Juneau Parks and Gardens

(Juneau, Alaska - AK, USA)

Although the city of Juneau may well be surrounded by huge swathes of natural green spaces, there are very few actual parks and formal gardens based here and open to the general public.

Located approximately 35 miles / 56 km to the northwest of Juneau and reached via the Glacier Highway, the Point Bridget State Park can be reached in just over an hour and a quarter by car, in good weather conditions. This spacious park came into being in the late 1980s, following Alaska State Legislature.

In total, the Point Bridget State Park covers a little more than 1,130 hectares / 2,800 acres and comprises dramatic cliff faces with superb waterfront views across the rocky beachfront, streams with salmon and plenty of scenic pathways. Along the way, you may like to stop off at the Auke Recreation Area, which is much closer to downtown Juneau and lies next to the Indian Cove, where highlights include natural beaches, camping sites and an abundance of Alaskan wildlife.

General Information

Just past the Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure attractions and next to the Juneau International Airport, the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge is a real haven for native birdlife. Roughly 20 minutes' drive to the northwest of the capital, the park is a hugely important stop-off point for migrating birds flying to and from their breeding grounds within the Arctic.

This whole area was shaped many thousands of years ago by glaciers, which created a network of meandering waterways. Particular attractions at the Mendenhall Wetlands include boating, hiking trails, fishing (including coho salmon, sockeye salmon and cutthroat trout) and endless opportunities to observe the wildlife.

Directly to the west of Juneau and across the Favorite Channel is the Dude Creek State Critical Habitat Area, as well as the Glacier Bay Park and Wilderness Area, based at Gustavus. Both of these locations are part of the gigantic mountainous Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, which covers more than 5,000 square miles / 13,000 square kilometers.

To the far northwest of Juneau, the Haines State Forest and the Klondike Gold Rush area provide further managed expanses of green, frequently used by local Alaskans for recreational purposes.