Juneau

About 10 miles from downtown Juneau and surrounded by wilderness, Auke Bay seems pretty remote. “It's not as far away from everything as people say,” says Debbie White, a local and the Owner of Southeast Alaska Real Estate. “You’re not that far from the Mendenhall Valley, only a couple of miles east. For the maritime community, the biggest harbor is here in Auke Bay, and the ferry station is west of the neighborhood. We also have a microbrewery and multiple restaurants.” This small area is home to fishermen, retirees and anyone seeking the Alaskan lifestyle, where nature is often only a few paces from the house. The Boundary Ranges offer hiking trails north of the neighborhood, and the southern bay is popular for water sports. Plus, the water offers scenic views and occasional wildlife. “We get the best sunsets in Juneau,” says White, “and I’ve seen orcas 50 feet from the beach.” Most residents keep boats in Auke Bay’s central harbor, and fishing is a large part of this community. Common salmon include coho, sockeye chum and pink; trouts are rainbow, Dolly Varden and cutthroat. Besides the fish, eagles fly above the pines, and sea lions often bark along the shoreline. The Auke Recreation Area is on this shoreline, too, about 3 miles west of the neighborhood. It offers waterside picnics, forested campgrounds and a gray-sanded beach. The bay also feeds into Auke Lake, a 160-acre watershed near the harbor. The snowy peaks of the Boundary Ranges tower are in the background and the University of Alaska Southeast is on the lake’s western side. Mendenhall Lake is northeast of Auke Bay in the Mendenhall Valley. The Mendenhall Glacier feeds into it, and, using a 6-mile trail, visitors can hike right up to it. If the local trails aren’t enough, the Tongass National Forest covers about 17 million acres in Juneau and the Alexander Archipelago. This area offers over 100 campgrounds, and hunting is permitted. To celebrate New Year’s Day, hundreds of Juneaua residents jump into the freezing cold bay. This Polar Bear Dip, an annual tradition of over 30 years, sometimes takes place in deep snow, but that doesn’t stop people from taking the plunge. Berry season runs from August to September, and it’s common to see drivers pulled over, a basket in hand; they pluck bushes full of blueberries, salmon berries and blackberries. The July 4th fireworks are another popular event, in addition to the parade in Downtown Juneau. Most homes are on the west side of the neighborhood, past the harbor and just off the Glacier Highway. Along short gravel roads with lots of tree cover, they have sizeable lots and two stories. Properties on the south side of the freeway have front-facing views of the bay, and they often have shoreline access for sunset viewing. Properties on the north side might have views at higher elevations, but they’re often blocked by pines. While most home prices aren’t reported in Alaska, they start around $800,000 and reach over $1 million as of June 2024. Higher-end listings have clearer views, and interiors are updated from late-20th-century build dates. Properties don’t go up for sale often, but when they do, they might sit for a while. The average home sells after 55 days on the market, compared to the national average of 44 days. Apartments and condos are available for rent closer to the bay. Just north of the harbor, Auke Bay Elementary serves kindergarten through sixth grade. Niche gives it an A-minus and ranks it as their No. 32 best public elementary school in Alaska, ahead of 196 others. While kids in Auke Bay can walk to this school, they likely bus to their middle and high schools. Thunder Mountain Middle is about 3 miles east in the Mendenhall Valley, and it serves grades seven and eight. It used to be a high school, but due to funding changes for the 2024-2025 year, all of Juneau’s middle schools have been merged to this location. Previously, it got an A from Niche and ranked as the third-best public high school in Alaska. Juneau-Douglas High is now the main option, and it’s 10 miles south in Downtown Juneau. This school gets an A-minus and ranks No. 16 on the same list. An alternative for kindergarten through eighth grade, Juneau Community Charter School is also downtown, and it’s run by an elected committee of parents and teachers. It gets an A-minus. The University of Alaska Southeast is a public university next to the Auke Bay harbor, and it has over 40 degree programs. These include Outdoor & Adventure Studies, Alaska Native Language & Studies and Marine Biology. Of the handful of restaurants in Auke Bay, Chan’s Thai Kitchen is one of Debbie White’s favorites. “My husband and I have a standing order,” she says. “I call and ask the owner, Curtis, if he can make our dinner. He knows us because we’ve been so many times. Then we pick it up and take it on the boat.” The Auke Bay Café is nearby for breakfast, and it has a close-knit setting with a few tables. Forbidden Peak Brewery has a fire pit with views of the harbor; it shares the building with Red Spruce, a global street food place. Another multiuse space, De Hart’s is a combined liquor and grocery store on the water. A Safeway and the Super Bear IGA Supermarket are about 3 miles east for bigger trips. The latter is part of the Mendenhall Mall, which has more restaurants and shops, such as Nugget Alaskan Outfitter. Other commercial options are about 10 miles south in Downtown Juneau, but these spots are busy with tourists in the summertime. Since neighboring towns are spread out along the coast, residents likely need a car. Snow tires and four-wheel drive are recommended, as this area can get over 300 inches of snow. The Glacier Highway is the main thoroughfare in Auke Bay, and the City of Juneau includes it as part of their 250 lane miles of maintained roads. Juneau International Airport is 3 miles east on this road and Downtown Juneau is 7 miles farther. Alternatively, residents might also keep a boat in Auke Bay’s harbor and use it to get around the archipelago. These waterways are also connected by a ferry route known as the Alaskan Marine Highway. It covers 3,500 miles of coastline and connects over 30 communities in the state. A five-hour, northbound ferry can get weekenders to Skagway, home of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park. Glacier Bay National Park is accessible via these ferries or a seaplane, and it’s about 110 miles northwest of Auke Bay.

