Exploring Juneau, Alaska in April

Juneau in Alaska is an amazing place to explore. The mountains and scenery are just beautiful. Visiting in late April can bring the best views without the crowds. Here’s my guide to exploring Juneau, Alaska in April.

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What is Juneau, Alaska like in April?

Exploring Juneau, Alaska in April can give you some amazing snowy mountain views, but without the peak summer crowds. I loved visiting in late April and I’d definitely recommend visiting at this time of the year.

Juneau, Alaska is well known as a summer cruise destination. Alaska cruises depart from the USA and Canada to explore the beautiful coastline, glaciers and mountains of Alaska. Extreme weather in the winter months mean it is difficult to visit Alaska in the winter. But in the summer, this amazing destination really opens up to tourists.

April is the month when the first cruise ships arrive in Juneau, and the summer tourist season really starts to begin. The first cruise ships tend to arrive in late April, and it’s from this date that a lot of the attractions first open up. Things like whale watching trips and the tramway aren’t open in early April, and a lot of restaurants are only open after the first cruise ship arrives as well.

To make the most of exploring Juneau, Alaska in April it’s best to time your visit for the last week of April. Research online when the first cruise ship arrives and when attractions open, and visit then. That way you’ll be able to visit when most of the attractions and restaurants are open, but it will be before the biggest crowds arrive. It doesn’t tend to get busy until later in May, so you’ll have a lot of places to yourself.

You can go wildlife watching in Juneau in April and you have a good chance of seeing humpback whales. You might also be able to spot orcas if you’re lucky. However, it can be a bit too early to see bears in the wild. So if you’re desperate to see wild bears, you might want to visit a bit later in the spring/summer.

What should I pack to visit Alaska in April?

The weather in Alaska in April can be unpredictable. To be able to fully enjoy exploring Juneau, Alaska in April it’s best to come prepared for adverse weather conditions. Check the weather forecast before your trip so you know what to expect. You might still get some late snow, or just lots of cold rain. Or you could get lucky and experience beautiful spring sunshine.

Even if it’s sunny, it can still be cold in Alaska in April, especially on the coast. And always be prepared for some rain. You won’t need any super specialist outdoor gear, but you’ll want similar clothes to what you’d wear on a winter’s day in the UK. It’s best to be prepared, and then you might get lucky with the weather and not need it. The first day I was in Juneau in late April it was cold and grey and rainy, and I was shivering even in my warm winter coat. But then the weather suddenly cleared and the sun came out, and I was walking around with my coat undone and sometimes taking it off and just being outside in a t-shirt. The weather can change drastically in just a few hours.

Some things to pack include:

• A warm, waterproof coat and possibly an extra fleece or another layer for warmth
• Waterproof over-trousers so you can still go outside in the rain
• Walking boots that are waterproof and have good grip in case you come across any icy/snowy patches
• Lots of options of layers so you can put them on/take them off depending on the weather
• Camera and lots of memory cards – the scenery is wonderful
• A good map and compass if you plan to do any hiking away from the main trail
• Binoculars for wildlife watching

Top things to do in Juneau, Alaska in April

I’d recommend taking this great guide to Alaska (affiliate). It gives some great ideas for places to stay, restaurants, and even more activities to enjoy.

Whale watching in Alaska

My favourite experience when exploring Juneau, Alaska in April was going whale watching. I was so lucky to see a group of four orcas near the beginning of the boat trip, and it was amazing.

I also got some really good views of two humpack whales towards the end of the trip. The weather was just perfect. And the boats don’t go too far out to see from Juneau, so the sea was very flat. There wasn’t really any risk of getting seasick on the boat trip I went on, because we stayed close to the shore so it was calm and flat. I’m sure it can get rougher in bad weather, but the sea was amazingly flat when I went so I could just focus on enjoying it.

Mount Roberts Tramway

For some breath-taking views, take the cable car/tram up to the top of Mount Roberts. The ride only takes a few minutes, and the views are amazing the whole way up.

You travel up 1,800 feet from the cruise ship dock in downtown Juneau through the rain forest to the top of the mountain. Check the opening times and ticket prices of the tramway here – and remember it usually opens in late April when the first cruise ships arrive. And keep an eye out for wildlife as well when you get to the top – I spotted a Bald Eagle flying over.

