
Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 17 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike worth booking?
Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike is a 5-hour experience in Juneau, United States, from $920 per person. It scores 58 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 5/5 rating across 17 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 58 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (17)
- Duration
- 5 hours
- From
- $920 per person
Experience 3 iconic Alaskan adventures—flightseeing, glacier hiking, and packrafting—all in just 5 hours! This Packraft adventure begins with a scenic flight that will head towards the mouth of the Taku Inlet. After landing on the Norris Glacier fed lake, hike over the glacially carved terrain to a cove where your packraft awaits. From here, you will be outfitted in single person packrafts and introduced paddling techniques by your guides. Once you launch your packraft, your paddle to the glacier will take you past ice bergs to the Norris Glacier. As you approach the glacier, prepare to beach your boat right on the Norris Glacier. Trade out paddles for micro-spikes and explore the moonscape-like area of the glacier all by foot and get panoramic views of Norris and Taku glaciers. Look for crevasses, glacier pools, moulins, and other incredible ice features. Upon completion of your glacier hike, paddle back to shore. Your floatplane awaits to take you back to Juneau.
What you get
About this experience
Experience 3 iconic Alaskan adventures—flightseeing, glacier hiking, and packrafting—all in just 5 hours! This Packraft adventure begins with a scenic flight that will head towards the mouth of the Taku Inlet. After landing on the Norris Glacier fed lake, hike over the glacially carved terrain to a cove where your packraft awaits. From here, you will be outfitted in single person packrafts and introduced paddling techniques by your guides. Once you launch your packraft, your paddle to the glacier will take you past ice bergs to the Norris Glacier. As you approach the glacier, prepare to beach your boat right on the Norris Glacier. Trade out paddles for micro-spikes and explore the moonscape-like area of the glacier all by foot and get panoramic views of Norris and Taku glaciers. Look for crevasses, glacier pools, moulins, and other incredible ice features. Upon completion of your glacier hike, paddle back to shore. Your floatplane awaits to take you back to Juneau.
What's included
Included
- Bottled water
- Roundtrip van and floatplane transportation
- Snacks
- Paddling and safety instructions
- Rain gear and rubber boots
- Forest Service Fees
- All necessary paddling and glacier equipment
Not included
- Guide Gratuities
What you'll see and do
Guests will be transported from pick up location to main office. At the main office guests will be outfitted in gear and have a chance to use the restrooms.
60 minutes here
Transport to the floatplane pond, followed by a 25 minute scenic flight to the Norris Glacier.
30 minutes here
During the Norris Glacier adventure, guests will hike, packraft, and trek on the glacier's surface. Following this experience, a floatplane will transport guests back to Juneau.
150 minutes here
Guests will return to the main office to de-gear and be transported back to pick up location.
60 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Juneau
Located at the base of the Mt. Roberts Tramway, the C-Sign is ABAK’s primary downtown meeting location for cruise passengers and clients staying in the downtown area.
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 10 minutes before departure.
Ends at
Located at the base of the Mt. Roberts Tramway, the C-Sign is ABAK’s primary downtown meeting location for cruise passengers and clients staying in the downtown area.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 6 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Above and Beyond Alaska
Know before you go
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
- Clients will be outfitted in single passenger packrafts.
- A specific amount of time on the ice cannot be guaranteed. The amount of time on the glacier is dependent on the group's pace and weather conditions.
- Visiting specific features such as ice caves, moulins, etc. cannot be guaranteed. Your guide will assess potential hazards on the trip to determine if a particular area is safe to trek upon or enter.
- Clients must be able and conditioned to paddle 1 hour roundtrip, know how to swim, and hike on uneven terrain up to 2 miles.
- Minimum age is 10 years old. There is a weight restriction of 250 pounds per participant due to plane carrying capacity.
- Minimum requirement to operate this tour is 4 guests. With group departures we try to maximize our trip capacity and subsequently may need to alter the time to accommodate additional customers. If your trip's departure time changes we will notify you as soon as possible.
- Due to the inherent risks involved in this type of tour, pregnant guests are not permitted to participate.
