Passport to Southeast Alaska: By Hiking Boot, Kayak & Boat

Program Registration: 5:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived.

In the hotel’s meeting space.

Orientation: 7:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This program will be led by the Group Leader and local experts unless specified otherwise. Transportation will be by shuttle vehicles which vary each day between taxis, vans, small buses, and converted school buses. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

In our hotel meeting space.

This morning we’ll get picked up at the hotel and transferred to our canoe outfitter for an orientation before we transfer to Mendenhall Glacier. We will divide into groups and get into our canoes with our guides. Each canoe holds up to 12 people. We will paddle across Mendenhall Lake for about one hour. We’ll take in views of Nugget Falls and paddle past Arctic Tern nesting grounds. We’ll land at the beach near Mendenhall Glacier. Following our local expert, we will trek along the rocky terrain of the glacier’s edge. We will learn about how the glacier is in a constant state of change. Our local expert will be sure to point out incredible ice features. We’ll then paddle our canoes back across the lake and transfer to our canoe outfitter where we will have lunch.

We'll enjoy a boxed lunch.

You’ll have the rest of the afternoon to do what interests you the most in Juneau. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

We will meet in the lobby and walk to a designated meeting space. We’ll board a shuttle and transfer to dinner. Tonight we’ll enjoy an all you can eat Alaskan buffet in the lush rainforest alongside a creek. Tables are covered and there are heaters but please be sure to dress appropriately.

Listen to the live music and explore the interactive gold rush mural before we transfer back to the hotel. Prepare for check-out and transfer tomorrow.

At the hotel.

We will check out and store our luggage at the hotel. We will head back to Mendenhall Glacier where we will meet with local experts who will lead us on a hike. This hike will allow us to explore a different part of the park. Walking sticks will be provided but if you prefer hiking poles, you can bring your own. Following our field trip, we will return to Juneau.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

After lunch we'll meet at the hotel to shuttle to the airport for our short flight to Gustavus. Upon arrival, we’ll check in to our hotel.

At the hotel.

At leisure.

At the lodge.

We’ll board a heated, high-speed catamaran with a National Park Service ranger to spend the day on the waters of Glacier Bay to view tidewater glaciers, snow-capped mountains, whales, stellar sea lions, seabirds, seals, eagles, and possibly some bears along the shore. We’ll travel to the face of the Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers, two of the many tidewater glaciers found in the National Park.

Aboard the catamaran, we’ll enjoy a boxed meal.

We’ll continue our exploration through the bay watching for calving glaciers, floating ice, and wildlife. Isn’t that what Alaska is all about? After our stunning ride, we will return to shore and walk back to the lodge.

At the lodge.

At the lodge, we will meet our kayak instructors for tomorrow’s trip and receive a short orientation for our coming adventures.

At the lodge.

Today we’ll have the opportunity to kayak in Bartlett Cove. We’ll meet our guides who will take us out on the water where we’ll observe forested shorelines and scout for wildlife. We may see birds, marine mammals, and possibly moose and black bear. On top of this we’ll learn about the rich natural and cultural history of the area. Our group will divide into two for this activity. One group will kayak in the morning while the other will kayak in the afternoon. While you are not out on the water, take the time to explore Glacier Bay Lodge and the surrounding area. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions of how to spend your time. You can also refer to the list of free time suggestions provided for you in your program materials.

At the lodge.

Following lunch we’ll swap kayak groups.

At the lodge.

At leisure. There will be another opportunity to attend a ranger-led lecture about Glacier Bay if we choose. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the lodge.

We'll get moving this morning with a beautiful hike led by our Group Leader. We'll check out of the lodge this morning and store our luggage for our transfer in the afternoon.

At the lodge.

Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration. Then we will transfer to the airport for our late afternoon return flight to Juneau. Upon arrival, we will transfer to our hotel and check in.

At the hotel.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We’ll make our way to downtown Juneau, where we’ll have a chance to ride the Mount Roberts Tramway. In operation since 1996, the Mt. Roberts tram makes a six-minute ascent of 3,819-foot Mount Roberts from the docks to a height of about 1,800 feet. At the top, we will enjoy expansive views of Juneau and Gastineau Channel and have some time for exploration at the Mountain House, Chilkat Theater, and Raven Eagle Gifts & Gallery.

This afternoon we'll enjoy a guided, walking exploration of downtown Juneau where we'll enjoy small plates from several local restaurants. We'll enjoy learning about Alaska's history and culture as we sample several local dishes.

We’ll transfer by shuttle to the dock where we’ll board the fast ferry. We’ll enjoy educational commentary during the journey from Juneau to Haines, as well as make stops for wildlife viewing. We may be lucky enough to see eagles, whales, sea lions, and harbor seals. Along the way, we will also make a stop at the Eldred Rock Lighthouse, built in 1905 and the oldest original lighthouse in Alaska.

Aboard the ferry we'll enjoy a hearty bowl of salmon chowder, sourdough bread, and a cookie for dessert.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

Our expert naturalists for today’s adventure will meet us at the hotel and lead us on a hike through the rainforest, over boardwalks, bridges, and creeks to Battery Point. Full of wildflowers in the early summer, it is bordered by the Chilkat River with views of the snowcapped mountains and Lynn Canal. We will then return to the hotel.

Boxed lunch.

Our expert naturalists will give a safety briefing at the hotel. We will then board our 16-foot oar rafts and heading out on the Chilkat River. We will be joined by a naturalist, who will discuss topics like local ecology, the history of Haines, and more. From the Alaska Department of Natural Resources: “The Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve was created by the State of Alaska in June of 1982 to protect the world’s largest concentration of Bald Eagles and their critical habitat.” The preserve consists of 48,000 acres of river bottomland formed by the intersection of three rivers and is home to Klukwan, the mother village of the Tlingit Nation. After our float, we will pull out at the site of a Klukwan village, where elders will provide a presentation about Tlingit culture and history. We will view the historical collection of the Whale House Clan. They will go on a walkthrough of the Traditional Knowledge Camp, where we will learn about adze carving for tribal canoes and smoking salmon. We’ll then listen to historical storytelling presentations. Afterwards, we will return to the hotel by shuttle.

At the hotel.

At leisure. Rest and relax or take a walk through town.

At the hotel.

This morning we'll be met by our local expert at our hotel. We'll board our shuttle and set off to explore Chilkoot Lake State Park with our local expert. They will make stops along the way for scenery and wildlife viewing. Binoculars and spotting scopes will be provided. Next we'll visit the Sheldon Museum. Here we'll learn about the art, culture, and history of the Chilkat Valley. The Sheldon Museum has thousands of artifacts, photographs, books, and documents showcasing the culture of Haines, Alaska.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most in Haines.

At the hotel.

At leisure. Prepare for checkout the next morning.

At the hotel.

We’ll check out and transfer to the dock, where we’ll board our fast ferry that will take us back to Juneau. We’ll enjoy interpretation from an expert and keep our eyes peeled for wildlife sightings. When we arrive in Juneau, we'll transfer to our hotel.

At a local restaurant.

Following lunch we will head to the Alaska State Museum for a docent led exploration of the Museum, which is the repository for the state's history, highlighting the distinct native cultures of Alaska.

In the hotel meeting space. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

We’ll have a program wrap up sharing our favorite memories with our fellow Road Scholars. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel. This concludes our program.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!