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Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure

7600 Glacier Highway, 1 mile from the airport, beyond the Fred Meyer store, Juneau, AK
907-790-3377
Website
Upside-Down Tree "Flower Towers" are the trademark creation at Glacier Gardens where elegant bot
Seatting under spilling hanging garden in the Visitor's Center atrium.
Spectacular panoramic views of Juneau stretch from downtown to the Chilkat Mountains
Glacier Gardens
27 visitor photos
Ranked #9 of 23 attractions in Juneau
4.0 of 5 stars 26 Reviews
Type: Gardens
Owner description: Tucked in the grasp of the mighty Tongass National Forest you will discover an Alaskan botanical garden unlike any found throughout the world. Travel...... more » Owner description: Tucked in the grasp of the mighty Tongass National Forest you will discover an Alaskan botanical garden unlike any found throughout the world. Travel onboard a guided tour through 50 acres of temperate rainforest in covered vehicles learning about native plant species such as Sitka Spruce and Hemlock trees, devil’s club, and skunk cabbage. No tour gives you easier access to the gorgeous Tongass. Learn about gardening in the far north under vibrant hanging gardens spilling from 15-foot-tall upside-down tree “Flower Towers.” This unique tour is a gardener’s dream, a great way to explore the rainforest, and offers unmatched accessibility to outstanding panoramic views of Juneau.The vast gardens are the creation of Steve and Cindy Bowhay, former local commercial fisherman and master gardeners. The garden started as a simple stream rehabilitation project but took on a life of its own. From a planned “small nursery,” the family run purchased more property, developed trails, designed and installed botanical gardens, and finally started a tour in 1998 to share the beauty of the Juneau area.The covered vehicles on these guided tours carry up to 18 passengers for large groups, and six passenger carts for smaller groups. Your guide will escort you through the gardens and into the rugged and unforgiving Tongass habitat to explain about the history of this property and to highlight the fascinating characteristics of the natural environment you now find yourself. Bright floral arrangements and elegantly designed landscapes complement the natural beauty of the towering temperate rainforest and the cascading waterfalls bubbling nearby. Your expert guide answers questions and offers insights as you travel a two-mile pathway through the country’s largest National Forest. On your 40-minute ride through the forest, there’s a short break for a hike to an amazing cliff-side viewpoint. Here, the thick forest gives way to a sweeping view of Juneau, the Mendenhall Valley, Gastineau Channel, Douglas Island, and the Chilkat Mountains. At nearly 600 feet, it’s the perfect spot for snapping photos and scanning for soaring eagles or playing ravens. Your guide will describe the view and will give some depth to this alpine area. The Visitor’s Center features a live video feed from a camera aimed at an active bald eagles nest that is found on the property. You can find the feed online at our website as well.You return to the gardens where you can spend more time meandering the grounds and visiting the Visitor’s Center atrium which is filled with even more floral structures, such as the heart shaped impatiences, and hanging flower gardens – some petunias stretch to up to 12 feet long! The Garden Shop sells great garden specific gifts like the wildflower-seed packets that you can plant at home, and the Garden Café serves espresso drinks, beverages, and snacks. « less
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26 reviews from our community

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1 review
“Very beautiful and interesting - worth the time.”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 22 May 2012 NEW

Steve, the owner and caretaker, has created a very unique and beautiful garden that includes his own invention - the "flower towers.". The cart ride to the viewing station is very steep but worthwhile. Our tour guide, Shelby, was knowledgable, enthusiastic and informative. More

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Las Vegas
Contributor
13 reviews 13 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
“Friendly Rainforest Break”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 19 May 2012

On a clear day, you can see all the way to Admiralty Island. The tour is somewhat adventurous, as you are right on the edge of a steep fall-off, but not strenuous - you are on a motorized tram all the way to the top through lush temperate rainforest vegetation. The narration is above average, and the employees are chatty.... More

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See 4 more reviews by Megahaole for Juneau
Juneau, Alaska
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“The most beautiful place!”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 2 May 2012
1
person found this review helpful

I always recommend this place to tourists and I go at least a couple times a year myself! The place is breathtaking and the staff is incredibly nice and informative. They tell you all about the land and work that was done, they tell you about plants in the forest, etc. Visiting Glacier Gardens is truly must do in Juneau!!! More

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See 4 more reviews by Pamela - for Juneau
Alaska
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
“Beautiful”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 31 January 2012

Worth the price once to see the beautiful flowers and unusual trees and the ride up the mountain More

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See 11 more reviews by alaskadaz for Juneau
San Francisco, California
Senior Contributor
47 reviews 47 reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
26 helpful votes 26 helpful votes
“Awesome Gardens”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 12 January 2012

This is a really cool place to go if you are into gardening. The flowers and native plants they have are awesome. The guided tour is amazing and the tour guides are very informed and knowledgeable, ours was humorous which was nice. The view from the top of the mountain they take you on is really awesome, just be prepared... More

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See 10 more reviews by airikeli for Juneau
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
“not for me”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 5 January 2012
2
people found this review helpful

I can see how people would like this, but i was bored. lots of technical plant information upside down trees with flowers on top is cool, but come one ... $50 bucks, meh . More

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See 4 more reviews by Erich R for Juneau
Juneau Alaska
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
17 helpful votes 17 helpful votes
“Fun little side trip”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 29 December 2011
2
people found this review helpful

This is a pleasant place to spend a few hours, if you don't have other competing activities that are more unique. There are lots of nice flowers, and the upside down stumps are a fun way to display them. The ride up to the ridge through the rainforest is interesting but by no means spectacular. Worthwhile, but not at the... More

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See 8 more reviews by Determeg for Juneau
Cairo
Top Contributor
61 reviews 61 reviews
Reviews in 12 cities Reviews in 12 cities
26 helpful votes 26 helpful votes
“Breathtaking”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 1 November 2011
1
person found this review helpful

Breathtaking, a must see. you could see bears fishing in the creek close by. More

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Del Mar, California
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
12 helpful votes 12 helpful votes
“Upside down trees”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 3 August 2011
4
people found this review helpful

Great fun! Off of the Carnival Spirit, we had a short visit to Juneau. We went to the Mendenhall Glacier, and then to the Glacier Gardens. Easy for all, no walking. bus dropped us off, we took a little 6 person golf cart to the top of the garden, with our guide Mike, describing everything from the really cool upside... More

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Iowa
Senior Contributor
35 reviews 35 reviews
Reviews in 17 cities Reviews in 17 cities
57 helpful votes 57 helpful votes
“Amazing Flowers I Will Remember!”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 29 July 2011
3
people found this review helpful

We visited Glacier Gardens in June 2011. We were on a cruise and chose this as one of our shore excursions. It was beautiful! As other reviewers have said, you may or may not enjoy this. The ticket is expensive to get in--over $20 per person. That being said, the flowers were beautiful and the staff was superb. Do not... More

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See 4 more reviews by Azouma for Juneau

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Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure
7600 Glacier Highway 1 mile from the airport, beyond the Fred Meyer store
Juneau, AK
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