Back Loop is in the northern reaches of the Mendenhall Valley, Juneau’s most populated neighborhood. “As you drive into Back Loop, you go into winding subdivisions,” says PeggyAnn McConochie, a resident since 1980 and a real estate consultant with ACH Consulting. “It’s a transition zone from close-together lawns and narrow streets. You have more room there. The valley has 8,000 or 10,000-foot lots, a typical size for Juneau, but Back Loop can go above that.” This spacious neighborhood is largely forested, and wildlife is a common sight. With Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall Glacier just east, opportunities to hike, fish and kayak are close to the house. This neighborhood is on the back side of Mendenhall Loop Road — hence Back Loop — and this route goes all the way around the valley. While this northern side of the loop is secluded, more rural areas are west of the ferry terminal in Auke Bay, colloquially known as “out the road." Back Loop is within walking distance of the Mendenhall Glacier, one of the biggest attractions in Juneau. It’s the only glacier in Alaska accessible by road, and about 500,000 tourists arrive every year to see its blue-white ice. This giant carved out the valley over 3,000 years ago, and it’s still trickling into Mendenhall Lake and River today. Along the neighborhood’s east side, the lake has trails that lead up to the glacier, and its Mendenhall Campground has 70 campsites with mountain views. The Alaskan Boundary Ranges rise over the neighborhood and the rest of the valley, and some peaks have connected trails. One of these, Mount McGinnis, has a 10-mile out-and-back with over 4,000 feet of elevation gain. On the neighborhood’s west side, Juneau Community Garden is the largest and oldest community garden in the city, and its annual harvest fair is open to the public. These areas intersect with Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the United States. It covers around 17 million acres around Juneau and southeast Alaska. Some of the biggest draws here are forested lots and lake access; waterside trails are walkable from the easternmost homes, and paths through the national forest are just north. Most of the neighborhood is made up of the Montana Creek subdivision, where homes typically have two stories and about 2,000 square feet. They were built after 1990, and new construction is ongoing as of July 2024. “It’s difficult to nail down a price range since the market is always changing,” says McConochie. “Large single-family homes are rarely lakefront, and townhomes have zero lot lines, where two single-family homes share a wall. They all range from $400,000 to $1 million. Some new condos are being built later in 2024, and they’re slated to be above $750,000.” While new construction may change the market’s availability, properties aren’t up for sale often. Some homeowners might hear construction noise from heavy machinery, as a gravel distribution center is along the neighborhood’s northern side. Trash should also be secured since bears can wander in from the Tongass National Forest. However, utilities aren’t as much of a hassle as the more rural parts of Juneau. “The advantage of living here is that you still have city water and sewer,” says McConochie. “If you’re going out the road, putting in a well or septic system is expensive and requires maintenance. You don’t have to deal with that in Back Loop.” About 3 miles from the valley’s commercial hub, Back Loop has access to some of Juneau’s only malls. The Mendenhall Mall is home to Nugget Alaskan Outfitter and Super Bear IGA Supermarket. McGivney’s Sports Bar & Grill is also here for a local hangout, and Sandbar is just west on the Glacier Highway. Nugget Mall is about a mile south of this area, and its department stores include Sportsman’s Warehouse, Petco and JOANN Fabric and Crafts. Juneau’s biggest location of Breeze-In is nearby; this convenience store is also a restaurant, serving sandwiches and baked goods. For more options, Downtown Juneau is about 13 miles south of Back Loop. Downtown Juneau gets more than a million visitors to its shops and restaurants every year, and can get crowded during the summer tourist season. About 3 miles west on Mendenhall Loop Road, Auke Bay hosts several events throughout the year. The Juneau Polar Bear Dip is an unofficial tradition of over 30 years, and it’s held on the shoreline of Auke Recreation Area. Hundreds of locals jump into the bay’s frigid waters to ring in the New Year, despite snow and ice. The Golden North Salmon Derby is a three-day contest in August that attracts fishermen from across the States. It’s been going since 1947, and the biggest fish ever caught were 59 pounds. Berry season runs