One of the targets of the Trump Administration has been cuts within the National Park Service, and that is going to likely impact the top tourist destination in Alaska's capital.
Juneau is a port of call that nearly every Royal Caribbean ship visits during the summer Alaska cruise season. The top destination is Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, home to a glacier thousands of tourists see each year.
About 700,000 visitors each year visit the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, according to the Juneau Visitor Circulator Study report that came out in February 2024. The city of Juneau expect more than 1.6 million people will visit the city by cruise ship this summer.
Unfortunately, the cut backs mean there could be major staffing issues resulting in impossible waits or delays.
The Juneau Convention & Visitors Bureau warned, "We don’t know at this time whether the visitors center or the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area will be open to the public, or how traffic and other visitor services will be managed."
How bad are the cuts? Recent Federal cuts have "trimmed staff at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center (MGVC) to a single person."
Why were all but one person fired from the park? The Trump Administration included it as part of their sweeping effort to reduce the size of the federal government workforce.
An executive order issued Feb. 11 read, in part: “Agency Heads shall promptly undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force (RIFs), consistent with applicable law.”
Impact a lack of staffing in the park could have
It's too early to know what impact these cuts will have for cruise ship passengers looking to visit the park.
The NPCA is an independent organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the National Park System. According to Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of Government Affairs for the NPCA, these cuts could result in:
- Potentially shorter visitor center hours and fewer activities
- Longer lines at park entrances
- Less maintained trails
- Closed campgrounds
- Limited access to other park amenities to prevent damage
- Seeing more trash because it can’t be collected as frequently
Juneau’s Visitor Industry Director Alix Pierce told KTOO the remaining park staff are trying to figure out exactly what will be different this year.
"Everybody has a lot of questions about what the next steps are," she said.
"I think the Forest Service staff that remain from what I understand are kind of in triage mode trying to figure out how to best allocate resources."
There are 260 independent businesses that are permitted by the Forest Service to run tours at the glacier, but they're concerned the glacier could be off-limits for the season.
What you can see and do in Mendenhall Glacier park
Viewing one of the most easily accessible glaciers is the main draw of the park, as glacier viewing is the top thing to do in Alaska.
Not only can you see the glacier by driving into the park, but you can take one of the many tours that bring you onto the glacier by helicopter.
There's also kayak tours and other means to get very close to it.
The park serves as a way for visitors to learn about Alaska's natural beauty.
There's a thirteen-mile-long river of ice that culminates on Mendenhall Lake, where you can watch blue icebergs floating by.
My favorite spot is Nuggets Falls, which requires a very leisurely hike to reach. You then get to see a beautiful waterfall with the glacier next to it.
The park is also known for offering various hiking trails of varying skill levels.
What you can do
Travel Juneau and the Juneau Convention & Visitors Bureau is asking everyone that is concerned about their ability to access parks like Mendenhall to speak to your representatives in Congress.
"Travel Juneau urges you to contact your federal delegation (senators and representatives) as soon as possible about reinstating critical funding to the US Forest Service," they said in a statement and to specify that this park falls under USDA/US Forest Service management.
