Helicopter to a Dogsledding Experience with a Glacier Landing

The big draw here is simple: in about three and a half hours, you get a helicopter flight, dog sled ride, and glacier landing. You fly from Juneau over snowy peaks to a camp on Herbert Glacier, ride behind a team of huskies, then touch down again on exposed ice.

I like the way the tour combines two very different Alaska experiences. The dogsled ride gives you a close look at working dogs and the people who care for them, while the second landing lets you walk around on the glacier instead of only viewing it from above. Guides such as Agnes and Thomas have been praised for calm flying and clear explanations.

The main caution is the price, $860.52 per person, and the real risk of weather cancellation. Cloud cover can stop helicopter flights even when the day looks fine from town, so you should not make this your only major plan in Juneau.

Key points to know before booking

• Two glacier landings: Visit the dog camp first, then fly to exposed glacier ice for a short walk.
• Roughly 40 minutes on the sled: You ride with a dog team and may be able to try driving, depending on conditions and the crew.
• Small aircraft, strict weight rules: Individual passenger weights are required, and the total passenger limit is 500 pounds.
• Cruise-friendly timing: Pickup and drop-off times include the transfer plan, with a required 45-minute buffer around ship arrival and departure.
• No bags in the helicopter: Medical carry-ons must be arranged in advance; other bags stay at the tour office.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can cancel the trip, with a different date or full refund offered when the operator cancels for weather.

Why this Juneau excursion feels so special

Juneau is one of the best places in Alaska for a helicopter trip because the city is hemmed in by mountains and ice. From the ground, you see only pieces of that setting. From the air, you get the full pattern of snowfields, ridges, blue-white ice, and narrow valleys.

This excursion adds a working dog camp to the flight. That matters. A helicopter ride alone can be a fine scenic outing, but the sled ride gives the day a human and animal story. You meet the mushers, see how the dogs are prepared, and learn about the daily life of people who run teams.

The experience has a 4.7 rating from 60 submitted ratings, with 92 percent recommending it. That is a strong record for an expensive, weather-dependent trip. The praise centers on the staff, the dogs, the views, and the chance to walk on the glacier. The weaker points focus on cancellation handling and occasional impatience during check-in, so the day is not perfect for everyone.

Getting from Juneau to Herbert Glacier by helicopter

The flight leaves from Coastal Helicopters near Juneau Airport. If you are staying downtown or arriving by ship, the normal meeting point is beneath the cables of the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tram at 490 South Franklin Street. Look for a Coastal representative in bright orange holding a yellow sign.

Hotel pickup is also available. At hotels near the airport, you meet the representative outside the main lobby doors. If your ship docks at AJ Dock, you can request pickup there. The company provides the pickup and drop-off times, and it asks you to leave 45 minutes between ship arrival and tour pickup. The same 45-minute cushion is required between your return and the ship’s all-aboard time.

That buffer is important. Helicopters do not run on a fixed sightseeing loop if weather or loading changes the schedule. I would avoid booking this close to your ship’s departure, even if the published timing appears to fit.

The first flight lasts about 13 minutes. That sounds short, but it is enough to change the feel of the day completely. You leave roads and buildings behind and head toward Herbert Glacier, with the pilot pointing out features along the way.

The aircraft holds no more than six people on the activity. Seating depends on weight and balance, not simply on who booked together. Coastal Helicopters tries to keep families and groups in one aircraft, but it cannot promise that. If your party is split between helicopters, the landing is planned to happen together.

That may be a minor disappointment if you imagined sitting beside every member of your group. Still, the rule is there for safe aircraft operation, and the company weighs each passenger at the base.

Meeting the sled dogs at the Herbert Glacier camp

At the first landing, the camp crew meets you and leads you to an orientation area. You meet the mushers and dogs before setting out, which gives the experience more meaning than simply climbing into a sled for a quick spin.

The mushers explain how the team works and what you need to do on the trail. Some departures allow you to try driving the team. The supplied details do not promise this for every person or every departure, so consider it an opportunity rather than a guaranteed part of the ride.

