Christina and Lucas’ session took place at Nugget Falls Waterfall in Juneau, Alaska. Nugget Falls is a large and epic waterfall located in the Mendenhall Valley right next to the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau Alaska. It is one of the most scenic locations in Juneau Alaska, whether you’re getting your photo taken, or taking photos yourself.
Nugget Falls
Where is Nugget Falls?
Nugget Falls is located right next to the Mendenhall Glacier, which is only 13 miles from downtown Juneau Alaska. It is one of the most beautiful and most accessible glacier in North America and a must-see if you are visiting Juneau.
How to get to Nugget Falls
In order to get to Nugget Falls, you must first get to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor’s area. Getting there is an easy car or bus ride away from anywhere in Juneau.
To get to Nugget Falls, simply follow the signs from the base of the Visitor’s Center. The walk is 1 mile each direction takes about 20-60 minutes to get there depending on your activity level and how much time you want to stop to read the plaques and take in the sights. So plan on walking 2 miles total and taking anywhere from 1-3 hours overall to enjoy the journey. There are small hills but overall it is accessible by bike and wheelchair.
When to visit Nugget Falls
The best time to walk to Nugget Falls is during the summer months (May through August), though you’ll find locals biking, running, picnicking, field-tripping, dog-walking (dogs must be on leashes) April through October.
What to know before you go.
- Alaska is bear country and we share this land with them. Stay alert, and if you see a bear, don’t panic. Please do not approach them and under no circumstances try to feed them.
- Keep your dogs on a leash for their own safety.
- Parking is free, and walking to Nugget Falls is free as well. If you want to enter the Visitor’s Center to learn more about the glacier there is a small fee. Inside is a viewing area, a small museum, a theatre, and a gift/book shop.
- Juneau is a temperate rainforest. You should always be prepared to get wet and stay warm. Occasionally there will be a heavy rainfall or a glacial outburst that will cause flooding and temporarily close the trails.
- The water is swimmable but cold. Even if it is 70-80 degrees outside, you’ll still see glacier icebergs floating in the Mendenhall Lake.
- There are a variety of hiking trails where you can get up closer to Nugget Falls and the Mendenhall Glacier itself, even venturing INSIDE the glacier (at your own risk). To learn more about those trails visit the Visit Juneau Website.
- For more tips on outdoor safety and ethics, visit the Forest Service’s Website.
Christina & Lucas’ Nugget Falls Waterfall Session
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Beautiful photos and great information about this gorgeous engagement photo location!!
They look like they had such fun, and I want to now see what this waterfall looks like!