The Juneau area has an amazing wealth of hiking paths leading into the surrounding mountains. For a complete listing, pick up a copy of Juneau Trails from the Centennial Hall Visitors Center (101 Egan Dr., 907/586-8751). This is also the place to go for hiking and cabin information in Juneau. Rubber boots are recommended for all these trails, though you could get by with leather boots on some of the paths when the weather is dry.

Guided Hikes

The City Parks and Recreation Department (907/586-5226 or 24-hour line 907/586-0428, www.juneau.lib.ak.us/parksrec) leads free day hikes into areas around Juneau every Wednesday (adults only) and Saturday all summer.

Gastineau Guiding (907/586-2666, www.stepintoalaska.com) has hikes in the Juneau area, including a three-hour rain forest nature walk on Douglas Island ($72 adults, $46 children), and a considerably more challenging four-hour “guide’s choice” hike ($79 adults, $50 children). Or you can join an older crowd for an easy “town, tram, and trek” ($74 adults, $38 children) that includes a 20-minute bus tour, a tram ride up Mt. Roberts, and a one-hour hike. The half-day “whales and rain forest trails” trip ($189 adults, $139 children) combines a whale-watching boat tour and a Mendenhall Glacier hike, or join a photo safari ($195) for tips from a professional photographer on land and sea.

Hiking Trails

• Mendenhall Glacier Trails
• Up Gold Creek
• Treadwell Mine Historic Trail
• Climbing Mt. Roberts
• Point Bridget Trail