The sled trip lasts about 40 minutes. It is long enough to feel like a real outing, but not so long that you are sitting in the cold for half a day. One useful point from the feedback is that the ride is not especially arduous. The sled moves at a manageable pace, making it suitable for many ages and fitness levels.

I especially like the chance to meet the dogs after the ride. The dogs are working animals, not props, and the crew explains their lives and jobs. Some dogs have competed in the Iditarod, including one named Legend, who had completed the race four times. That kind of detail helps you understand the skill and endurance behind a dog team.

Puppies may be present, too. Several visitors have singled out the puppies as a highlight, especially families with children. You should still follow the crew’s instructions around the dogs, since these are active working animals.

The strongest part of the camp is the relationship between mushers and dogs. Acacia and Willow are two mushers specifically praised for their friendly approach and care for the teams. You may have a different musher on your departure, but the camp’s focus is clearly on explaining the work as well as providing a ride.

The second helicopter landing on exposed glacier ice

After the sled ride, the helicopter returns and takes you to the lower part of Herbert Glacier. This is not just a second scenic flight. You land near exposed glacier ice and spend about 20 minutes walking around with the pilot as your guide.

This short stop gives you a better sense of the ice itself. You can look at the surface, see meltwater, and take in the surrounding peaks at ground level. The scale is difficult to grasp from the helicopter seat. Standing on the ice, even briefly, makes the glacier feel less like a distant view and more like a place.

Fresh glacier water may be available from a meltwater stream. Some people have knelt down and taken a drink directly from it. I would treat this as an optional moment, not a formal tasting or health guarantee. The water is cold, and the company describes it as fresh.

The 20-minute stop is short, so do not expect a long glacier hike. It is designed for a close look, photographs, and a few minutes to absorb the setting. That is why I consider the second landing worth protecting in your budget. The dog camp is the main event, but this stop gives you the unusual experience of stepping onto exposed glacier ice.

The return flight takes about 13 minutes and crosses Herbert Glacier again. If you are able, keep your camera ready for the outbound and return legs. Weather and seating affect what you can see, so binoculars may be useful, but you will need to hold them securely in the aircraft.

What the $860.52 price really buys you

At $860.52 per person, this is a major splurge. You are paying for the aircraft, fuel, pilot, two glacier landings, ground transfers, camp staff, the dog sled experience, and a guided glacier walk. It is not a cheap way to fill an afternoon.

The value depends on how much you want to combine. If you booked a helicopter flight and a separate dog sled tour, you would need more time and might pay for two separate operations. Here, the two experiences are built into one carefully timed outing.

I would not call it good value simply because it is expensive. I would call it a strong value for someone who has limited time in Juneau and wants a high-impact experience rather than several ordinary activities. Cruise passengers often have only one day in port, and this tour uses that day efficiently.

The price is harder to justify if your budget is tight or if you mainly want a glacier view. Juneau offers less costly activities, including whale watching and ground-based sightseeing. You should choose this excursion because you specifically want the helicopter, dogsled, and glacier landing combination.

Some people book it directly because the price can be lower than the rate offered through a cruise line. Compare the final prices carefully, including transport and cancellation terms, before paying.

Weather, cancellations, and the risk you are taking

Helicopter tours depend on safe flying conditions. This trip can be canceled because of weather, including cloud cover that may not look severe from downtown Juneau. One departure was canceled after check-in on a cloudy day, which caused real frustration because the excursion had been planned as the main activity.

The operator says roughly 20 percent of these tours may be canceled for weather, according to information given during one booking situation. That is a serious planning point. I would not schedule an expensive, fixed dinner, flight, or other nonrefundable activity immediately afterward.

If Coastal Helicopters cancels because of poor weather, you are offered an alternative time or a full refund. If the minimum number of participants is not met, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Your own cancellation policy is less forgiving. The booking is nonrefundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons. In plain terms, do not reserve this casually and assume you can shift it later.

If you are on a cruise, try to place the tour early enough in your port day to allow a backup plan. A canceled morning departure may leave time for another activity. A late departure can leave you with very few choices.

