Mendenhall Glacier is the most accessible glacier in Alaska and is one of the top attractions in Juneau.  You can easily reach the glacier by car, bike, or bus from our downtown Juneau hotel. You can even see this breathtaking sight from the water!
2. Hubbard Glacier, which is near Yakutat in Disenchantment Bay, is stunning, and best seen from the water.  It also happens to be one of the most active glaciers in the area, regularly calving off huge icebergs into the bay.
3. Glacier Bay is one of those “must-see” destinations near Juneau, and while you’re there you’ll see the beautiful Grand Pacific Glacier. It’s the widest glacier in the park.
4. Finally, there’s Taku Glacier, which is the largest of the glaciers near Juneau. This glacier is an astonishing 4,800 feet thick and is best reached via helicopter, though it can be seen from Taku Inlet, which can be reached via boat.

Unwind at our Downtown Juneau Hotel

Juneau is the perfect jumping-off point for all of your adventures in Southeast Alaska. Staying at the Silverbow Inn Hotel & Suites puts you right in the heart of downtown Juneau, where you’ll enjoy exceptional hospitality, comfortable guest rooms, and a broad range of amenities. From breakfast in the morning through to a relaxing hot tub soak in the evening, we have you covered throughout the duration of your stay in downtown Juneau!

We love to help our guests explore this area, and are happy to help you plan your dream trip into Alaska’s rugged wilderness, including recommending and helping you to arrange the best tours in town. Visiting this area is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience – you’ll want to make sure your accommodations are equally as good.  Book your room at our downtown Juneau hotel today!