Free & Cheap Things to Do in Juneau

Glaciers & Nature

A 13-mile-long glacier that ends in a turquoise lake just outside downtown Juneau — and one of the most accessible glaciers in North America. The grounds and trails are completely free year-round, including the easy paved Photo Point Trail and the one-mile Nugget Falls Trail right along the lakeshore. The Forest Service visitor center charges a small summer fee but offers films, exhibits, telescopes, and ranger talks.

Address: 6000 Glacier Spur Rd, Juneau, AK 99801

Tip: Visitor center fee is waived October through April. Skip the fee entirely and walk the free trails — Nugget Falls puts you closer to the glacier than the visitor center does.

Hiking & Outdoors

A free hiking trail straight up the mountain that rises behind downtown Juneau, climbing through old-growth Sitka spruce forest to alpine meadows with sweeping views of the Gastineau Channel. The full hike to the tram terminal is about two miles each way and gains 1,800 feet — strenuous but free. Most cruise visitors pay $45 for the tram up; you can walk it for nothing.

Address: Basin Rd, Juneau, AK 99801

Tip: The 6th Street trailhead is closed — start from the Basin Road trailhead instead. Bring water and bear spray, and check trail conditions before going.

History & Government

Alaska's working state capitol is unusually accessible — free guided tours run weekday afternoons in summer, taking visitors through the historic 1931 building, the legislative chambers, and a small museum about Alaska statehood. A self-guided audio tour is available year-round. One of the most distinctive state capitols in the country and a great free hour in downtown Juneau.

Address: 120 4th St, Juneau, AK 99801

Tip: Guided tours run Mon–Fri at 1:30pm and 3pm, June through late September. Sign up in the lobby on the day of your visit.

History & Museums

Tucked into the woods at the end of Basin Road, this small museum sits inside the original 1912 compressor building of the Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Company — once the largest gold mine in the world. Original ore cars, mining tools, and rusted machinery sit exactly where workers left them when the mine closed in 1944. Cash-only and very cheap, with great views of the surrounding Gold Creek valley.

Address: 1001 Basin Rd, Juneau, AK 99801

Tip: Cash or check only — no credit cards. The operator (Gastineau Channel Historical Society) doesn't post the admission price online, so call 907-586-5338 to confirm before going. Open seasonally May 16 through late September. Combine with the Mount Roberts trailhead nearby.