Juneau in December: Weather, Short Days, Mendenhall Glacier and What to Do

In December, Juneau settles into the dark early. Streetlights come on along South Franklin Street while the afternoon is still fading over the Gastineau Channel, and windows around downtown glow with Christmas lights. Snow dusts the steep slopes behind the old storefronts, and the tourist crowds of summer are long gone. It is a month for a capital city at its quietest, for anyone who likes winter light and a slow pace.

Juneau under its mountains in winter · Illustration

What is the weather like in Juneau in December?

December in Juneau is cold, damp and dark: temperatures hover around freezing, precipitation falls on about every other day, and the sun stays low for only a few hours.

Month	Average high (°F)	Average low (°F)	Precipitation (in)	Days with precipitation	Daylight on the 15th
November	38.3	29.2	6.54	14.3	7 h 56 min
December	34.7	25.9	6.53	13.9	6 h 26 min
January	33.1	23.8	6.02	13.4	7 h 04 min

Afternoons sit a little above freezing, so the same precipitation can come as rain, wet snow or snow, sometimes all three in one day. Snow does fall in town this month, and it often turns to slush on the sidewalks by afternoon. Nights drop well below freezing, which means icy patches in the early morning, especially on the hilly streets of the old downtown.

The light is the other thing you plan around. Daylight is short, and the sun stays low, so the day feels like one long morning that slides into dusk. Plan outdoor time for the middle of the day and keep the evenings for restaurants, bars and museums.

Dress in layers: a warm base, an insulating middle layer and a waterproof shell, plus boots with grip. Damp cold feels sharper than the thermometer suggests, and a hat and gloves earn their place even for short walks.

What to do in Juneau in December

December in Juneau is about wandering a small, hilly capital that belongs to its residents again. The cruise crowds that flood the waterfront from May through September are gone, and the shops, galleries and cafés along Franklin Street and Seward Street feel like a neighborhood. Holiday lights, wreaths and the smell of coffee and baked goods set the tone, and a walk downtown ends easily in a warm bar or a bowl of chowder.

Juneau has no road connection to the rest of Alaska or the contiguous United States, so the town feels like an island community in winter, with everything arriving by plane or boat. That isolation shapes the mood: people know each other, and winter is spent indoors with friends, at concerts, at the theater and at community events around the holidays.

Mendenhall Glacier in winter

Mendenhall Glacier lies about 12 miles from downtown and is about 13.6 miles long. The glacier and its surroundings are protected within the 5,815-acre Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, part of the Tongass National Forest. In December the landscape turns quiet and white, and the blue of the ice stands out against snow-covered ground and dark spruce.

Midday is the best window, when the light is brightest and the low sun rakes across the ice. Dress for wind and wet, since the cold is more biting near the glacier than in town. You may find the area nearly empty, which gives the place a stillness that summer visitors never see.

The Goldbelt Tram and the view over the channel

The Goldbelt Tram starts at 490 S. Franklin Street, on the downtown waterfront, and its cars rise 1,800 feet through the rain forest to the Mountain House. From the top, you get panoramic views of Juneau and the Gastineau Channel. In December, expect a view of snowy slopes and the lights of town below, if the clouds allow.

Weather decides whether this is worth doing, since low cloud can hide the channel entirely. A clearer, colder day gives the best chance of a wide view. Dress warmly, because the air at the top is colder than on the waterfront.

Glacier Gardens and the rain forest

Glacier Gardens is known for its Flower Towers, upside-down trees turned into living sculptures with cascading blooms. Its Rainforest Adventure Tours use 18-passenger golf carts along a two-mile path through the Tongass National Forest, with panoramic views of Mendenhall Valley and the Chilkat Mountains at the top.

In winter, the garden is a different place from its summer self, with the forest under snow and the flowers out of season. It suits travelers curious about the temperate rain forest as it looks in the cold months. Wear waterproof boots, since paths can be wet or snowy.

Juneau’s seaplane base and busy airport remind you how much of Alaska is reached by air, and watching floatplanes and small aircraft come and go can be a pleasant way to spend a cold half hour.