At the top, there are a selection of hiking trails. In April, some of these might still be blocked with snow. When I visited in late April I was able to walk a bit, but a lot of it was over snow which was quite slippery. I ended up not walking too far and just enjoying the views, and it was definitely still worth doing.

Mendenhall Glacier and Lake

For some of the most stunning views in Alaska, take the short trip from Juneau to Mendenhall Glacier. It’s just on the edge of the town, so easily accessible by Uber. It’s an amazing glacier and definitely worth visiting.

There are numerous hiking trails in this area, and most are open in late April. I just loved the views across the lake to the glacier.

There’s also a really impressive waterfall here as well, if you follow the path around the lake. The advantage of visiting in Spring is that there’s usually plenty of water coming down the waterfall from all the melting snow. It’s lovely to walk through the forest here and see everything just waking up for spring, after being asleep under a blanket of snow all winter.

Keep an eye out for wildlife as well. Even though April is quite early to be able to see much, I was super lucky to spot a Porcupine in the top of one of the trees!

Spot Bald Eagles in Juneau

Before going to Juneau, I’d been researching how to see Bald Eagles, one of the USA’s most famous animals. People were saying you could see them in the town, but I was sceptical. But you really can see them in the town! I saw some just perched on lamp posts on the edge of the road just as I was leaving the airport. And when I was walking around the town, I saw more just perched on the edge of the buildings. Local people were walking past without giving them a second glance, which really does show that they are a common sight here. I just loved being able to take so many photos of them close up.

McGivney’s Sports Bar and Grill

One of my favourite restaurants in Juneau that was open in April was McGivney’s Sports Bar and Grill. It’s set in the restaurant in the hotel of Four Points by Sheraton. The sports bar here had a great atmosphere, and was one of the most lively bars/restaurants in the city in April. The food here was great as well, especially the fish and chips. It’s a great place to spend the evening after a busy day exploring Juneau, Alaska in April.

Juneau Centre and Waterfront

When you visit Juneau, make sure you take some time to explore the centre and also the waterfront. There are plenty of interesting shops here, which are perfect to browse when the weather isn’t so great. Juneau isn’t a big town, but there’s still a nice selection of shops. It felt busy enough in April, although it’s clear it gets much busier here in the peak tourist summer months.

However, visiting in April really gave you a sense of how isolated this small town much feel in the winter. It’s so far from any other town or city, with few roads connecting it to the rest of the world. I quite liked the feeling of isolation, although I’m not sure how keen I’d be for a whole winter!

The waterfront is also really pretty as well. You can see where all the cruise ships dock. Take some time to wander around, and also look out for any ducks in the water. I saw loads of these Surf Scoters when I visited in late April.

Alaska State Museum

The Alaska State Museum is the perfect attraction for a rainy afternoon. There are some fascinating displays, and you learn about the people who have lived in this area throughout history. There’s a strong focus on the maritime history and also the wildlife. I really enjoyed learning more about this area and appreciating the history.

Alaska State Improv Festival

One of the best things to do in Juneau, Alaska in late April is to go to the Alaska State Improv Festival. This festival of improvised comedy runs every year in late April. Performers travel into Juneau from all over the USA and all over the world. you can enjoy some brilliant improvised comedy shows and spend your evenings laughing until your sides hurt. It’s also a really friendly festival as well, so you’re guaranteed to meet some fun and friendly people. It’s a great option for evening entertainment after a day exploring the mountains. My favourite improvised comedy group I saw at the festival was Extreme Improv, a UK-based group who did some amazing short-form sets. You can find out more about them here – they also do loads of online shows if you can’t travel to see them in person.

Book your departing flight for sunset

For a perfect ending to your time in Juneau, try to book a flight home that leaves at sunset.

The view out of the window across the seemingly endless expanse of snowy mountains is just breath-taking. Nature doesn’t get better than this.

Enjoy exploring Juneau, Alaska in April! And remember to check out this great guide to Alaska ready for your trip (affiliate). The North West of the USA has some amazing scenery, so why not take some time to explore more. Check out the mountains in Washington state, and head over to have some fun in Seattle. Or if you’re looking for some warm sun in the USA, why not visit Yosemite National Park and Big Sur in California.