What's Free In Juneau

Juneau is a great place for wondering. It's quaint downtown area is within easy walking distance of the cruise ships and it is absolutely FULL of souvenir shops many of which follow the cruise ships to the Caribbean Islands for the winter.

If you like shopping please look for the signs in the windows that say, "This business is owned by an Alaskan Family". There are two places that stand out in Juneau. One is HERITAGE COFFEE for the best latte's in Juneau and the other is THE JADE MINE which features an amazing collection of Jade items made with Jade from the nearby Jade Mine.

As you know FREE means walking and Juneau is very enjoyable to walk around. Here are some of the areas to explore. But, another thing comes to mind and that is DANCING! There are lots of great places to set down a boom box and dance a little RUEDA. Maybe some Juneau dancers will join us.

1. Historic Downtown Juneau Walking tour. Pick up a guide at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum. But for now click on this post title to take a look at the downtown map.
Stops on the tour include the:
-ALASKA STATE CAPITOL
-JUNEAU-DOUGLAS CITY MUSEUM - $4.00 admission includes film: Juneau, City Built on Gold
-GOVERNOR'S MANSION - built in 1912 for $40,000.
-GOLD CREEK - A strenuous walk from peaceful Cope Park to the top of the town could start here.
-The WICKERSHAM HOUSE State Historic Site
-ST. NICOLAS ORTHODOX CHURCH

2. Extended Walk - This walk of roughly 3 miles includes some steep stairways and streets. Follow the walking tour until you reach Gold Creek. Cross the creek and stay on the same road (which goes under various names), bearing right as it becomes Martin Street. On the left is the EVERGREEN CEMETERY - The cemetery slopes toward the ocean, opening a wonderful vista over the clear green lawn. One reason the view is so broad and open is that the markers are flush with the ground. The old Alaska Native graves are in the wooded portion on the far side. Joe Juneau and Richard Harris, the city's founders, are buried near the cross at the top of the cemetery, near where you arrive on the walk.

Across the road from the cross, Hermit Street reaches a little way into the mountainside.

Follow the steep public stairs next to house no. 430 up to the bottom of Pine Street. This is the walk I described in the introduction The views get better and better as you rise to the top of Pine Street then go right on Evergreen Street, following the road to where it dissipates into a trail among shadowy spruce and western hemlock. Continue on the peaceful forest trail among the ferns and evergreens up the valley, coming to the ABANDONED WOODEN FLUME.

Once the town's aqueduct, the flume now is maintained as a boardwalk ito the forest. Since it carried water, it's nearly level, but watch your step in wet weather, as it crosses some high trestles over gullies.

At the end of the flume, cross over the valley to Basin Road. Stop here to see the LAST CHANCE MINING MUSEUM. To the left is the Perseverance Trail, which continues up between the mountains; the Perseverance also leads to the trail head for a challenging hike up Mount Juneau.

To get back to town, follow Basin Road 1 1/2 miles back down the valley. Taking the first right will put you at the top of Gold Street. Descend a block to 7th and pick up the walking tour at the WICKERSHAM HOUSE.


3. The waterfront - It is an easy walk to the Seaplane Dock, Marine Park and a little further to Harris Harbor.

4. Hike to the top of Mount Roberts - It IS indeed possible to get to the top of Mount Roberts without the tram. The trailhead starts at the top of Sixth Street on Star HIll. The lower trail climbs above Starr Hill with superb views over the Juneau townsite and Gastineau Channel. The best overlook, about 600 yards up the trail, has been the source of many calendar and magazine photos of downtown Juneau. From the Trailhead, the trail leads to the wooden cross (2.5 miles), Gastineau Peak (3 miles) and Mount Roberts (4.5 miles).

Past the overlook, the trail continues upward over a small creek (the only water) to a series of switchbacks above Gold Creek and Last Chance Basin until it reaches the ridgeline. The trail then follows the ridgeline over mudholes and boardwalks with alternate views of Mount Juneau and beautiful downtown Douglas and Gastineau Channel. About 2 miles up, the trail reaches the tram complex near treeline. From there, two alternative trails have been improved and maintained as far as the wooden cross (2,500 feet), mostly to accommodate tram passengers hiking the area above treeline.

The lower Mount Roberts Trail is generally safe from May through October, and often negotiable in late fall and early spring. If you encounter ice, you should most certainly turn back. It may be easy to go up but bruisingly difficult to go down.

Most hikers who travel beyond the cross go as far as the vegetated "false" summit of Gastineau Peak, before the narrow rocky ridgeline that leads to the top of Gastineau Peak (3,666 feet). Few hikers go on to Mount Roberts (3,819 feet), which requires a descent before a final climb up talus slopes to the summit.