A two-day itinerary for Juneau in December

Day 1 starts downtown, where the short daylight rewards an unhurried morning. Have coffee and a pastry on Franklin Street, then walk the waterfront and the old streets while the light is best. Head to the Goldbelt Tram for the view over the channel, keeping the hours around midday for it since clouds often lift then.

In the afternoon, wander the galleries and shops, then settle into a chowder or seafood lunch. As the light fades, move indoors to a bar or a restaurant for a long dinner. If rain or wet snow sets in, trade the tram for museums and bookshops.

Day 2 belongs to the glacier. Aim to reach Mendenhall Glacier for the middle of the day, when the light is highest, and spend the time looking at the ice, the lake and the snowy forest around it. Dress for wind and damp.

Return toward the valley for Glacier Gardens in the afternoon, either on foot among the Flower Towers or on a Rainforest Adventure Tour. Finish with a quiet dinner in town. If the weather turns, the garden’s covered areas and downtown cafés are the fallback.

Is Juneau busy in December?

No, December is one of the quietest times in Juneau, a stark contrast to the months of May through September when 16,000 people or more can arrive daily from cruise ships.

Without the summer influx, the waterfront and the main streets have a local feel, and you share the sidewalks mostly with residents. The pace is slower, and the days are short, so the town winds down early in the evening. Because Juneau is the state capital, a share of the people around you in winter are likely to be there for work.

What to pack for Juneau in December

Pack for cold, wet and slippery conditions, with layers you can add or remove between outdoor walks and warm interiors.

A waterproof shell, because precipitation falls on about every other day.
Insulating layers, since highs stay near freezing and nights are colder.
Waterproof boots with good grip for slush and icy sidewalks.
A warm hat and gloves for the wind near the glacier and at the top of the tram.
A headlamp or small flashlight for the early dark.

Good to know before you go

Daylight is the main thing to plan around, with only about six and a half hours of it in mid-December. Put the outdoor sights in the middle of the day and leave the evenings for indoor plans. Juneau has no road to the rest of Alaska or the lower 48, so you arrive by air or by boat, and the airport’s long runway handles the steady stream of flights.

Juneau in December vs November and January

Moving the trip earlier to November gives you more daylight, nearly eight hours in mid-month, and slightly milder air, though it also brings damp days with less snow on the ground. The town is quiet in both months, but November has less of the winter-holiday feel and less snow for the glacier and the forest.

Moving to January gives you somewhat more daylight than mid-December and the deepest snow of the three months, with the coldest air. The holiday lights come down, and the town settles into its quietest stretch of winter.

If you want Christmas atmosphere and snow, stay with December. If you want longer days for outdoor time, November suits you better. If you want the most snow and do not mind the cold, January is the choice.

Is December a good time to visit Juneau?

Yes, for travelers who like cold, quiet places and are happy to build the day around a short window of light. December suits people who want a small capital city with the cruise crowds gone, a snowy glacier and a holiday mood in the streets.

It is a poorer fit for anyone who wants long days outdoors, warm weather or a packed schedule of sightseeing. The days are short, the air is raw and the rain or wet snow can turn a plan around.

On arrival, use the first clear stretch of daylight for the glacier or the tram, and save the indoor plans for the evenings. What makes December in Juneau special is the stillness: a mountain-ringed town in snow, lights on early, and the waterfront left to the people who live there.

Sources

NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, monthly (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00025309), station Juneau Intl Ap, elevation 16 feet, checked October 11, 2026
Computed from the date and the latitude of the place (sunrise equation, solar elevation -0.833 degrees), October 11, 2026
Wikipedia, Juneau, Alaska (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneau,_Alaska), checked October 11, 2026
Wikipedia, Juneau International Airport (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneau_International_Airport), checked October 11, 2026
Goldbelt Tram, Juneau (https://mountrobertstramway.com/), checked October 11, 2026
Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure, Juneau (https://www.glaciergardens.com/), checked October 11, 2026
Wikipedia, Mendenhall Glacier (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendenhall_Glacier), checked October 11, 2026
Wikipedia, Climate of Alaska (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Alaska), checked October 11, 2026