Frequently Asked Questions

We provide comfortable van transportation both to and from our Airport and Douglas Bases. Our Helicopter Glacier Walkabout, Trek, and Extended Trek are all dispatched from our base located next to the Juneau International Airport (JNU) in the Mendenhall Valley; while our Taku Glacier Helicopter & Airboat Adventure and Helicopter Glacier Dogsled Adventure are launched from our base on Douglas island.

We are able to pick up and drop off in most locations in Juneau, excluding the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. Cruise ship passengers who book directly will be picked up and dropped off at the Mount Roberts Tramway downtown.

Because space in the helicopter is limited, everything that you bring should fit inside your pockets or the large hip pack that is provided on our trekking tours. For larger DSLR cameras, we recommend a neck-strap for easy carrying. Bags, purses, selfie sticks, nor drones are permitted. We provide safe storage for any personal belongings to remain at our base.

We fly A-Star 350 series helicopters that seat up to 6 passengers plus the pilot. Seating is arranged in the helicopter to comply with the helicopter’s weight and balance requirements.

We fly turbine A-Star helicopters that are the standard in the air tour industry. Our pilots are experienced, well trained and dedicated professionals whose top priority is the safety and comfort of our passengers. NorthStar is a member of the Tour Operators Program of Safety (TOPS), which flight standards exceed those set by the Federal Aviation Administration regulations. Both NorthStar and TOPS have an excellent safety record, and passengers regularly comment on how much they enjoyed their smooth, professional flight.

As with any active outdoor experience, there is always some risk involved. However, the ice upon the glacier is very solid, hundreds of feet thick, and all hazards are visible and can be easily avoided. We also provide all necessary equipment, safety briefings, and experienced guides to keep you safe.

Juneau is situated in a temperate rainforest, meaning weather here is often overcast and rainy. Although high summer temperatures average in the 60s, they can range from the mid-40s to the mid-80s. Temperatures at the glacier are generally about 10-15 degrees cooler than at sea-level.

In a typical summer, we cancel about 10% of our trips due to inclement weather conditions. Should we decide not to operate your scheduled tour, we will do our best to reschedule. If this is not possible, will issue you a full refund.

If  you decide to cancel more than 24 hours before departure, you will receive a refund minus a 10% cancellation fee. If you cancel less than 24 hours before departure, you will not receive a refund.

NorthStar’s tours cater to the adventurous traveler  seeking to spend extended time on the glacier. In addition, our small group sizes allow us to provide highly personalized service and outdoor adventures that are tailored to the interests and abilities of each guest.

Please book your tour at least one hour after your ships arrival time. The tour should conclude no less than 45 minutes before your ships departure time. If your ship’s port time changes after you have booked your tour, please contact us.

You should dress for a 10-15°F temperature decrease from sea-level (at the cruise ship docks) to the glacier. We recommend that you dress in  long socks, warm layers,  and sunglasses. We will provide you with rain pants, a rain jacket, gloves, a harness, and boots during your tour. Additionally, water and a light snack will be provided for walkabouts, treks, and extended treks.

We operate the majority of our trekking tours on the Mendenhall Glacier. However, we also have permits to operate on the Taku, Hole-in-the-Wall, Thiel, Gilkey, Norris, Battle, and Herbert Glaciers. The location is depended upon weather and glacier conditions, with safety and quality of the experience as the top priority.

We offer three different levels of treks to accommodate a broad range of physical abilities and time on the glacier.

• Walkabout is the easiest and allows for 1-hour on the glacier.
• Trek requires a moderate amount of physical activity for 2 hours.
• Extended Trek is the most strenuous and allows you to spend 3-hours on the glacier.

Additionally, all tours will be made to accommodate the level of the participants in the group. No previous climbing or glacier experience is needed.

You should dress for a 10-15°F temperature decrease from sea-level (at the cruise ship docks) to the glacier. We recommend that you dress in sturdy shoes, long socks, warm layers, gloves, and sunglasses. We will provide you with over boots.

We operate all of our dogsledding tours on the Norris Glacier. Unlike the Mendenhall Glacier, which earns its fame for being one of the most accessible glaciers in North America, the Norris Glacier is secluded and well off the beaten path of other visitors. Our remote dog mushers camp is located approximately 35 kilometers outside of Juneau and is only accessible by helicopter. The Norris Glacier is massive, extending from over 4,000 feet in elevation down to the coastline, where visitors may have the fortune to view stunning displays of azure-blue ice walls as the glacier calves into the sea, while en route to dog camp. 

You should dress for a 10-15°F temperature decrease from sea-level (at the cruise ship docks) to the glacier. We recommend that you dress in sturdy shoes, long socks, warm layers, gloves, and sunglasses. We will provide you with over boots and rain pants during your tour. 

We operate all of our airboat tours on the Taku Glacier. The Taku is a massive tidewater glacier and the largest of 38 glaciers comprising the 1,500 square mile Juneau Icefield. The Taku Inlet region remains, to this day, one of the most pristine and untouched areas of Southeast Alaska. Due to the shallow river banks, the inlet is only accessible by careful boat navigation or by air. Our base at Taku Point is the area’s only visible human structure, allowing you to view this environment in its rawest form.