from August to September, and locals often pull to the side of the road to pluck them. Downtown Juneau has additional events with more tourists, such as the July Fourth Parade and Capital Brewfest. Auke Bay Elementary is about 3 miles west of Back Loop, and bus service is available. It serves kindergarten through sixth grade and gets an A-minus from Niche. Buses also run to Thunder Mountain Middle, toward the center of the valley. This former high school got an A from Niche and ranked as their third-best public high school in the state. Juneau-Douglas High is A-minus-rated in Downtown Juneau, and it’s roughly a 13-mile bus ride from Back Loop. Juneau-Douglas High is within walking distance of the Gastineau Channel, a water route known for its whale sightings. An alternative for kindergarten through eighth grade, Juneau Community Charter receives an A-minus from Niche. School funding has changed for the 2024-2025 school year, and it’s uncertain which of Juneau’s schools will remain open. Parents should check with Juneau-Borough School District for current updates. Unlike most residential areas of the valley, Back Loop’s streets are wide and have sidewalks. This small neighborhood can be explored on foot, and bikers won’t have much through traffic. Juneau is pretty spread out, though, and most people drive. Mendenhall Loop Road connects this neighborhood to the rest of the valley and the Glacier Highway, a north-south route that follows the coast of Juneau. Driving west on this route, the Auke Bay ferry terminal provides access to the Alaskan Marine Highway, a water route that links over 30 communities in Alaska. The Juneau International Airport is on the south side of the valley, about 5 miles from Back Loop. Downtown Juneau is about 13 miles south of the neighborhood via the Glacier Highway.

Across the bridge from busy Downtown Juneau, Douglas is where the locals go. “It’s less frequented by tourists,” says Gwen Place, a Juneau resident since the 1980s and an Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker since 2005. “They might go to the island for the mining history, but it’s quieter and slower over here. Downtown has turned into more of a city, but Douglas still has that small, local feel.” This little community, once home to the biggest gold mine in Alaska, is on the southeastern coast of Douglas Island. To the north, the Gastineau Channel is known for whale-watching and cruise ships, and the town’s harbor feeds right into it; the snowy peaks of the Alaskan Boundary Ranges tower above the water. To the south, the Tongass National Forest covers the hills, and the center of the island has even more peaks. Bears and eagles are among the many different species in this area, and they might even wander into town. A part of the larger City and Borough of Juneau, this area is only accessible by plane or boat, and it can get over 300 inches of snow. Savikko Park is on the east side of Douglas, and it’s the former home of the Alaska Mill & Mining Company. It’s also the home of Sandy Beach, one of the only beaches in Juneau. “The miners brought in sand in the 1930s because it’s not something we have in southeast Alaska,” says Place. “They also built a natatorium, an outdoor tile pool. You can still find pieces of it on the beach.” Right on the Gastineau Channel, the old pump house peaks out of the water, and the beach connects to the Treadwell Historic Trail. Hikers can see the main office building and other mining ruins, in addition to the Glory Hole. This basin was once the entrance into the mine shafts, and after a flood in 1917, now it has a waterfall. For a more strenuous route, the trailhead to Mount Jumbo is nearby, and it leads 6 miles up to views of the town below. Treadwell Ice Arena is also in the park, and it’s an indoor facility with classes for hockey and figure skating. On the park’s west side, Douglas Harbor is a popular place to keep boats, and fishing is common in the island’s many waterways. This area can get over 300 inches of snow in winter, so skiing is another typical hobby. Eaglecrest Ski Area is in the middle of Douglas Island, and it’s a 13-mile car ride. These mountains have over 600 acres of slopes, and the Winter Fireworks Spectacular is held here in February. Plus, the Tongass National Forest protects most of the island and Juneau overall; it has over 17 million acres and hundreds of campgrounds. About 1.3 million tourists visit the shops and restaurants in Downtown Juneau every year, and it’s especially crowded in the summer. These crowds share the space with Douglas locals, who venture into town for work or community events. Centennial Hall hosts the Juneau Public Market on Thanksgiving weekend, and its vendors sell