Whether you come on board a cruise ship or drive the Alaska Highway, kayaking in Alaska will be whatever you make it. An easy day's paddle or a multi-day adventure are all within reach when you make Juneau your jumping-off point.
For the beginner wary of the high seas, Mendenhall Lake is close by. Any number of kayaking outfitters will guide you through the glacial lake below towering peaks of the Coast Mountains range. Mendenhall is cloudy thanks to the glacial sediment that washes into the lake.
You'll get a fish-eye view of Mendenhall Glacier where it flows into the lake at a rate of two feet per day. But don't get too close! The seemingly stable wall of ice can give way without a moment's notice. Icebergs can even break off the glacier below the water's surface. Hang back, and give floating icebergs a wide berth lest you want to end up in the icy water.
Haul your boat up on the muddy lakeshore for a picnic lunch while you marvel at the lush greens of summer contrasting wildly with the ever-frozen glacier. Mendenhall Lake is a great place to be introduced to the wonderful world of sea kayaking.
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