Winter in Alaska: Spend a Winter Weekend in Juneau, AK
Getting to Juneau, AK:
Fun fact about Juneau: it’s the only US state capital that you cannot drive in and out of. There are three flights a day on average to Juneau from Seattle. Quick 2.5 hours from Seattle, and you’re ready to explore Juneau!
Where to stay:
I would separate Juneau into four main sections: Mendenhall Valley and Auke Bay, Twin Lakes, Downtown, and Douglas. You can find hiking anywhere, but you also have to drive everywhere. If you’re going with a hotel, stay downtown. If you are opting for an Airbnb/BnB, I would recommend Mendenhall Valley/Auke Bay, Downtown, or Douglas. Here are some of my favorite B&Bs to check out:
Jorgenson House – Luxury B&B, located downtown
Silverbow Inn – Historic B&B style hotel, located downtown
Glacier Nalu Campground – located in Mendenhall Valley, combination of tiny homes, guest suites, RV spots. New local business that is investing a lot into growing this campground!
Pearson’s Pond B&B – Located in Mendenhall Valley, call to book
Hotels: There are plenty of standard hotels in Juneau, located either downtown or by the airport.
Key winter events in Juneau
First Friday: just like most cities, Juneau loves a First Friday celebration! Especially in December, this is a time that locals flock to downtown for dinner, drinks, shopping for the holidays and live music!
Wearable Art Extravaganza: In February every year, artists around town showcase their designs made out of anything but fabric. It’s a fun night to see all the creative people around town.
Day 1: Check out town and dinner
Over the last few years, Juneau has become a foodie destination. Gordon Ramsay, Condé Nast all say so, and I can speak from personal experience: my family was in the food industry in Juneau!
Start your first day checking into your stay and get out on the town for a beer and dinner.
Head downtown for your first day, you’ll have plenty of time to check out other spots during the rest of your weekend! Starting our food and drink tour at Amalga Distillery, grab a seasonal drink or a gin and tonic. This distillery brews both gin and whiskey and has great alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. After drinks, head towards dinner. In the mood for Italian? In Bocca al Lupo is your spot. Alaskan seafood? Hangar on the Wharf is great. Some spots in Juneau are only open for the summer, but you can find great spots year-round.
If you still have some energy left after dinner, stop at The Narrows for a nightcap or The Alaskan for whatever live music they have that night.
Day 2: Adventuring!
Pick your poison: skiing and snowboarding at Eaglecrest, cross-country skiing, longer hike, snowshoeing, road trip out the road. I’ll highlight a few of my favorites.
Hikes
John Muir Cabin Trail: One of my favorite trails will take you through the famous Southeast rain forest and then come out to a meadow with views of Auke Bay – the big three, if you will. If it’s snowy, pack a pair of snowshoes for the meadow. If you’re getting off trail, please pack a compass and know your navigation. You know the drill.
Windfall Lake Cabin: If you’re in the mood for a longer drive and to have a chance to get to the end of the road, head to Windfall Lake Cabin trail. Mostly flat, great longer trail, loops past a Forest Service cabin.
Skaters Cabin & West Glacier Trail: again, please stay on the trail and use an app or device for navigation. That being said, a great trail and views of the glacier!
Skiing
To ski in Juneau, start by renting skis or bringing your own. Downhill is easy, head to Eaglecrest Ski Area, and you’ll be taken care of. For cross-country, you’ll need to take a few more steps. Foggy Mountain Shop will rent cross-country skis (and likely snowshoes also) for a 3-day pass. If you’re there, do a bit of shopping also!
Montana Creek: cross-country trails, a long connection of trails.
Eaglecrest: downhill, cross country, back country. You can find a little of everything; it’s a great local mountain. Make it a ski day, stay for lunch. If you arrive early in the morning to Juneau and want to take advantage of the “Boarding Pass Deal“, head to Eaglecrest as soon as you fly in – a free lift ticket for Eaglecrest only on the day of your arrival into Juneau.
(Tip: head to The Island Pub for dinner afterward on Douglas Island. This is some of the best pizza I’ve ever had, and it is so cozy after a day on the mountain.)
Finishing off the day, if you’re near Auke Bay, then head to Forbidden Peak Brewery for dinner and beers. Red Spruce Kitchen is located right in the brewery with great Asian and fusion flavors. If that’s not your favorite, a classic burger and beer is next door at Squirez Bar.
If you’re on Douglas Island, see my tip above and head to The Island Pub. You won’t regret it!
Day 3: Short Hike and Drinks!
After a full day of adventuring the day before, it’s important to start Day 3 with a solid breakfast. If greasy diner food sounds good, head to the Valley Restaurant. For great coffee and a pastry, Heritage Coffee is a go-to. For the best breakfast in town, The Sandpiper in downtown Juneau.
If you’re downtown, stay downtown. If you’re not yet downtown, head downtown. If the weather allows your car to drive up the hill to Perseverance Trail, it’s magical. The trailhead starts as one, then forks off. Going left takes you to Mt Juneau summit (do not recommend this in the winter), going right takes you to Granite Basin. Granite Basin will give you a sense of the mining history in Juneau and where miners trekked to find gold. To top it off, the historical Last Chance Mining Museum is at the trailhead and is a great view of Gold Creek. The museum is closed in the winters but a gorgeous view.
After a hike at Perseverance, make your way back down for a beer and lunch. Devil’s Club Brewing makes a mean sandwich and has some of the best beer I’ve had. After lunch and a beer, peruse down to Franklin St to the few open shops. Downtown Juneau is built for summer cruise ship tourists, but some local shops do stay open. Some of my favorites for souvenirs: Devil’s Club Brewing, Treetop Tees, Bunkhaus, Kindred Post.
Juneau is quite sleepy in the winter as it gears up for summer and winds down from summer at the same time. In this sleepiness, I’m hoping you can find peace and enjoy the quiet this place offers. Each time I leave Juneau, I have a feeling of coziness I don’t feel in many other places of the world.