crafts, food and other Alaskan-made products. Compared to Douglas’ few bars, there are more nightlife options here, and they often host open mics; the Alaskan Hotel & Bar and the Crystal Saloon are just some examples. These restaurants come together for Capital City Brewfest, a beer sampling event in September. The Juneau Marathon runs through downtown in July, and Douglas Island hosts a half-marathon on the same weekend. With more locals in attendance, Douglas hosts its own parties at Savikko Park. Juneau Gold Rush Days is a mining and logging celebration with vendors and fair food. Competitions include log rolling, axe throwing, speed climbing and spike driving, and they cater to both kids and adults. The Douglas Fourth of July Committee puts together a parade every year, too, and it’s separate from the one in downtown Juneau. After the parade ends, the park has a sand castle building contest and a firehose race. Firefighters compete to see who can deploy their hose lines fastest, and the losers risk getting sprayed down. Santa Claus hitches a ride on their firetrucks in December when another parade goes from Downtown Juneau to Douglas. With nature on all sides, homes typically have views of the mountains or the channel. These panoramas are supplemented by large porches and windows in many cases. They were mostly built in the 1980s and 1990s, and they usually have two stories. Southernmost properties are likely on a hillside; lots back up to a pine forest and might overlook the water. Northernmost properties are closest to shore, and cruise ships pass by often. Views and square footage can increase prices, but these numbers aren’t disclosed in Alaska. Listings are between $650,000 and $950,000 as of July 2024. Condos are scattered around town, too. They’re not often on the channel, but they probably have views of the surrounding mountains. They’re around $200,000 as of July 2024. With this high-demand area, though, properties don’t go up for sale often. While most commercial options are across the bridge into Downtown Juneau, Douglas has a few local hangouts. The Island Pub is a bar and grill that overlooks the channel, and it specializes in pizza, salads and wraps. Louie’s Douglas Inn is a couple of blocks away, and it was completely remodeled in 2014. In addition to an outdoor patio, they now have free billiards every Monday and a Sunday brunch. Perseverance Theatre is across 3rd Street; since this nonprofit’s founding in 1979, it’s become the largest professional theater in Alaska and has served over 17,000 people. Performances change every year, and they’re produced by Alaskan locals. Also along 3rd Street, the Douglas Community Building houses the fire station and library, and a post office is nearby. A gas station and convenience store are also accessible, so trips into Downtown Juneau can be rare. The island’s only school, Sayéik: Gastineau Community School is on the west side of Douglas. It serves kindergarten through sixth grade and gets a B-minus from Niche. About 10 miles up the coast, Thunder Mountain Middle serves grades seven and eight. It was an A-rated high school before the 2024-2025 school year; funding changes have merged all of Juneau’s middle schools to this location. Bus service is available. Buses are also used for the 3-mile trip to Juneau-Douglas High, across the island’s bridge to downtown Juneau. This school gets an A-minus from Niche and ranks as No. 16 for Alaska, ahead of 117 others. Juneau Community Charter School is in downtown Juneau, too, and gives an alternative for kindergarten through eighth grade. It also gets an A-minus; its student-teacher ratio is 14 to 1, better than the state average of 17 to 1. Douglas is only four blocks at its widest point, so people walk or bike around town. Residents can drive to access Downtown Juneau, though, and 3rd Street is the only route there. Moving west past Lawson Creek, this thoroughfare becomes the Douglas Highway and wraps around the coast of the island. The Juneau-Douglas Bridge is along this route, and it’s about 2 miles from Douglas; Downtown Juneau is a half-mile across the bridge on the other side of the Gastineau Channel. Capital Transit buses go through downtown and up the Glacier Highway, which runs north along the coast. Tourists might crowd these buses in the summer months, but early morning service isn’t as busy. Taxis and Ubers provide alternatives. The Mendenhall Valley is about 10 miles north along this highway, and it hosts Juneau International Airport. About 15 miles north of downtown, Auke Bay is Juneau’s only access point for the ferry system. This system — also called the Alaska Marine Highway — connects over 30 communities in Alaska and spans over 3,500 miles.

