Things to do nearHole-in-the-Wall Glacier

Hole-in-the-Wall Glacier flows from the vast Juneau Icefield, one of the largest icefields in North America, which feeds dozens of glaciers across the Alaska-British Columbia border region. The glacier takes its evocative name from the narrow gap in the rock through which its ice spills into the valley below, a feature that makes it visually distinct from its neighbors.

Reaching the glacier typically requires a boat charter or floatplane out of Juneau, and that journey is itself part of the experience. Crossing the fjords and inlets of Southeast Alaska, you pass through scenery of extraordinary scale before the glacier comes into view. Travelers who book boat tours out of the Juneau area often include the glacier as a highlight of a longer coastal itinerary.

The ice itself displays the deep cerulean tones that form when air is compressed out of ancient snow over centuries. Wildlife sightings along the approach are common, with bald eagles, harbor seals, and brown bears all inhabiting the surrounding wilderness. The nearby Taku Glacier is another landmark worth including on any extended glacial excursion from Juneau. For anyone drawn to wild, unmediated nature, Hole-in-the-Wall Glacier offers an encounter with Alaska at its most elemental.