Juneau: Segway Rainforest & Coastal Tour with Glacier Views

4.88

(278 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

You hear the crunch of gravel before you even get moving—the Segways make this soft whirring sound under your feet that’s oddly reassuring. I was honestly a little nervous about balancing at first (I’m not exactly coordinated), but our guide, Jamie, had this way of explaining things that made it feel like no big deal. She pointed out the Mendenhall Glacier almost right away—just this massive blue-white shape in the distance, kind of unreal against the grey sky. There’s something about seeing it from the bike lane along Douglas Highway that makes you feel small in a good way.

The air smelled sharp and green as we zipped along the coastline. I kept catching whiffs of wet cedar and seaweed—hard to describe unless you’ve been in Alaska after rain. Jamie would pause now and then so we could listen for eagles (we actually heard one before we saw it), or just watch the water for a minute. Someone thought they saw a whale spout out on Lynn Canal, but maybe it was just wishful thinking. Either way, being out there with just a few people and all that space felt different than any other day trip from Juneau I’ve done.

After parking our Segways by some driftwood (which took me longer than everyone else—I’ll admit it), we followed Jamie down this narrow trail into Tongass National Forest. Seven minutes walking through mossy silence, except for our boots squishing in mud. The beach at the end was empty except for us; Jamie handed around snacks and bottled water while we watched the light shift over the water. I still think about how quiet it was out there—like you could hear your own breath if you wanted.