Things to do in Juneau in July
July in Juneau: Summer is in full swing! Our average temperatures range from 51F to 63F (but it can and does get warmer). We still get about 14 days of rain in July. My advice is always to pack your rain gear no matter which month you are visiting. Juneau is located in the heart of the Tongass National Rain Forest and we expect to get wet but this does not impede on any activity we have planned outdoors. The average amount of daylight in July has started to decrease slightly but we still have over 16 hours of light. You’ll have plenty of time in every day to enjoy lots of adventures in Juneau during July.
1) Fishing: The pink, chum and coho salmon return start in July. It’s the perfect time to book a salmon fishing trip in Juneau. If salmon fishing isn’t you thing, then you should go deep sea fishing for halibut. It is the height of the halibut season and booking a halibut fight charter is a fun way to spend the day. There is always the option to do both a salmon and halibut fishing combination charter. Ask us about the options in how to book this. If your friends or family want to do also do a little whale watching we can incorporate this into a 6 or 8 hour tour. It’s your day your way!
2) Whale Watching: The humpback whales are feeding in earnest. Occasionally we will witness them cooperatively feeding using a method call bubble net feeding in July. A pod of up to 15 humpback whales will gather and chase herring, driving them to the surface and gulping them up. It is spectacular sight to see. But it does take luck, these are wild free swimming mammals on their own schedule. As with all the other months seeing a pod of killer whales could happen in July…you never know. Additionally we are seeing stellar sea lions, harbor seals and eagles galore!
3) The Mendenhall Glacier: As the summer progresses your opportunity increases to see more bears roaming around the environs of the Mendenhall Glacier. The view remains amazing and towards the end of July the sockeye salmon begin to show up. Thus the black bears start fishing in Steep Creek. The Nugget Falls trail is the most popular hike because it’s flat so you can go at a gentle pace with all fitness levels.
4) Mount Roberts Tramway: Located in downtown Juneau, the Mount Roberts Tramway is an easy way to get up the mountain without having to hike. In July, you’ll be able to follow the marked paved trail from the visitor’s center up to the Cross. Here you’ll see a magnificent view of the surrounding area. For anyone who is keen to go higher, the view just gets better and better. Just keep an eye on weather (fog) and no matter what stay on the trails.
5) Hiking is awesome in July. The long days allow for plenty of time to explore the area around Juneau. Locals favorite hikes include Perseverance Trail (gentle-ish with an incline at the beginning), Basin Road up to Mount Roberts (moderate), and the Mount Juneau Trail (difficult). Bring water, snacks, appropriate clothes and never ever go off the trail.
Check out our fishing page for more info HERE and you can visit Alaska Department of fish and game website HERE and click HERE for our whale watching page