Stroller Friendly Trails Part 1; Nugget Falls
Juneau has had the most fantastic weather this summer. It’s such a rarity to have so much sun consecutively here. So last week, Jess and I were able to sneak out for a quick hike with the girls to soak up some sun. Lately, between Gear Up, work, and family life, we have not been able to get the strollers out as often as we would like. Now, whenever we’re together, we’re cleaning equipment, drafting social media posts, or reorganizing our stock room. So being able to get out for the afternoon was a welcome escape.
We took the opportunity to venture out to Nugget Falls at the Mendenhall Glacier. It’s a 2-mile out-and-back trek that's relatively easy, flat and gravel. I would plan for a little over 1 hour to give yourself some time to enjoy the falls before turning back. Be forewarned that it gets quite a bit of traffic during the summer cruise season.
The Nugget Falls trail we have today relatively new. During Jess and I’s childhood, locals would have to wade across the stream to walk out to the falls or to spend the day swimming at some of the ponds along the way that aren’t quite connected to Mendenhall Lake (and are much warmer).
We opted to take the old path to avoid the crowd. It's still very flat but isn’t graveled and can be muddy when it rains. It splits off the main route at the first (there are a few) water-crossing. There are some thoughtfully placed rocks to keep your feet dry at each stream. Eventually, you must cut through the trees to return to the main route. There are many established places to do so (some fit strollers and some don’t!).
We opted to take the old path to avoid the crowd. It's still very flat but isn’t graveled and can be muddy when it rains. It splits off the main route at the first (there are a few) water-crossing. There are some thoughtfully placed rocks to keep your feet dry at each stream. Eventually, you must cut through the trees to return to the main route. There are many established places to do so (some fit strollers and some don’t!).
Jess and I going through one of the water crossings
We brought our single BOBs, advertised as off-road trail strollers. I never thought I would utilize that capability, but I’m glad we had it for those few water crossings on the old trail! We pushed the BOBs through the shallow water and balanced on the rocks. At the end of the old path, we had to backtrack to find a way through the trees that fit the strollers. Back on the main trail, it leads you down some blasted rock and out to a small sandy spit at the base of the falls. Once we had our fill and it was time to turn back, we opted for the main route back to the parking lot.
The main trail is an easy walk for people of all ages. It’s well made and is regularly maintained. Aside from the sand at the end, most strollers would be capable of making the trek to falls in good weather. The trail offers many opportunities to view the glacier. There is also plenty of flora and fauna to look at along the way. For example, the area has a population of migratory birds called Arctic Terns that nest in an area along the original trial. They are known to dive at people who venture too close to those nests. So if you needed a reason to stay on the main path, there’s a great one.
All-in-all, Nugget Falls is an excellent option if you’re looking for a quick and stroller-friendly trail. It’s short enough for everyone in the family, and you get a great place to take a break in the middle.
Trying to get the babies to smile for photos
