Outdoors Subscribers

Ten things to do in Juneau when the cruise ships leave

The shoulder season is when locals get the town back: quiet trails, open tables and the best light of the year.

By Gazette staff October 4, 2026 5-minute read

The last ship of the season sails in October, and the town exhales. Downtown sidewalks empty, parking gets easy and the mountains seem closer somehow. Shops that stayed open late all summer go back to normal hours, the float planes quiet down and the harbors fill with boats coming out of the water for the winter. This is the season locals wait for, and it is a fine time to visit if you pack a good raincoat. Here are ten ways to spend it.

1. Walk the trails you skipped all summer

A morning on Taku Inlet, before the fog lifted

Fog, seals and the face of a glacier at sunrise. Members read it first; everyone can read it a few days after it’s published.

Oct 6 · 4 min read

FeaturesSubscribers

Why the rain that soaks Juneau is good news for salmon

Southeast Alaska’s famous rain keeps streams cold, deep and full of oxygen, which is exactly what young salmon need.

Oct 5 · 5 min read

NewsSubscribers

Downtown library weighs later evening hours this winter

A proposal would keep the downtown branch open until 8 p.m. three nights a week from November through March. Readers are asked to weigh in by the end of the month.

Oct 5 · 3 min read