the wandering chick
An Alaska Road Trip
Juneau
Juneau is Alaska's capital city and the only capital city in the U.S. not accessible by road. One must either fly in or come in by boat. We chose the boat, a wonderful ride from Haines that took five hours on a smooth, incredibly scenic waterway, the Lynn Canal.
Juneau is hopping with people, especially when three or more cruise ships have made port. But, fortunately, it's spread out enough that walking the downtown shopping district is bearable.
Juneau is home to the Mendenhall Glacier, one you can drive to and get a good glimpse of. Nuggets waterfall is on the same grounds, as is a walking trail to the falls.
Our highlight on this trip was a drive out Highway 7, the Glacier Highway all the way to the very end of the road - literally.
Along the way, we made two wonderful stops: The Shrine of St. Therese and Eagle Beach. It was a wonderful day trip that we will remember for a long time.
Eldred Rock Lighthouse was built in 1905 which makes it the oldest original lighthouse in Alaska. It sits at the north end of Lynn Canal some 15 miles south of Haines. A local organization is working to restore and preserve the structure which has fallen into disrepair over the years.
The passenger ferry from Haines to Juneau is large enough to carry 75 cars and 500 passengers. It is well equipped with comfortable seating and various decks and lounges for moving around as well as a cafeteria. One can sit back and enjoy the stunning scenery from large windows at the front or from the outside decks.
An eagle perches at a high view point over the Auke Bay small-boat harbor.
Nugget Falls is a waterfall on the same grounds as Mendenhall Glacier. An easy 2-mile (round trip) trail leads to it.
Kingfisher Pond is a short little trail behind the Juneau police station. We had been passing by a stream on the Glacier Highway and saw a couple of eagles sitting on a log. We backtracked to try to find a way to get to the stream. We were hoping this trail would lead to it, but it didn't. It was still a nice walk.
We didn't see much whale activitiy on this voyage except for these three who almost surfaced.
Mendenhall Glacier is said to be about 3,000 years old. It travels about 13 miles in the Mendenhall Valley. It is a glacier that is easily accessible for viewing and with a hiking trail for closer glimpses. A Visitor Center is on the grounds.
The Hangar on the wharf in downtown Juneau is a popular spot with shops and restaurants with outdoor seating.
Steep staircases such as this are common in Juneau for those residents who live atop the hills. Kudos to those who have to walk them!
Monster cruise ships are another common sight in Juneau.
The chapel was made of stones taken from the bay at its foot and is located on an island connected to the rest of the grounds by a short paved path.
Eagle Beach is 27 miles north of Juneau on the Glacier Highway. It's a remote area where the partially-dried Eagle River has sand bars in shallow parts that make a great beach combing activity.Its quiet and serene setting makes the state park an enjoyable spot for those wanting seclusion and beauty.
A groundhog sits comfortably on a bench on the shrine grounds, not bothered by passers-by.
The National Shrine of St. Therese is located several miles outside of Juneau on the Glacier Highway. It sits on 46 acres and has been a pilgrimage for people from all over the world since it was founded in 1932. Besides the chapel, it comprises a crypt, labyrinth and columbarium. It has a retreat, a cabin and lodge, as well. The setting is exceptionally tranquil, overlooking the Lynn Canal with the Chilkat Mountains in the distance. Therese was named the patron saint of Alaska in 1925.
After conquering the Glacier Highway, we made a couple of stops on the way back to Juneau. The Amalga harbor is a quiet remote boat launch on Glacier Highway south of Eagle River. This and the two shots below were taken there.
This is Sunshine Cove Beach, a small cove on the Lynn Canal with the Chilkoot Mountains in the background.
The Eagle River
We were excited to say that we traveled the Glacier Highway (Highway 7) north to its very end. First there was the caution sign the road was ending; then came the end of the pavement where a gravel road traveled for perhaps a mile or less. Then came the absolute end where this pile of dirt sits. A cool thing for someone who likes to travel the backroads!
