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1. Perseverance Trail
Distance: 6.5 miles round trip
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 1,050 feet
Side Hike: Opposite the Ebner Falls cutoff is the highly challenging trail up Mount Juneau (3,576 feet; 6-8 hours round trip)
Perseverance Trail is one of Juneau’s most popular hikes hike and starts just 1.5 miles from downtown. From the end of Basin Road, the trail cuts up a river valley beneath 3,500-foot Mt. Juneau and past lush forests, streams, and Ebner Falls. In addition to classic Alaska scenery, the trail has historical significance as a former mining access road considered to be the first road in Alaska. Perseverance Trail also is great for running and mountain biking.
2. East Glacier Trail Loop
Distance: 3.5 miles round trip
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Elevation Gain: 400 feet
Side Hike: Nugget Falls (.8 miles) is an easy hike from the visitor center with great photo opportunities
On a ridge adjacent to the Mendenhall Glacier, the East Glacier Trail Loop passes through old growth forest and by waterfalls with excellent views. From the back of the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, the East Glacier Trail branches off from the Trail of Time. The majority of the hike has a gentle rise with a few steeper sections near the top.
3. Mount Roberts Trail
Distance: 4.5 miles one way
Difficulty: Challenging
Elevation Gain: 1,760 feet to the top of tram, 3,800 feet to the summit
From downtown Juneau, follow the stairs at the end of 6th Street to the Mount Roberts trailhead. The summit is a tough 3,800 vertical feet and 3–4 hours up, but the views of Juneau and the Gastineau Channel are worth the burn. For a shorter walk, the top of the Mount Roberts tram is at 1,760 feet (the tram ride down is discounted for those who hike up), or you can take the tram up and hike the remaining distance to the summit of Mt. Roberts and back.
