Mendenhall Campground
- Right now
- Nobody has saidNo season, no closure, no bookings to read
- A night
- $20–$36Across the site types the agency prices
- Sites
- 67All of them booked ahead
The place
the agency’s own description · what’s there · 7 notices
In the agency’s own words
Mendenhall Campground is situated on the shore of Mendenhall Lake, in view of the Mendenhall Glacier, about 13 miles from downtown Juneau. The site is a popular destination for viewing beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife. Hiking opportunities abound. Keep reading
Recreation
The West Glacier Trail, with an elevation gain of 1,300 feet, can be hiked in 5-6 hours roundtrip. The trailhead is a half mile from the campground entrance by road or on the Aak'w Sit' Trail. The .4 mile Tolch Rock Trail is in this vicinity. The campground has several paths in it with interpretive signs relating facts about the area wildlife and environment.
Facilities
The campground is open seven days a week. The entrance gate is closed nightly from 10pm to 7am and the exit gate is open 24 hours a day. Sites characterized as accessible are open for all users. The campground offers 67 sites, 54 of which are fully accessible. Nine are full-service RV sites with electric, water and sewer hookups; nine are partial-service RV sites with electric and water hookups. Seven sites are located in a separate walk-to backpacker area. All sites are furnished with picnic tables, tent pads and combination fire rings with grills. Water faucets and accessible vault toilets are provided, as are two accessible flush toilets and shower facilities. The shower houses are closed nightly from 8pm to 7am. A dump station and trash dumpster are located on-site.
Natural Features
The campground is situated on the shore of Mendenhall Lake at about 100 feet elevation. Mendenhall Glacier lies to the north and the Mendenhall River flows on the east. On either side of the campground the mountains rise from 4,000 to 7,000 feet above the Mendenhall Glacier. The topography is relatively flat and open, consisting of glacial moraines, small lakes and ponds. Forbs and lichens, black cottonwood, Sitka alder, willow and mature spruce hemlock forests cover the area. The forest floor is dotted with blueberry bushes and mosses. At nearly 17 million acres, the Tongass National Forest covers most of Southeast Alaska and is the largest forest in the national forest system. The Tongass surrounds the Inside Passage, the network of waterways that buffer the jagged Alaskan Coast and a cluster of coastline islands. The Tongass offers visitors a chance to view wildlife, including eagles, bears and spawning salmon. Expansive vistas, including fjords, glaciers and mountain peaks fill the area. The Tongass is part of the world's largest temperate rain forest.
Nearby Attractions
Run the rapids down the Mendenhall River, take a helicopter to the top of the glacier, bicycle or hike in the area. Outfitters offer these services. Many trails can be accessed from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center area, including East Glacier Trail, with an elevation gain of 400 feet, takes 2-3 hours roundtrip. Some of the shorter trails in this area include the 1.7 mile Nugget Falls Trail, where the waterfall drops 377 feet in two tiers onto a sandbar in Mendenhall Lake, the 1.5 mile Moraine Ecology Trail, and the .7 mile Trail of Time.
What the agency tells you
The entrance gate is closed nightly from 10pm to 7am. The exit gate remains open 24/7.
Bears frequent the area; keep food and anything with a scent in vehicles or bear-proof containers that are available for free for backpackers (ask the host). When campers are not at their site and have left items outside that have a scent such as food, soap, toothpaste, barbecues, etc., then Forest Staff will remove the item from the campsite.
Campers are encouraged to bring their own firewood.
Everything else this campground posts · 4
If vehicle or person maximums per site are exceeded, campers will be asked to move excess vehicles and equipment to an additional site, if available, and pay the additional fee.
Campground reservations may be made the same day as arrival, if a site is available.
Campsite check-in time is 3:00pm. Check-out time is 2:00pm on the day of departure.
Commercial outfitters or guides not allowed; institutional outfitters (universities, schools and clubs) may require a special use permit before making reservations; contact the Juneau Ranger District at 907-586-8800.
Tents and rigs
- Sites
- 67 · 7 walk-in
- Hookups
- 18 electric, 9 water, 9 sewer
- Longest rig
- 60 ft
- Accessible sites
- 55
- Pets
- Allowed
- Campfires
- Allowed, barring fire bans
- Shade
- Every site
Facilities
- Toilets
- Flush Toilets · Vault Toilets
- “…grills. Water faucets and accessible vault toilets are provided, as are two accessible flush toilets…”
- Showers
- Yes, the record doesn’t say what kind
- “Water faucets and accessible vault toilets are provided, as are two accessible flush toilets and shower facilities.”
- Drinking water
- Yes
- “…and combination fire rings with grills. Water faucets and accessible vault toilets are provided, as are…”
- Dump station
- Yes
- recreation.gov lists “Dump Station”
- Camp host
- On site
- recreation.gov lists “Host”
Around the campground
- On the water
- Waterfall, Lake, River, Coast
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
- Night sky · 276th darkest of 280 in AK
- Bortle 4
No reading yet, book on recreation.gov
Every site here is reservable, and the record lists none held back for anyone who drives up.