The modest state capital of Alaska, Downtown Juneau has 3,600 full-time residents but draws over 1.3 million tourists each year to its shops and restaurants. Those who live here year-round are often in the northern part of the neighborhood, away from the southernmost historic district; they might work government or hospitality jobs. This harbor town is right on the Gastineau Channel, and it’s surrounded by the Alaskan Boundary Ranges; scenic views pan in all directions. Douglas Island is on the other side of the channel, across the Juneau-Douglas Bridge, and most land is protected by Tongass National Forest. However, Downtown Juneau is only accessible via planes and boats: groceries are transported on barges, and cars have to be shipped. This remoteness is worth it for many locals. “If you get a sunny day, it’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever been,” says Gwen Place, a Juneau resident since the 1980s and an Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker since 2005. “It sparkles. The sky is deep blue, and the water is emerald green. Bald eagles fly around you, and bears romp in the fields. The salmon and whales swim in the channel. But if you move here, it rains 240 days a year. It’s beautiful in the rain, too, but it’s different.” Some buildings in the historic district have been around since the early 1900s, such as the Alaskan Hotel & Bar. Built in 1913, this is the oldest operating hotel in Juneau, and it still has a Victorian-style interior. Tourists and locals frequent these landmarks and accompanying restaurants, some of which are right on the channel. The Hangar on the Wharf is one example, and it’s a converted airplane hangar with waterside views. While sipping some of its 20-plus beers, cruise ships and occasional whales can be seen from its large windows. Tracy’s King Crab Shack has a similar view, just south along the channel, and it has communal seating. Next to Franklin Street bars and breweries, gift shops include Caribou Crossings and Alaska Juneau Mining Company. Rainbow Foods has organic produce in the northern portion of downtown, and Foodland IGA has groceries in the south. Alaska State Museum is nearby, and it specializes in native culture and natural history. Next door, Centennial Hall Convention Center has 17,000 square feet of rentable space and hosts many of the area’s events. Held at Centennial Hall, the Juneau Public Market is a trade show on Thanksgiving weekend, and its vendors sell Alaska Native arts, outdoor gear, gourmet chocolate and other products. In September, this space hosts a costuming show called Wearable Art Extravaganza, and the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council alters the theme every year. Capital Brewfest happens in September, too, and it’s been a Franklin Street staple since 2010. Bars also host local bands and open mics throughout the year, especially when the tourists arrive in the summer. Berry season runs from August to September, so on the outskirts of town, locals often pull cars over and pluck bushes. Downtown Juneau lies at the base of the Alaskan Boundary Ranges, and trailheads are often a short walk from the house. In the northern part of this neighborhood, the Golden Creek Flume Trail is a milelong out-and-back, featuring several boardwalks through pine forests. The Perseverance Trail runs for about 5 miles through the hills and has more elevation gain. For an even greater challenge, trails to Mounts Juneau and Roberts are about 7 miles a piece; they have panoramic views of the Gastineau Channel, downtown and Douglas Island’s mountains. Upstream from the Golden Creek Flume Trail, Cope Park has additional paths and courts for tennis and pickleball. This green space also has a disc golf course and a fenced-in dog park, among many other amenities. While it’s often a frequent destination for tourists, the Mendenhall Glacier is about 10 miles north of town, and locals can hike around an ice-fed lake. The Tongass National Forest, totaling over 17 million acres, covers most of Juneau and the Alexander Archipelago. Licensed hunting and fishing are permitted throughout, and campgrounds are available. Single-family homes are north of the historic district. “I’d say about 60% of properties are houses,” says Place. “They’re owned by people that have been here for a long time, usually families. They might pass it down to their kids or their grandkids.” They’re usually compact two-stories from the early 1900s, and they feature siding facades and low-pitched roofs. They’re backgrounded by mountains in any case, but homes closer to downtown are on flatter ground. While home prices aren’t published in Alaska, these small homes are listed for around $275,000, and they typically have two bedrooms. Northernmost homes are typically on hills that overlook the town and the channel. They have an increased risk of landslides and avalanches, and they’re not as walkable to downtown. However, these properties usually have more square footage and renovations. These higher-end homes are listed between $800,000 and $900,000. “The other 40% of properties are condos and apartments,” says Place. “That covers the 7,000 people that move here every summer for tourism.” These part-timers are likely on the south side of town, nearest the historic district. While most families live in the Mendenhall Valley and Douglas Island, Harborview Elementary serves about 300 students downtown. This school receives a B-minus from Niche; it has a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1, lower than the national average of 17 to 1. Thunder Mountain Middle is about 9 miles north into the Valley and was previously an A-rated high school. Due to funding changes in 2024, all of Juneau’s middle schools were merged to this location, and it now serves grades seven and eight. While students have to bus or carpool to this campus, Juneau-Douglas High is walkable in downtown. Niche gives it an A-minus and ranks in the top 20 high schools for Alaska. Juneau Community Charter School is an alternative for kindergarten through eighth grade, and this downtown school gets an A-minus as well. Unlike most other communities in Juneau, downtown isn’t necessarily car-dependent. Its historic district is only about 10 city blocks, and surrounding neighborhoods are even smaller. As a result, about 43% of locals walk or bike to work, according to a 2014 survey from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. This rate is 35% higher than the rest of Juneau. For trips into the Mendenhall Valley, Capital Transit has a bus route that goes about 10 miles north, and it follows the Glacier Highway along the coast. “If you’re on the 6 a.m. bus to work, it probably won’t be crowded with tourists,” says Place. “If you’re on the 4 p.m. bus home, that’s a different story.” As an alternative, longtime locals might ship a car here for convenience. Ferries connect over 30 communities in the Alexander Archipelago, and this 3,500-mile route is called the Alaskan Marine Highway. However, the only way to access the ferry is the terminal in Auke Bay, and it’s about 15 miles north of Juneau. Taxis, Ubers and Capital Transit buses are available. The Juneau International Airport is about 5 miles south of the terminal, and its commercial planes fly to the Lower 48.