Clothing, bags, and passenger rules

Wear warm layers and rubber-soled shoes. A light hiking boot or athletic shoe is suitable, and the company provides overshoes and raincoats when needed. Alaska weather can change quickly, and the glacier will feel colder than Juneau even on a pleasant day.

Bring your camera, but follow the no-bag policy. Regular bags cannot go into the helicopter. They are stored at the tour office until you return. If you need a medical carry-on, tell the company when you book so it can make arrangements.

Passenger weights must be reported individually and in the correct format, pounds or kilograms. Each person is weighed at the facilities. The aircraft has limited space, and selecting the wrong passenger type or reporting an inaccurate weight can delay or cancel the tour without a refund.

This rule may feel fussy, but it matters for helicopter weight and balance. Be accurate. It is one of the easiest ways to avoid a preventable problem on the day.

Lap children are not allowed. Every passenger must purchase a full-fare ticket. Most people can take part, but contact the company in advance if you have limited mobility. The crew may be able to make the experience more comfortable, but the supplied information does not promise full accessibility at every part of the glacier visit.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this tour most strongly to:

• First-time visitors who want one major Alaska memory in a short port stop
• Families with children old enough to follow safety directions and enjoy dogs
• Couples who want scenery plus an activity, not only a flight
• People who have never flown in a helicopter or walked on glacier ice
• Anyone interested in sled dogs, mushers, and the Iditarod tradition

It is less suitable for someone who dislikes small aircraft, cold weather, uncertain schedules, or strict passenger rules. It is also a poor choice if a cancellation would ruin your entire Juneau day.

The dog sled portion is active, but the pace is gentle enough for many ages. The glacier walk is brief rather than strenuous. The helicopter itself is the bigger consideration for anyone uneasy about flying.

Staff quality can vary by departure. Agnes was praised for reassuring a nervous teenager, while Thomas was noted for explaining the scenery and choosing a good glacier landing. At the camp, names such as Acacia and Willow have been associated with warm, engaging instruction. Check-in service has not been perfect on every departure, so keep your expectations focused on the experience itself rather than expecting every staff interaction to feel equally polished.

Should you book the Herbert Glacier dogsledding flight?

Book it if you want a big, concentrated Alaska experience and can accept the weather risk. The combination is hard to match: you fly over Juneau, meet sled dogs, ride across Herbert Glacier, and then walk on exposed ice.

The price is high, but the tour gives you several distinct experiences in a single half-day. I would choose it over a helicopter-only trip if you care about animals and hands-on activity. I would choose a less expensive outing if your main goal is simply seeing a glacier.

For cruise passengers, protect the timing with the required 45-minute ship buffer and leave room for a backup plan. Report every passenger’s weight accurately, bring warm layers, leave your bags at the office, and do not count on being seated with your entire party.

My call: book this as your one major Juneau splurge, not as a casual add-on. When the weather cooperates, it delivers a memorable mix of flying, mushing, mountain views, and real glacier time.

FAQ

How long does the helicopter and dogsledding experience last?

The full activity takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes, including transportation, helicopter flights, the dog sled ride, and the glacier stop.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $860.52 per person.

Where does pickup take place in Juneau?

Guests staying downtown or arriving by ship normally meet beneath the cables of the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tram at 490 South Franklin Street. Guests staying near the airport meet outside the main lobby doors of their hotel. Pickup at AJ Dock can be requested.

How long is the dog sled ride?

You spend roughly 40 minutes on the dog sled trail.

Can I try driving the dog team?

You may be able to try driving the team after meeting the mushers, but this is not guaranteed for every participant or departure.

What is included in the price?

The price includes round-trip helicopter transportation, transportation to and from the facilities, guided dog mushing, a guided glacier walk, and boots and raincoats when needed.

Are bags allowed on the helicopter?

The tour has a no-bag policy. Bags are stored at the tour office. If you need a medical carry-on, you must mention it when booking.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If the operator cancels because of poor weather, you are offered a different time or a full refund.

Are there passenger weight restrictions?

Yes. Individual passenger weights must be provided accurately, and the total passenger weight limit is 500 pounds. Every passenger is weighed at the facilities, and inaccurate information can cause delays or cancellation without a refund.