No availability snapshot inside the last 36 hours, so this page draws nothing rather than ageing a reading into fiction.
Watch for a cancellation
Full? Watch it.
One email when a night opens, plus More Than Just Parks dispatches. Unsubscribe any time.
We read recreation.gov once an hour, at 40 minutes past, and write the first time a site in your window is free for the nights you asked for.
Scanners that check every few minutes exist, and most of them charge. This one is free, it reads the same calendar, and it won’t always be first.
Tell me when the season opens
Watch for the season to open
One email when the season goes on sale, plus More Than Just Parks dispatches. Unsubscribe any time.
We check once an hour, at 40 minutes past, and write the first time the agency has that season on sale.
Scanners that check every few minutes exist, and most of them charge. This one is free, it reads the same calendar, and it won’t always be first.
We make nothing when you book. The link goes straight to the government.
Every line of the receipt · 14
What you actually pay
Derived by CAMPANAC: the agency’s published rates for this season, $20–$36 a night, plus one $8 recreation.gov reservation fee for the booking. A weekend here means Friday and Saturday night, booked once. Optional charges (an extra vehicle, a second tent, a dump-station fee) are listed separately and aren’t in this total.
Who keeps the booking fee
The agency’s own policy text says the reservation fee and the cancellation processing fee are “retained by the reservation service contractor”, and that a campground concessionaire will decline to refund them because “they did not receive these fees”. Recreation.gov is run under contract by Booz Allen Hamilton. What share of your booking fee the contractor keeps isn’t published in any federal dataset we can read, so we print no number for it. Our reporting on the contract →
How we know this receipt · 5
rules read Oct 1, 2026 · rates Oct 1, 2026 · How we know all this
The sites
68 records · which ones have room · the site map
The sites, ranked
from 68 mapped sitesAll 68 records
The price is derived by CAMPANAC, not published per site: the per-night rate this campground publishes for each site’s own site type. 67 of the 68 sites listed carry one, and a site whose type has no published rate sits out of the price rather than being called free.
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 001 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 179 ft | 163 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 002 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 126 ft | 121 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | ||
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 003 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 92 ft | 238 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 004 | standard nonelectric | 16 ft | 126 ft | 160 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | ||
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 005 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | yes | 92 ft | 288 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 006 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 97 ft | 277 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 007 | standard nonelectric | 28 ft | yes | 96 ft | 141 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 008 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 96 ft | 86 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 009 | standard nonelectric | 17 ft | yes | 155 ft | 124 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 010 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | yes | 102 ft | 200 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 011 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | 109 ft | 288 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | ||
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 012 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 82 ft | 185 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 013 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | yes | 82 ft | 178 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 014 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 137 ft | 288 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 015 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | 107 ft | 139 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | ||
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 016 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | yes | 107 ft | 170 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 018 | standard nonelectric | 15 ft | 106 ft | 174 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | ||
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 019 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 114 ft | 65 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | ||
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 020 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 106 ft | 204 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 021 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 124 ft | 132 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | ||
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 022 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 131 ft | 285 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 023 | walk to | 115 ft | 322 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | |||
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 024 | walk to | yes | 114 ft | 218 ftMendenhall River | $20 | ||
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 025 | walk to | yes | 119 ft | 246 ftMendenhall River | $20 | ||
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 026 | walk to | yes | 105 ft | 126 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | ||
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 027 | walk to | yes | 103 ft | 122 ftMendenhall River | $20 | ||
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 028 | walk to | yes | 59 ft | 121 ftMendenhall River | $20 | ||
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 029 | walk to | 59 ft | 142 ftMendenhall River | $20 | |||
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 030 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 85 ft | 307 ftMendenhall River | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 031 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 85 ft | 299 ftMendenhall River | $20 | ||
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 032 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | yes | 131 ft | 405 ftMendenhall Lake | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 033 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 86 ft | 385 ftMendenhall River | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 034 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 86 ft | 470 ftMendenhall River | $20 | ||
