Forest Service to allow more guided tourism at Mendenhall Glacier

Tour companies will soon be able to guide more visitors on Mendenhall Glacier trails. This group accessed the glacier from the West Glacier Trail. (Photo by Lisa Phu/KTOO)
Tour companies will soon be able to guide more visitors on Mendenhall Glacier trails. This group accessed the glacier from the West Glacier Trail. (Photo by Lisa Phu/KTOO)

The U.S. Forest Service is allowing commercial operators to bring more visitors on the lake and trails in the popular Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. Later this month, companies can compete for visitor spots through an application process.

Commercial operators have been allowed to bring about 462,000 visitors to the area. That number isn’t changing. Instead, the federal agency is shifting more spots to be used by visitors being guided on the trails and lake versus simply visiting the glacier by bus.

Jennifer Berger is in charge of special uses on the Juneau Ranger District. She says there’s more demand to bring visitors on guided trips than spots available.

“What we’re hearing is that people would like to engage in some active hiking, biking, and lake and river activities, and also get a little further afield from the immediate visitor center which can on certain days be rather crowded,” Berger says.

There are currently 28 permit holders for the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, most just provide transport. The bidding process will allow new and existing guide companies to bring more visitors to the glacier.

“We are going to advertise the prospectus far and wide because we know that there may be business from across the state, there may be businesses from outside the state, and we would want all of them to have an opportunity to apply,” Berger says.

About 200,000 visitor spots will be up for competition. It’s been 19 years since the Forest Service has made so many spots available.

The Forest Service plans to open the bidding process later this month and companies will have 60 days to turn in an application.

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