Lemon Creek is a midpoint between the most populated and most visited neighborhoods in Juneau. “The good thing about Lemon Creek is that you’re 10 minutes south of Mendenhall Valley and 10 minutes north of Downtown Juneau,” says PeggyAnn McConochie, a resident since 1980 and a real estate consultant with ACH Consulting. “People come in from Skagway, Haines and other communities to shop here. We have the smallest Costco in the country and a Western Auto Marine. It’s a bigger version of a Dick’s Sporting Goods or a Bass Pro Shops, and people love it.” Most residents work in the industrial area where these shops are located. The namesake Lemon Creek separates this zone from northern residential; along the neighborhood’s west side, the Glacier Highway connects this community to the rest of the coast. Thunder Mountain towers above this community, and its subtle booms can sometimes be heard below. “In the spring, as the snow starts to melt, the mountain gets flights of snow that break off and sound like thunder,” says McConochie. “It scares some people, but I think it’s beautiful.” Actual storms are a factor here, too, but they’re more wet and foggy: Lemon Creek gets the most rain in Juneau. A marshy section of the Gastineau Channel, the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge runs along the neighborhood’s south side. Its 4,000 acres are known for birding, especially during spring and fall migrations. North of the neighborhood, the Alaskan Boundary Ranges have hiking trails with views of the water below. Lemon Creek Trail starts in the industrial district and winds about 4 miles into the hills, eventually meeting up with the namesake creek. Starting west of the neighborhood, the Heintzleman Ridge Trail is about 10 miles of steep elevation, and it offers views of the green wetlands, snowy mountains and seasonal wildflowers. These trails enter Tongass National Forest, a rainforest that covers most of Juneau and the Alexander Archipelago. While it’s geared toward tourists, Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure is about 2 miles west of Lemon Creek. This botanical garden has over 50 acres of plants, and its lookouts have panoramic views of Juneau. Lemon Creek’s stores are usually a short drive from the house, and they border Tongass National Forest to the east. Centered on Commercial Boulevard, Costco is a popular grocer here for bulk products, and Home Depot is in the next parking lot over. Alaskan Brewing Co., in business since 1986, is nearby for handcrafted beer and uses recipes that are over 100 years old. On the west side of this district, Breeze-In is a convenience store and grab-and-go bakery chain, and this is the largest location in the city. Most of this area, though, is made up of industrial warehouses and storage facilities. The city’s landfill is in the southwest corner of this district and can smell on hot days, and it sometimes attracts wildlife. “If you live in Lemon Creek, you get to see who I call Fred,” says McConochie. “He’s the biggest bald eagle I’ve ever seen, and he sits next to the entrance to the dump. He’s always looking for something to eat.” This landfill will expire in the next 20 years, though, and it's unclear how the land will be used in the future. Shoppers can find additional options in Mendenhall Valley, about 5 miles west. Its Mendenhall and Nugget Malls have sports outfitters and department stores. This town’s diners, such as Donna’s Restaurant and Valley Restaurant, have been around for 25 years or more. Downtown Juneau has more shops and restaurants, and it’s about 5 miles from Lemon Creek. This historic district is usually packed in the summertime, and as the center for Juneau’s tourism, it gets over a million visitors annually. The majority of the neighborhood is single-family housing. Though these properties are mostly on flat ground, they have views of the surrounding mountains, and central homes have views of the creek. These properties with views of the creek are also closest to the industrial area in the south, and easternmost homes are nearest the Lemon Creek Correctional Center. In most cases, houses feature siding and low-pitched roofs, and backyards are fenced-in with pines and other trees. Many people have boats in Juneau, and there’s no homeowners association here; trailers are often parked in paved or gravel driveways. Sold housing prices aren’t disclosed in Alaska, but there are several current listings as of July 2024. Single-family homes range from $475,000 to $550,000. On the neighborhood’s west side, manufactured homes range from $120,000 to $350,000; they typically have two or three bedrooms. Apartments are scattered around town, too. Whatever the property type, they likely sell fast, as the average time-on-market is just six days. This is much quicker than the national average of 43 days. Logistics-wise, bears and other critters are known to investigate trash, so waste bins should be locked up. Most elementary schools are about 5 miles west into Mendenhall Valley, and they serve kindergarten through sixth grade. Formerly known as Riverbend Elementary, Kax̱dig̱oowu Héen Elementary is on the south side of the valley, and Niche gives it a B-minus. Sítʼ Eetí Shaanáx̱ - Glacier Valley School is another elementary; it's about