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 035 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 110 ft | 490 ftMendenhall River | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 036 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 110 ft | 384 ftMendenhall River | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 037 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 101 ft | 480 ftMendenhall River | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 038 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 101 ft | 390 ftMendenhall River | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 039 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 99 ft | 404 ftMendenhall River | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 040 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | yes | 69 ft | 494 ftMendenhall River | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 041 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | yes | 99 ft | 379 ftMendenhall River | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 042 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 69 ft | 522 ftMendenhall River | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 043 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | yes | 89 ft | 493 ftMendenhall River | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 044 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 89 ft | 413 ftMendenhall River | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 045 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 241 ft | 188 ftMendenhall River | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 046 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | yes | 97 ft | 621 ftMendenhall River | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 047 | standard nonelectric | 18 ft | 97 ft | 662 ftMendenhall River | $20 | ||
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 048 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | yes | 103 ft | 728 ftMendenhall River | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 049 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 111 ft | 780 ftMendenhall River | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 050 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | yes | 111 ft | 846 ftMendenhall River | $20 | |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 052 | rv electric | 50 ft | 50 amp | yes | 200 ft | 668 ftMendenhall Lake | $36 |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 053 | rv electric | 50 ft | 50 amp | yes | 195 ft | 838 ftMendenhall Lake | $36 |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 054 | standard electric | 50 ft | 50 amp | yes | 195 ft | 981 ftMendenhall Lake | $34 |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 055 | rv electric | 50 ft | 50 amp | yes | 89 ft | 1,229 ft | $36 |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 056 | rv electric | 50 ft | 50 amp | yes | 89 ft | 1,161 ft | $36 |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 057 | standard electric | 50 ft | 50 amp | yes | 89 ft | 808 ft | $34 |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 058 | standard electric | 40 ft | 50 amp | yes | 89 ft | 893 ft | $34 |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 059 | standard electric | 40 ft | 50 amp | yes | 84 ft | 784 ft | $34 |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 060 | standard electric | 50 ft | 50 amp | yes | 84 ft | 700 ft | $34 |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 061 | standard electric | 40 ft | 50 amp | yes | 110 ft | 655 ft | $34 |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 062 | standard electric | 40 ft | 50 amp | yes | 110 ft | 712 ft | $34 |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 063 | standard electric | 40 ft | 50 amp | yes | 76 ft | 768 ft | $34 |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 064 | standard electric | 35 ft | 50 amp | yes | 76 ft | 842 ft | $34 |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 065 | rv electric | 50 ft | 50 amp | yes | 82 ft | 928 ft | $36 |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 066 | rv electric | 40 ft | 50 amp | yes | 82 ft | 849 ft | $36 |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 067 | rv electric | 40 ft | Electricity Hookup | yes | 67 ft | 905 ft | $36 |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 068 | rv electric | 60 ft | Electricity Hookup | yes | 67 ft | 970 ft | $36 |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 069 | rv electric | 50 ft | 50 amp | yes | 180 ft | 968 ft | $36 |
| MENDENHALL CAMPGROUND | 070- host | host pad | 35 ft | 30 amp | yes | 293 ft | 314 ftMendenhall Lake | $36 |
The agency files 1 more record here that isn’t a site for the night. It names it a host pad. It’s in the table above, marked for what it is, and it isn’t counted as a site.
25 of 68 listed
Getting there
the map and the coordinate · the agency’s directions · the phone number
Where it is
Sítʼ Yá Hítʼ CabinTongass National Forest · 0.8 miMendenhall Lake Campground1.2 mi
John Muir CabinTongass National Forest · 4.9 mi
Auk Village Campground6.0 mi
Peterson Lake CabinTongass National Forest · 6.5 miAuk Village CampgroundTongass National Forest · 6.7 miThis campsite is approximately 13 miles from downtown Juneau. Access is via the Alaska Marine Highway or via Alaska Airlines.
By ferry: turn right out of the Ferry Terminal parking lot. Drive 1.7 miles to DeHart's Store above Auke Bay marinas. Take a left turn onto Back Loop Road. Travel 2.5 miles to Montana Creek Road. Turn left onto Montana Creek Road. Drive 0.3 miles to Skater's Cabin Road. The campground is 0.3 miles down the road.
From the airport: go 0.1 mile to the junction of Yandukin Shell Simmons Drive. Turn left on Shell Simmons Drive and travel 0.3 miles to stoplight at the intersection of Old Glacier Highway. Turn left on Old Glacier Highway and travel 0.5 mile to the stoplight at the intersection of Egan Drive. Continue on Mendenhall Loop Road 2.2 miles to the intersection of Back Loop Road. Turn left on Backloop Road. Continue 1.4 miles to the intersection of Montana Creek Road. Turn right and travel 0.3 miles to Skater's Cabin Road. Turn right and travel 0.3 miles to campground.
The weather
the next four days · the thirty-year normal
Next four days, and the thirty-year normal
Forecast
NWS forecast for Juneau, AK
Typical weather
Typical October night 39°F, day 46°F.
Coldest month of the year: typical January night 25°F, below freezing. Bring a bag rated colder than that, and expect ice in the water bottle.
Daily high and lowDays with 0.10 in or more
A normal is the 1991-2020 average for the month, not a forecast: about half of all Julys are colder than the July line. The seven-day forecast above answers the other question.
The land, and who answers for it
what threatens it · who answers for it
What threatens this place
You’re camping on ground somebody wants. We track the threats and the comment deadlines.
Who answers for this land
Mendenhall Campground is in Alaska’s at-large congressional district. Its representative, Nick Begich (R), votes on the laws that decide what happens to this land. Public-lands grade so far: F. See every public-lands vote →