- This trip operates in all weather conditions (barring unsafe conditions, to be determined by ABAK) – please dressing appropriately.
- Clients must disclose information regarding pertinent medical conditions/history, allergies and any type of restriction or limitation that might introduce a higher degree of challenge on this trip.
- RELEASE OF LIABILITY/ASSUMPTION OF RISK FORM: Every participant on the trip must sign a Release of Liability/Assumption of Risk form at the start of the trip. Alterations and/or deletions to the waiver are not permitted.
- Safety harnesses fit up to 42 inch waist size and 28" inch leg size. Not able to accommodate larger waist/leg sizes.
- You must include the following in the comments section when booking: raingear & shoe sizes for each passenger, (for adult men and women, S-XXL and youth, S-L) and any pertinent medical information. Smallest shoe size that can be accommodated is Youth 2 and largest is Adult 14.
- Maximum weight is 250 lbs per person
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 17 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
5 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
5 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Physical effort
5 mentionsExpect real walking or climbing: reviewers mention the effort involved.
Organization
3 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Food and drink
3 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Traveler reviews
17 verified traveler reviews for Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Peak Glacier Experience
I was highly recommended this trip by Kelsey, who also led me on two amazing bear experiences with ABAK. Our pilot Robert and rafting guide Kaylee were amazing. The flight to the glacier was comfortable and although I am a novice kayaker I felt confident the entire time with some brief instruction. The equipment issued was great and the experience was otherworldly. We got to explore some portions of the glacier I have not been lucky enough to see in my life. I would strongly recommend this trip for able bodied and adventurous folks looking to take their Alaska experience to the next level.
Response from the operator: So glad you were able to take multiple of our trips and enjoyed all of them. What an Alaskan adventure! Thank you for such a good review, we hope you get to come back soon!
via Tripadvisor
Great Alaskan Glacier Experience
This excursion was recommended to us by friends who had completed the same trip. We don't normally book such a higher priced excursion but it was worth the entire trip and given the need for equipment and seaplane access, I understand the price. The total time of the excursion was 5 hours and it allows for plenty of time to enjoy the adventure. We were greated at the port with a driver (Joe) providing a summary of Juneau as we drove to pick up gear. They are very organized as they take size and weight information at the pier and your gear is layed out for you upon arrival at their store. With rain gear, snacks and water in packs, we departed for a short trip to the sea plane lake at the airport. We were greated by Bo, our pilot who loaded our packs and the six of us climbed in for a great flight to the glacier lack. Bo is an exceptional pilot with a very comfortable flight and great views. We were met by our guide, Keaton, who guided us to our inflated kayaks, provided some simple tips and we were off to paddle to the foot of Norris glacier. We had ample time to explore, climb, and view the glacier ice and landscape with Keaton providing lots of insight. After a brief descent and kayak back to the pier, we were once again greated by Bo (pilot) and had a great flight back as the sun set with incredible views. We returned to change out of our gear and enjoyed a quick ride back to the pier where you could be dropped in downtown Juneau if you wished to spend some extra time. The small group excursion in the plane and on the glacier were an excellent escape from cruise ship crowds.
Response from the operator: Thank you for such a detailed and thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear the Norris Glacier Adventure was well worth the cost and that you enjoyed the small-group experience, seaplane flights, and time at the glacier. We’re also glad our team helped make the day feel organized and seamless from start to finish. Thank you for choosing Above & Beyond Alaska and for the wonderful recommendation!
via Tripadvisor
Phenomenal Experience
This experience was phenomenal! The staff throughout the day were great! Knowledgeable and friendly and very accommodating to our questions and requests. We rode with Jerry out to the lake - great pilot and experience! Clara was an incredible guide on the glacier! Young but so knowledgeable. Easy to follow rules. We got to hike around and see so many things on the glacier! We were on the glacier for about an hour. Even got to go down into a shallow crevice and drink some glacier water! Great information throughout the experience. Gear/equipment was all clearly well cared for and in great condition. 10 out of 10 experience.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a great experience from start to finish. We’re glad you enjoyed exploring the glacier, learning along the way, and making the most of your time on the ice. We truly appreciate you choosing Above & Beyond Alaska and hope to adventure with you again!