a mile northeast and gets the same rating. Along its namesake river, Mendenhall River Community School is the northernmost elementary and gets another B-minus. Thunder Mountain Middle is in the southern part of the valley and serves seventh and eighth grades. Before it was converted to a middle school, this former high school received an A and ranked in the top 5 public high schools in Alaska. Now students can bus about 5 miles south into Downtown Juneau and attend Juneau-Douglas High. It gets an A-minus. Due to funding changes for the 2024-2025 school year, some campuses may close in the future. It’s best to check with the Juneau-Borough School District for updates. Lemon Creek doesn’t have many events, but residents can visit Downtown Juneau for a party. Bars and restaurants host frequent karaoke and open mic nights in the summertime, and live music is common. In September, area breweries have a beer sampling event called Capital Brewfest, and it supports the local Rotary Club. A parade comes to town on the Fourth of July; it continues across the Gastineau Channel and onto Douglas Island. Competitions include sand castle building and a hose race, where firefighters compete to unfurl their hose before water arrives. Lemon Creek is a pretty small neighborhood, only a couple of miles from its northernmost and southernmost points. In the northern residential area, people often walk dogs and bike around the wide streets, as they don’t get much through traffic. Cars travel more in the industrial district, but this area’s thoroughfares, the Glacier Highway and Commercial Boulevard, have sidewalks. Homeowners can walk across the creek’s bridge and along these sidewalks, so they don’t have to drive to area shops. If they work here, they don’t have much of a commute. Some people work in Mendenhall Valley or Downtown Juneau, though. These areas are about 5 miles north and south on the Glacier Highway respectively, and car travel is the quickest option. The Juneau International Airport is on the south side of Mendenhall Valley, too, and the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal is about 10 miles west of Lemon Creek. This terminal is Juneau’s only access point to the Alaskan Marine Highway, a water route that connects over 30 towns in Alaska. Capital Transit buses operate to the terminal and other locations along the highway; Lemon Creek has a station on the west side of town.

About three thousand years ago, the Mendenhall Glacier slowly shed its ice and pushed north through the Alaskan Boundary Ranges. Mendenhall Valley was the result of that process, and it’s still being carved out of the rock today. The neighborhood has changed since the Little Ice Age, though, and now a majority of Juneau’s 32,000 full-time residents live here. “The valley is what you’d call in-your-face beauty,” says PeggyAnn McConochie, a resident since 1980 and a real estate consultant with ACH Consulting. “There’s nowhere you can stand where it’s not gobsmackingly gorgeous, whether you’re looking at the glacier, the Mendenhall Lake or the Mendenhall River. We’ve got deer everywhere, and black bears usually come down from the mountains and visit. We get marmots, seals, river otters and porcupines, too.” The valley is surrounded by Tongass National Forest, and it’s just west of giant Thunder Mountain. In addition to this neighborhood’s parks and trails, it also has some of the most popular shopping and dining in the Alexander Archipelago. Its two malls differentiate it from more isolated parts of Juneau, where modern amenities aren't as common. Mendenhall Glacier attracts about 500,000 visitors per year, and it’s the only glacier in Alaska accessible by road. Making up the valley’s northern side, this blueish-white ice feeds into Mendenhall Lake and continues south into the Mendenhall River. The West Glacier Trail is on the lake’s west side, and it leads right up to the landmark. On the lake’s east side, the Nugget Falls Trail has more views and ends at a glacial waterfall. The south side of the neighborhood is mostly the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge; it’s about a 10-mile stretch of the Gastineau Channel, and its 4,000 acres are known for birding and waterfowl hunting. The area around the valley is otherwise protected by the Tongass National Forest, a rainforest that covers about 17 million acres in southeast Alaska. Within the valley, though, four neighborhood parks are walkable from most homes. Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park has Juneau’s first artificial grass field, and area schools use it for football, soccer and other sports. Dimond Park has a Pooh Bear-themed playground, in addition to an eight-lane swimming pool. Since the valley is the most populated area of Juneau, it has more shopping opportunities than the city’s more remote areas. Mendenhall Mall is on the valley’s south side, and it has Nugget Alaskan Outfitters and Super Bear IGA Supermarket. About a mile farther south, Nugget Mall has department stores such as Petco and JOANN Fabric and Crafts. Most restaurants are around these two malls. Donna’s Restaurant serves diner-style burgers, ice cream and all-day breakfast, and it’s been around since 1981. “The biscuits and gravy and Donna’s Favorite breakfast are