Facts About Juneau, Alaska: History, Nature & Weather

Juneau is the capital of Alaska and one of the most unusual state capitals in the country. About 32,000 people live in the City and Borough of Juneau, which sits between steep mountains and the Gastineau Channel, surrounded by the Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the United States. No road connects Juneau to the rest of Alaska or to Canada, so everyone arrives by plane or boat. Here’s what makes it stand out.

Juneau Quick Facts

History of Juneau

The Tlingit people have lived in this region for thousands of years, fishing, hunting, and trading along the coast. The modern city began in 1880, when Tlingit chief Kowee led prospectors Joe Juneau and Richard Harris to gold in Gold Creek. A mining camp grew quickly, and in 1881 miners voted to name the settlement after Juneau. Large mines operated in the area for decades.

In 1906, the capital of what was then the District of Alaska moved from Sitka to Juneau, and the city has been the capital ever since. Today you can trace that history at the Alaska State Museum and in the historic buildings of downtown, a short walk from the cruise docks. To learn more about the Tlingit culture of the region, see our Alaska cultural tours.

Geography and Nature

Juneau is a city built on a narrow strip of shoreline. Mount Juneau and Mount Roberts rise almost directly behind downtown, and the Mount Roberts Tramway carries visitors from the waterfront up the mountain for views over the city, Douglas Island, and Gastineau Channel.

Above the city lies the Juneau Icefield, about 1,500 square miles of ice that straddles the border with Canada and feeds 38 large glaciers and more than 100 smaller ones. The most accessible is Mendenhall Glacier, a river of ice about 12 miles long that ends in Mendenhall Lake, about 12 miles from downtown. The glacier has been retreating since the mid-1700s, and the Forest Service visitor center and trails nearby let you see the glacier, the lake, and Nugget Falls up close.

Across Stephens Passage, Admiralty Island is known to the Tlingit as Kootznoowoo, the “Fortress of the Bears.” About 1,600 brown bears live on the island, the highest density of brown bears in North America. Most of the island is protected as Admiralty Island National Monument, and in summer, visitors fly in by floatplane from Juneau to watch bears fish for salmon at the Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area.

The waters around Juneau are rich in marine life. Humpback whales feed in nearby channels in summer, along with harbor seals, sea lions, and seabirds. For more on what you might see, read our guide to wildlife in Alaska.

Climate and Weather

Juneau’s coastal location keeps its weather milder than many people expect from Alaska.

• Summer: Daytime highs average in the low to mid-60s°F (about 17°C) in July, with lows around 50°F (10°C).
• Winter: January highs are in the mid-30s°F (about 2°C), with lows in the mid-20s°F (about −4°C).
• Rain: Rainfall varies widely within the city. The airport averages about 54 inches (1,370 mm) a year, while downtown, closer to the mountains, gets more than 90 inches (2,290 mm). October is typically the wettest month.
• Daylight: Juneau gets more than 17 hours of daylight in late June and about 7 hours in midwinter.

Late spring through early fall is the most popular time to visit, when days are long, whales are in the channels, and cruise ships are in port.

Fun Facts About Juneau

 

• No roads in or out. Juneau is the only state capital on mainland North America with no road connection to the rest of the continent.
• A capital on an international border. The City and Borough of Juneau extends east to the mountains along the border with British Columbia, Canada.
• Bigger than two states. The City and Borough covers about 3,255 square miles, more than Rhode Island or Delaware.
• 38 large glaciers in its backyard. The Juneau Icefield feeds 38 large glaciers, including Mendenhall and Taku.
• A neighbor island of bears. Admiralty Island, just across Stephens Passage, has about 1,600 brown bears.
• One of the largest Alaska Native gatherings. Every other June, Juneau hosts Celebration, a four-day festival of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures that draws thousands of dancers and visitors.
• A long-running folk festival. The Alaska Folk Festival brings musicians and dancers to town each spring.
• Bald eagles in town. Eagles are a common sight perched in trees and on rooftops around Juneau.

Visiting Juneau

Most visitors arrive by sea. Juneau is a regular port of call on the Inside Passage and a common starting and ending point for small-ship voyages, which often combine Juneau with Glacier Bay, quieter towns like Petersburg and Wrangell, and wilderness stops for kayaking and wildlife watching. Our guide to things to do in Glacier Bay covers what to expect in the park, and our guide to ports along the Inside Passage covers the other towns on the route. For trips that start or end here, see our Juneau trips.