As the first cruise ship of the season, the Norwegian Bliss, is scheduled to arrive in Juneau on April 14, the US Forest Service said it is prepared to welcome thousands of visitors to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and surrounding recreation area that is managed by the federal agency.
The Forest Service has announced it is fully prepared for the influx of tourists, ensuring a high-quality experience at one of Southeast Alaska’s most visited natural landmarks.
In collaboration with local partners and organizations, the agency has developed a plan to maintain staff presence and visitor services, despite ongoing staffing challenges of having several employees laid off due to the Trump Administration’s goal of reducing government expenditures.
“Our goal is to maintain the unique and memorable experience visitors have come to expect by adapting to staffing changes and ensuring the area remains accessible and safe,” said Juneau District Ranger Michael Downs.
To support the plan, minor reductions have been made to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center’s typical summer hours of operation. Throughout April, the center will be open intermittently. Starting May 4, it will be open Sunday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm, and closed on Saturdays. However, the surrounding recreation area, including paths and trails, will continue to operate daily from 6 am to midnight.
A collaborative team, including Forest Service staff, Discovery Southeast employees, volunteers, and cultural representatives from the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida, will help manage the visitor center and grounds. Their responsibilities range from visitor safety and resource protection to education, crowd control, and support for tour operators. The team will also manage bear-human interactions and maintain the area’s trails, campsites, and facilities, Downs said.
While indoor restrooms will only be accessible during visitor center hours, five portable toilets in the recreation area will remain open 24/7. An additional bathroom near the parking area will be available from 8 am to 7 pm daily.
Staffing support will also come from across the Forest Service, including personnel from the Juneau Ranger District, the Tongass National Forest Supervisor’s Office, and the Alaska Regional Office.
The projected 1.7 million cruise ship passengers for Southeast Alaska in the summer of 2025 is expected to set a new record, surpassing the previous high of 1.65 million passengers recorded in 2023.
wondering who cares if the tourists have a bunch of useless federal employees to meet them. Let NCL take care of their charges
Yet KTOO says the sky is falling.
Another problem solved with less interference of big brother.
There won’t be any impact at all. Those laid off weren’t needed anyway as many would just stand around and do nothing. Tourists would be harassing bears and nothing would be done (this can be self correcting).
I hate to say this but if they cut the Forest Service budget then who will go around painting rocks green or harass recreationists trying to enjoy SE AK wilderness??? They long ago decided the ‘forest’ was theirs to enjoy on the taxpayer dime with all the fancy equipment and floating ‘research’ stations, kayaks, power boats, etc., etc., they have stashed away in the Tongass. Next up is the Park Service, an agency that definitely needs a haircut. So tired of completely uninformed outsiders ‘informing’ visitors all about our home state when there’s plenty of Alaskan’s that actually know what they are talking about who could do a better job. Perhaps they could hire locals instead of federal employees who somehow managed to get themselves a GS rating.