what keep people coming back,” says Timos Giamakidis, the restaurant’s owner and a valley resident. “We have lifetime customers and lifetime staff.” Sandbar is nearby for a no-nonsense pub, with a sign that reads, "Famous For Absolutely Nothing." Reviewers say their fish and chips beg to differ. Downtown Juneau is about 10 miles south of the valley, and locals might work in this area. They might avoid it in the summertime, though, when this historic district gets about 1.3 million visitors. The main avenue, Franklin Street, has gift shops with Alaskan-made products and restaurants with channel views. Just west of this district, state government buildings sit next to museums and entertainment. Centennial Hall Convention Center hosts year-round events such as the Wearable Art Extravaganza and the Juneau Public Market; the Alaska State Museum has exhibits on native culture and natural science. While Downtown Juneau hosts most of the area’s events, Auke Bay has several get-togethers about 3 miles west of the valley. Boats launch out of this harborside neighborhood for the Golden North Salmon Derby, a three-day contest in August. This competition has been fierce since 1947, but the biggest fish — coming in at a whopping 59 pounds — were caught in 1957 and 1971. When the water’s a lot colder in late December, hundreds of people jump in the bay for the Juneau Polar Bear Dip. Some years have snow and ice, but the dip goes on regardless. In Downtown Juneau, Capital City Brewfest is a beer sampling event in September, and area breweries participate. The July Fourth parade and fireworks are a local favorite along Franklin Street, and festivities continue across the bridge onto Douglas Island. Here, at Sandy Beach, locals can participate in a sand-castle-building competition; firefighters compete in a hose race, where two teams compete to uncoil their hoses before the water arrives. Occasionally mixed with retail and hotels, single-family homes make up a majority of this market. They’re backgrounded by the Alaskan Boundary Ranges to the north and south, but some say the views aren’t as scenic as more elevated parts of Juneau. These properties usually have sizeable lots and simple siding exteriors, and they were typically built after 1960. “When my husband and I first came here in the 80s, the population was only about 15,000, and there were a lot fewer homes,” says McConochie. “Yards weren’t as well-maintained because the last thing people wanted to do on a sunny day was landscape. They wanted to get out on the boat. But now yards are more kept, and the neighborhood has a more suburban feeling.” Sold home prices aren’t disclosed in Alaska, but as of July 2024, there are several properties listed. Smaller homes start at $440,000, and bigger ones top out at $715,000. New builds by NLD Construction are scattered throughout this range, found in the northern and central parts of the neighborhood. Townhomes are nearby with similar square footage, and they’re between $400,000 and $425,000. Mobile homes are located throughout the neighborhood, and they're between $75,000 and $115,000. Apartments are also available. Whatever the home type, garbage will have to be secured, as the bears here are notorious dumpster divers. Juneau’s elementary schools now serve kindergarten through sixth grade, rather than kindergarten through fifth. This is due to funding changes for the 2024-2025 school year, and parents should check with the district for current updates. Kax̱dig̱oowu Héen Elementary, formerly known as Riverbend Elementary, is in the southern part of the valley and gets a B-minus from Niche. About a mile northeast, Sítʼ Eetí Shaanáx̱ - Glacier Valley School receives the same score. Mendenhall River Community School is nearest the neighborhood’s northern lake, and this elementary school gets another B-minus; about 80% of its teachers have been there for five or more years. In the southern part of the valley, Thunder Mountain Middle serves seventh and eighth grades. It used to be a high school and received an A from Niche, ranking in the top 5 public high schools statewide. Now the only high school in the area, Juneau-Douglas High is about 10 miles south in Downtown Juneau, and it gets an A-minus. The University of Alaska Southeast is about 3 miles west of the valley; in addition to its 40-plus degree programs, this scenic campus has views of Auke Lake. While residents could get by without a car, most people drive around the valley. Mendenhall Loop Road is the main north-south thoroughfare that connects many neighborhoods, while the Glacier Highway runs east to west along the coast. Also known as Egan Drive, this freeway has a bus system called Capital Transit, and it runs to Auke Bay and Downtown Juneau. The bus also runs to the ferry terminal in Auke Bay, about 5 miles west of the valley. It’s Juneau’s only access point for the Alaskan Marine Highway, which connects over 30 communities and 3,500 miles of waterways. Glacier Bay National Park is an occasional stop along this route, as the ferry lands here twice a week for most of the year. While seaplanes are available in Downtown Juneau, Juneau International Airport is on the south side of the valley. Commercial planes connect to the Lower 48 and other destinations in Alaska.