Things to Do in Juneau in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
March Weather in Juneau
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
102°F (39°C)
High Temp
79°F (26°C)
Low Temp
0.1 inches (3 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Extreme heat, plan outdoor activities for early morning
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + March owns the aurora calendar. With 18-20 clear, dark nights out of 31, you finally get the northern lights show that October teased. Drive fifteen minutes beyond the sodium glow and the sky performs.
- + By March 1st the winter rush has evaporated. Mendenhall Glacier's ice caves echo with your own footsteps, the tram loads without queuing, and locals still greet you with curiosity instead of fatigue.
- + Mount Roberts still carries 3.5 m (11.5 ft) of settled snow in early March, giving backcountry skiers and snowshoers a firm, forgiving surface. Thermometers finally nudge above freezing, so you can linger without turning rigid.
- + Daylight surges from 10.5 to 13 hours during March. That extra slice of evening lets you stay on glacier hikes until 7:30 PM, leaving headlamps in the pack instead of strapping them on at 4 PM.
- + Wildlife reawakens. Black bears shuffle out of dens, mountain goats descend to browse lower slopes, and orca pods chase herring slicks right into Auke Bay. March is the payoff month for anyone with binoculars.
Considerations
- − Shoulder season brings organized chaos. One week the town rocks ski season, the next it sinks into mud season. Half the winter outfitters shutter by mid-month while summer crews haven't yet fired up their engines.
- − March can't decide between snow and rain. March 15th may deliver 15 cm (6 inches) of fresh powder. Yet March 20th can melt it into ankle-deep slush downtown overnight.
- − Ferry service tightens. Only two boats run daily to Haines/Skagway instead of four, and the evening sailing often disappears when weather throws a tantrum.
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
March in Juneau is a city waking up. Winter's deep freeze gives way to a tentative spring thaw. You will find slushy streets and cool, damp air that smells of wet spruce and saltwater. The community emerges now. They pack Centennial Hall for the free, raucous concerts of the Alaska Folk Festival. By morning, the lobby smells of coffee and fiddle rosin. Late March brings the sloppy chaos of March Mud Madness. This downtown obstacle race sees participants plunge through urban puddles. Their laughter mixes with the squelch of mud. Everyone retires to a historic hotel for a lively after-party. For visitors, March shows Juneau in transition. It is not a summer postcard. It is a living, breathing Alaskan capital. Indoor gatherings crackle with energy. Outdoor adventures stir in the icy waters and against glacial backdrops.
Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching
otherGlide across the steel-gray waters of the Inside Passage. Search for humpback whales. Their colossal dark forms rise against snow-dusted peaks. Feel the sharp, salty spray. Hear the explosive blast of a whale's exhalation. That sound echoes across the quiet cove before the massive fluke slips under the surface. This tour puts you in the early spring migration. It is a front-row seat to raw marine power.
It delivers the profound spectacle of watching forty-ton whales feed and breach. This happens in the wild waters just outside Alaska's capital.
Insider tip: Dress in layers you do not mind getting damp. Bring binoculars for spotting distant blows against the often low, soft light of the March sky.
Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Tour
guided_experiencePaddle a stable canoe across the milky-turquoise lake. Go directly toward the icy blue face of Mendenhall Glacier. Feel the temperature drop as you approach its frozen, crumbling walls. You will hear the creak and thunder of ice calving. It is a deep rumble that rolls across the water. Feel the fine, cold mist when a slab the size of a house crashes into the lake. This human-powered approach has a special perspective on the glacier's scale. Motorized boats cannot match it.
It is the most immediate way to engage with the advancing ice of a living glacier. You get close enough to see its intricate, sapphire-blue crevasses.
Insider tip: Wear waterproof gloves and secure footwear. The canoe dock and gravel shore can be slick with March's lingering frost and meltwater.
Alaska Whale Watching Cruise: 3 Hours on the Water
cruiseBoard a purpose-built vessel for a dedicated voyage. You will go into the whale-rich channels near Juneau. Smell the damp, briny air. Feel the boat's gentle roll as you scan for the distinctive V-shaped blow of a humpback. The focused three-hour timeline maximizes whale watching. It often treats guests to a full breach. The tremendous slap of flesh on water reverberates across the sound.
