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Take to the skies above Juneau’s Tongass National Forest on a helicopter tour that lands on a living glacier. Witness towering icefields, sip pristine glacial water, and capture breathtaking views on this accessible Alaska adventure.
Take to the skies above Juneau’s Tongass National Forest on a helicopter tour that lands on a living glacier. Witness towering icefields, sip pristine glacial water, and capture breathtaking views on this accessible Alaska adventure.
Book with NorthStar Trekking
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by NorthStar Trekking · Juneau, Alaska
Perched on the edge of Alaska’s vast wilderness, NorthStar Trekking offers an immersive helicopter flightseeing experience that redefines adventure. Departing from Juneau, this tour takes you high above the ancient Tongass National Forest, a dense expanse of old-growth spruce and hemlock that blankets southeast Alaska. As your helicopter lifts off, the sprawling rainforest gives way to jagged mountain peaks and the shimmering expanse of the Juneau Icefield, one of the largest ice masses outside the polar regions.
What sets this tour apart is landing directly on a remote glacier within the icefield itself. Your pilot selects a pristine site where you can step onto a vast canvas of blue-white ice etched with deep crevasses and dotted with sapphire-hued meltwater pools. With glacier overboots securely fastened, you’ll trek across frozen waves of ice, drink from pure glacier-fed pools, and marvel at the rugged alpine ridges surrounding you.
Designed for all ages and fitness levels, this 2-hour-and-15-minute adventure balances ease with awe-inspiring scenery. The short walk across relatively gentle glacier terrain reveals unique geologic features shaped over millennia. This dynamic landscape is a living record of climatic shifts and natural forces shaping Alaska’s frontier.
NorthStar Trekking’s expert pilots and guides focus on safety and personalized experiences, allowing guests to fully absorb the region’s grandeur without feeling rushed. This helicopter journey is not just a sightseeing trip but a hands-on encounter with some of the planet’s most dramatic environments, accessible only by aircraft.
Juneau’s location on the edge of wilderness makes this kind of flightseeing and glacier landing truly special. It connects visitors not only with Alaska’s natural wonders but also with a legacy of exploration and respect for the environment. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast or a first-time visitor, this tour by NorthStar Trekking stands out as a quintessential Alaska adventure, delivering memories etched in ice and sky.
easy.
2–3 hours.
Participants should be able to stand and walk on uneven terrain for approximately 30 minutes.
No prior experience is needed; the tour is designed for visitors of all ages and abilities.
Guests must be at least 7 years old to join the tour.
The walking on the glacier is light and lasts about 30 minutes over relatively flat terrain.
For safety, items such as selfie sticks, drones, and iPads are not permitted on the tour.
Yes, guests can safely sip from natural glacial pools during the landing portion of the tour.
The entire experience lasts about 2 hours and 15 minutes, including flight and glacier time.
The Juneau Icefield, established as a scientific research area, has shaped regional hydrology and climate studies since the 1940s.
NorthStar Trekking emphasizes minimal impact protocols, helping preserve the fragile glacier ecosystem through careful landing and group size limits.
NorthStar Trekking is a Juneau, Alaska-based operator specializing in helicopter-access glacier adventures and guided glacier experiences. The company provides a range of tours that combine helicopter flightseeing over the Juneau Icefield and Tongass National Forest with on-ice activities such as guided glacier walks, ice climbing, and dog sledding. Several tours include glacier landings and opportunities to sip pure glacial water from azure pools. Trip offerings include the Juneau Glacier Dog Sled Adventure, which pairs a scenic helicopter ride with dog sledding led by Iditarod racers; the Taku Glacier Helicopter & Airboat Adventure, featuring a helicopter flight over the Juneau Icefield and an airboat approach to the Taku Glacier; and a variety of helicopter glacier treks and walkabouts with guided on-ice time. The Helicopter Glacier Ice Climbing Tour focuses on vertical glacier walls at Mendenhall Glacier and includes instruction in climbing techniques. NorthStar Trekking emphasizes guided, on-glacier activities led by trained staff, combining aviation access with safe, educational experiences on remote ice. Tours range from short glacier landings and hour-long guided walks to extended treks and technical ice climbing options. All descriptions reference operations from Juneau, AK and direct access to the Juneau Icefield, Mendenhall Glacier, Taku Glacier, and surrounding Tongass National Forest. Prospective guests can review specific trip summaries for duration and activity details before booking.
Book with NorthStar Trekking