Nugget Falls Trail #33752

Dogs Unknown

Features Lake · Views · Waterfall · Wildlife

There are bears in the area. One should travel in a group of two or more and not carry food items.

Nugget Falls Trail is 1 mile one-way or two miles out-and-back. It is heavily trafficked when cruise ships are in port. From a weather perspective, is best used from May until September.

There are wonderful views of the lake, glacier, and surrounding mountains. It is an easy way to get closer to Mendehall Glacier than the typical stop at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.

The trail starts at the base of the visitor center. The old dirt trail runs very close to the lake edge and is often flooded. The new trail is compact fine gravel; it is so smooth and flat that we saw a family navigating it with a wheel chair. The last 100 yards to the waters edge would not be suitable for a wheel chair though.

We saw a squirrel, a porcupine and a sow bear with two cubs!