As an Eagle Beach elopement photographer based right here in Juneau, this is the place I send couples when they want the best scenery Juneau has to offer, without the crowd. Forty-eight miles north of town along Glacier Highway, out past where most visitors ever bother to drive, the road is lined with picnic tables and firepits, and views of the Lynn Canal and Chilkat Mountain Range stand across the water. In my opinion, it’s Juneau’s best-kept secret.
There are two sides to Eagle Beach, and only one of them matters for your elopement. Skip the camping area with the paved parking lot and the clear signage. What you want is the picnic site about a mile further down the road, the one with a small sign that’s easy to miss. That’s where the beach is, and at low tide, this beach is massive.
Depending on the season, you’ll pass through wild strawberries and lupine on your way to the water. You might even catch the fireweed or wild iris in July. Whales, sea lions, and seals show up in the channel often enough that I’ve learned not to promise it but not to rule it out either. There’s a very good chance you’ll see bald eagles (hence the name Eagle Beach). You might even catch a rainbow. One honest seasonal note: I love this place best before August. Once the salmon start washing up later in the summer, the smell (and the bears and flies it attracts) changes the whole vibe. Early to mid-summer are the sweet spot.
What it feels like once you’re standing there: quiet and still. At low tide, the beach stretches out further than you’d expect, so you can walk out, turn around, and suddenly your ceremony spot looks tiny. Just be sure not to get caught far out when the tide starts coming in, or you’ll be wading through water to get back. Mornings can be hazy, mid-day can be brilliantly blue, while evening light turns everything soft and a little gold.
Eagle Beach is not only one of my favorite places in the world to shoot, but it’s one of my favorite places on Earth.
Photos from Eagle Beach
More Eagle Beach Elopements
A helicopter glacier elopement that ended the day here.
Ashley & Matt’s Skater’s Cabin elopement, which ended with them running around the beach
Nick and Gigi’s Eagle Beach elopement at sunset.
Read the full guide: Where to Elope in Juneau, Alaska →
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, especially if privacy matters to you more than convenience. It’s less trafficked than the Mendenhall Valley or downtown Juneau, and the terrain gives you real space to spread out.
About 48 miles and a 45-minute drive north along Glacier Highway. It’s a commitment, but it’s a scenic drive with the chance to spot wildlife like bears, eagles, deer, and porcupine.
Early to mid-summer, when the weather is warm and the flowers are in bloom, but before the salmon run in August.
For a small wedding or elopement, no. Eagle Beach is free and open to the public. Picnic sites are first-come, first-served, but you can rent the single shelter. If your looking for a larger celebration, I can help walk you through the permit process
Thinking About a Juneau Elopement?
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