via Tripadvisor
Stunning Tour with Amazing Guides
Excellent experience, I highly recommend this tour group!! We did the Norris Glacier Adventure: Flight Paddle Hike as an excursion in Juneau as part of an Alaskan cruise on the Island Princess. All of it was fantastic, the flight on the sea plane, the kayaking, and the hike on the Norris glacier. Stunning scenery with amazing guides. Communication with Princess though was not great, no one on the ship could tell us what we needed to wear or pack, so here is what the tour ACTUALLY provides: water proof boots, microspikes (not true crampons but the microspikes are perfect for the conditions), waterproof pants to go over your regular ones (wear these, they keep your pants dry while kayaking), waterproof jacket (I had lots of top layers and ended up not wearing this, but others may like it), large dry bag with plenty of room for layers, neoprene gloves (for kayaking, I used my own pair of gloves which were fine), helmets for kayaking and on the glacier (I wore a tight fitting hat under the helmet), water bottle, snacks (not lunch, but the snacks are good). So you only need to wear comfortable shoes for getting to the tour, some warm layers (check the weather, we were lucky to have beautiful sunny conditions), and your own hat and gloves. Extras socks can also be useful, the boots don’t come in half sizes, so an extra pair to help them fit better can be helpful, but the staff does a great job helping you find a pair that fits. Also bring hand warmers if you know your hands get cold easily. Our tour ticket from the cruise line said not to bring a bag, but you can indeed bring your own bag, you’ll just repack what you need into the dry bag that the tour provides during the tour and leave your own bag and shoes in the locker bins at the tour office while on the trek. Again, phenomenal experience with excellent guides. This is an amazing tour!!
Response from the operator: Thank you for such a thoughtful and detailed review! We're so happy to hear you had an amazing time on the Norris Glacier Adventure and enjoyed every part of the experience, from the seaplane flight to the paddle and glacier hike. We especially appreciate you sharing such helpful packing tips for future guests. We'll be sure to pass your kind words along to our guides---they'll be thrilled to hear them. Thank you for choosing to adventure with us, and we hope to welcome you back to Alaska again someday!
via Tripadvisor
Best excursion ever!
We have been on many excursions in our travels to Alaska and beyond and this is one of the greatest! The communication and arrangements were perfect and the guides had everything we needed to feel warm and comfortable in the cold. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the glacier and allowed us to explore.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear this adventure stood out among your travels. We’re glad our team helped you feel comfortable and prepared while sharing their knowledge and allowing you to fully experience the glacier. We appreciate you choosing to adventure with us and hope to welcome you back to Alaska again someday!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 6
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Above and Beyond Alaska, who run 9 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 62.4.
See everything Above and Beyond Alaska runsWhy this scores 58
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Juneau.
How much does Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike cost?
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Prices start at $920 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Juneau usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike take?
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Plan for about 5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Juneau is not rushed.
Is Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 58 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 17 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Juneau, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike?
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Around 6 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Juneau can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Juneau and add a light layer if any part of the 5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Juneau within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Juneau?
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Juneau runs Mendenhall Glacier trips, whale watching in Auke Bay, helicopter glacier landings with dog sledding, and rainforest hikes. Most tours are timed to cruise ship windows, so we weight clear duration and pickup detail. On Outty we rank every Juneau experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching, Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier, Whales and Wilderness Exploration. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Juneau?
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May to September, peaking for humpbacks in June and July. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Juneau?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike?
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Included: Bottled water; Roundtrip van and floatplane transportation; Snacks; Paddling and safety instructions; and Rain gear and rubber boots. Not included: Guide Gratuities. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered, or you can meet at the start point instead from 10 listed pickup locations in and around Juneau. Be ready about 10 minutes before the start time.
What languages is Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Not recommended for pregnant travelers; and Due to the inherent risks involved in this type of tour, pregnant guests are not permitted. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Norris Adventure: Seaplane, Paddle and Glacier Hike?
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Across 17 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, photo opportunities. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works. One thing to know: Expect real walking or climbing: reviewers mention the effort involved.
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