Mendenhall Glacier Webcam – Epic Live Ice Views

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Watch the Wild Beauty of Alaska Live

A Real-Time Look at Mendenhall Glacier

There’s something mesmerizing about watching a glacier in real time. The Mendenhall Glacier webcam gives you that rare chance to sit back and quietly take in one of Alaska’s most remarkable natural scenes without leaving your couch. The camera looks out over Mendenhall Lake toward the massive wall of ice that spills down from the Juneau Icefield. On clear days, the glacier glows in soft shades of blue and white, framed by dark evergreen forests and rugged mountain peaks.

Some mornings the valley is wrapped in mist, with low clouds drifting lazily across the mountains. Other times, sunlight hits the ice just right and the whole face of the glacier seems to shimmer. If you watch closely, you might spot small chunks of ice floating across the lake after a recent calving event. In summer, you can sometimes see tiny figures hiking nearby trails, which really puts the glacier’s scale into perspective.

Checking the Mendenhall Glacier live cam is also a surprisingly practical way to see current conditions. Wondering what the weather looks like in Juneau today? Curious how much snow is still on the ground? The webcam in Mendenhall Glacier offers an unfiltered look at what’s happening right now in this corner of Southeast Alaska.

About Mendenhall Glacier and Juneau

A Glacier Just Outside Alaska’s Capital

Mendenhall Glacier sits roughly 12 miles (19 kilometers) from downtown Juneau, the capital city of Alaska. It stretches for about 13 miles (21 kilometers) and flows down from the vast Juneau Icefield, which feeds dozens of glaciers across the region. When you stand near it in person, it feels less like a tourist attraction and more like something ancient and alive.

The glacier was named in 1892 after Thomas Corwin Mendenhall, but long before that, the Indigenous Tlingit people knew it as Sít’ Eeti Geiyí, meaning “the glacier behind the town.” Over the decades, the ice has slowly retreated, shaping the valley and forming Mendenhall Lake at its base.

Juneau itself is a fascinating place. With around 32,000 residents, it is one of the few U.S. state capitals you cannot reach by road from the rest of the country. Most visitors arrive by plane or cruise ship. The city is hemmed in by mountains and water, giving it a remote, almost frontier-like feel. Dense rainforest, steep peaks, and glacial valleys surround the area you see on the Mendenhall Glacier webcam.

It’s this mix of accessibility and wilderness that makes the location so special.

Weather and Seasons at Mendenhall Glacier

What the Mendenhall Glacier Weather Cam Reveals

Southeast Alaska has a maritime climate, which means it’s milder than many people expect, but it is also famously wet. The Mendenhall Glacier weather cam often shows shifting skies and passing showers.

In summer, temperatures usually hover between 55°F and 65°F (13°C to 18°C). This is when most travelers visit. The surrounding hills turn a deep green, and the trails are busy with hikers. Even then, it’s wise to bring a rain jacket. A sunny morning can easily turn into a drizzly afternoon.

Autumn cools things down to about 40°F to 55°F (4°C to 13°C). The air feels crisp, and the crowds thin out. Winter brings temperatures between 25°F and 40°F (-4°C to 4°C). Snow often blankets the valley, blending the glacier into the landscape so everything looks almost monochrome.

Spring is unpredictable. Melting snow feeds the lake, and you may notice more floating ice visible on the Mendenhall Glacier live cam. No matter the time of year, the camera gives you a clear sense of what the day feels like on the ground.

Things to Do Near Mendenhall Glacier

Trails, Waterfalls, and Fresh Alaskan Seafood

If watching the Mendenhall Glacier webcam inspires you to visit, you’ll find there is much more to do than simply admire the view.

The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center offers exhibits that explain how glaciers form and why they matter. Large windows inside the center frame the glacier perfectly, especially on rainy days. From there, several hiking trails branch out. One of the most popular is the Nugget Falls Trail, an easy 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) round trip walk that leads to a powerful waterfall crashing down near the edge of the lake.

For something more adventurous, guided kayaking tours on Mendenhall Lake allow you to paddle among small icebergs. It’s both thrilling and humbling to be that close to the glacier’s face. Late summer also brings salmon runs, and with them, the chance to spot black bears fishing along nearby streams.

Back in downtown Juneau, about a 20-minute drive from the glacier, you can sample fresh king crab, halibut, and wild salmon at local restaurants. Many cruise visitors book half-day glacier excursions that include transportation, but independent travelers can rent a car or use seasonal shuttle services.

If you enjoy glacier scenery, you might also want to explore other Alaska live cams across the state, including harbor views and mountain landscapes.