This efficient cruise concentrates entirely on whale behavior. It offers sustained, expert-led observation during the peak pre-summer feeding activity.
Insider tip: Position yourself on the vessel's downwind side. This gives the clearest views and helps you avoid any engine odors. March winds can shift quickly in the channel.
Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier
otherThis combined expedition delivers two experiences. Feel the chill of glacial air at Mendenhall's Nugget Falls. Hear the roar of cascading water. Then journey by boat. You can taste the salty air and see the misty blows of whales against a dramatic mountain skyline. It captures the two definitive icons of the Juneau landscape. You get ancient ice and monumental marine life in a single, complete outing.
It efficiently delivers both the towering terrestrial ice of the glacier and the dynamic marine spectacle of whale watching. This is a dual portrait of Alaska's grandeur.
Insider tip: Pack a warm hat and sunglasses. The glare off the glacier's ice and the reflective water on the boat tour can be surprisingly intense. This is true even under March's soft light.
Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Paddle and Hike Juneau
adventureThis demanding adventure starts with a paddle across the glacial lake. Your arms work against the cold, still water. It then leads to a hike over rocky, ice-scoured terrain. You can touch ancient stone and smell the wet earth of the rain forest's edge. Stand at a viewpoint. Feel the raw wind coming off the glacier. See its entire large expanse from toe to snowfields. It is a silent river of ice etched into the mountains.
It combines the serene encounter of canoeing with the earned, panoramic reward of a hike. This is the most complete physical immersion in the glacier's environment.
Insider tip: Use trekking poles for the hike portion. The trail may still have patches of stubborn March ice and mud. This makes footing uncertain.
3.5 Hour Crowd-Skipping Whale Tour in Juneau, Alaska
guided_experienceThis experience is designed to bypass larger tour groups. It has a more personal setting on the water. You can hear the guide's quiet commentary clearly. Feel the boat's responsiveness as it maneuvers for optimal viewing. The smaller group size has advantages. It increases the chance of finding quieter pods of whales. It allows for lingering longer with active groups. The sounds of tail slaps and social calls carry across the water.
Its smaller vessel and limited group size create an atmosphere of exclusive discovery. It favors quality wildlife encounters over crowded decks.
Insider tip: Book for a weekday when possible. It further reduces the chance of sharing the waterways with other tour operations. These are common during March's emerging season.
Where to Stay in Juneau in March
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for March travellers.
March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Late March
Alaska Folk Festival
The 50th annual festival packs 400 musicians into Centennial Hall for free concerts and spontaneous jams. Coffee and fiddle rosin scent the lobby at 8 AM; by midnight, hotel corridors echo with excellent players trading licks with locals.
Late March
March Mud Madness
When late-March thaw turns streets into slush soup, locals stage a 5 km (3.1 mile) obstacle race straight through downtown. White sneakers surrender to brown in the first 100 m (328 ft), and the after-party at the Alaskan Hotel pours more beer than sweat.
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Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Ignore the glacier visitor center, it's shuttered for construction until May 2026. Access now starts from the West Glacier Trail, fitted with fresh boardwalks last winter.
Ride the final 8:30 PM tram down Mount Roberts. Sunset lingers late, and if the sky stays clear you might catch the aurora dancing over the channel with only five to ten other souls on the deck.
The Red Dog Saloon unlocks at 9 AM for locals. Grab strong coffee and a breakfast sandwich while you map the day, beats any hotel buffet.
Study the NOAA marine forecast, not just the weather report. If small-craft advisories are posted, your Tracy Arm cruise will cancel no matter how blue the sky looks.
Avoid These Mistakes
Avoid booking aurora tours during the full-moon week. March moonlight outshines Juneau's streetlights and washes the green arcs right out of the sky.
Ski gear doesn't translate to glacier hiking. Bring hiking boots with ankle support, ski boots won't grip the ice, and swap ski gloves for slimmer ones; they're too bulky when you're framing shots inside an ice cave.
Don't expect summer hours. The Mt. Roberts Alpine Loop trail closes sections seasonally, and several downtown restaurants shut their doors Sunday-Tuesday in March.
Daylight saving time hits in March. Alaska springs forward, and that lost hour will scramble your glacier itinerary if you forget.
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