Is Juneau Alaska Safe?

This Juneau travel safety guide answers all safety-related questions, including is Juneau Alaska safe, warnings and dangers, the safest and most dangerous places in the city, safety tips, and more.

So, without any further ado, let’s get started –

Is Juneau Alaska Safe?

Juneau is the biggest and the capital city of Alaska. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Alaska, with a population of 32,000. The city’s filled with glaciers and thick roads and around 1 million tourists visit here.

It is situated in the Gastineau Channel and the Alaskan panhandle. It is the second largest city in the United States of America. Juneau hosts the annual Alaska Folk Festival, Juneau Jazz & Classics music festival, and Celebration, a biennial Alaska Native cultural festival. People from different places come to Juneau to see the festival.

The place is enriched with natural beauty. People come here from May to September for bear viewing, rainforest tours, glacier walkabouts, skiing trips, whale watching, dog sledding, gold panning, dog sled summer camp, and many other things. The culture of Juneau is very different and unique. If you visit Juneau, Alaska, you will get to see the amazing arts, cultural places, and mouth-watering food here.

Warnings & Dangers in Juneau, Alaska

Juneau is an amazing tourist spot to explore, but there are some risks that you may face on your trip. Overall the risk in Juneau, Alaska, is low as the town is small. There are a lot of things to explore for tourists, but the weather is the main concern here.

Transportation and Cab Risks

Public transportation is available everywhere in the city and therefore, you don’t have to worry about this. Buses and cabs are readily available everywhere, and you can also book cabs online in advance. Therefore the transportation risk is very low in Juneau, Alaska.

Pickpockets and Mugging Risks

There are barely any cases of pickpockets in Juneau but keep your valuable things safely with you. Tourists usually keep their valuables in their hotel rooms, so there are very low chances of getting pickpocketed. The town is safe, and the mugging risk is also very low in the city. Last year only forty robberies happened in public. Some violent and domestic crimes do happen in the city, but tourists do not have to worry much.

Natural Disaster Risk

Avalanches, earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, floods, heavy snow, extreme cold, extreme winds, ice storms, dense fog, storm surges, and wildfires are common in Juneau, Alaska, but the authorities have prepared emergency management. If you see that the weather is getting critical, seek shelter immediately as transportation won’t be available during any critical weather situation and hence the natural disaster risk medium.

Terrorism Risk

Terrorist attacks are not common in Juneau, Alaska. There are no recent incidents of any such attacks as the population is low. Violent crimes do happen in the city but are not very common. Thus, the terrorist risk is low here.

Scam Risk

Scam-related risks are not common in Juneau for tourists, but scams happen to residents. There have been no such cases of tourists being scammed as such. However, beware of your surroundings. There are people who sell tickets for glacier excursions for a higher price to avoid the long line. You can buy tickets from there but check for their authenticity first.

Women Traveler Risk

Women travelers’ safety risk is medium in Juneau. This is a city where the domestic crime rate is high. Women can travel independently during the daytime, but the nighttime is not very safe for women, especially at bars and clubs. It’s better if you travel in groups to avoid any kind of danger.

Tap Water Risk

The tap water of Juneau is mostly clean to consume, making the tap water risk low in Juneau, Alaska. If you want to avoid drinking tap water, you can carry mineral water.

Safest places to visit in Juneau, Alaska

Juneau is safe for travelers to visit. Below, we have shared some of the best places to visit in Juneau, Alaska –

Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching

You will get to see many whales along the sea coast and other sea creatures. On this tour, set sail around Auke Bay, look out for humpback whales and other wildlife in their natural habitats; and learn more about the magnificent sea creatures. Auke Bay is safe for you to visit with friends and family.

Mendenhall Glacier

The glacier is beautiful to watch and is safe for travelers. You will get to see big glaciers, icebergs, giant waterfalls, wildlife and definitely a big mountain peak near the glacier. You should definitely visit this place if you are going for a trip to Juneau, Alaska. There is a lot to explore here for tourists.

Nugget Falls

A breathtaking view of the falls makes it more of a tourist spot in Juneau. You will also get to see the Sawyer glaciers, seals, otters, a glacier calving, and many things. If you are visiting Juneau for a trip, then you should definitely witness the beauty of Nugget Falls.

Other safest places for visitors are the Alaska State Museum, National Shrine of St. Therese, DIPAC’s Macaulay Salmon Hatchery, Alaskan Brewery and Bottling Company, and AJ Mine Gastineau Mill Tour.

Places to avoid in Juneau, Alaska

Juneau is overall safe for tourists to visit, but there are certain places you should avoid, like the local bars, as the locals of Juneau are heavy drinkers that can be unsafe for tourists. However, drinking in a bar on Bourbon Street on Tuesday is safer for tourists. Avoid walking alone at night, as that can be unsafe for travelers, especially for women.

Do not go hiking alone if you haven’t done it before, as that can be risky for you. Mount Juneau is a famous mountain, and there have been some death cases on this mountain, and it is considered one of the most dangerous mountains in Alaska. There are places you can definitely visit but know all the proper guidelines and safety tips before visiting.

Safety tips for traveling in Juneau, Alaska

These are the following safety tips for you if you are visiting Juneau, Alaska –

• Pack proper clothes: You will need more clothes to keep you warm and boots too. If you go to the rainforest, you will get wet, so pack waterproof clothes. You will definitely need extra clothes if you visit Juneau, Alaska.
• Do not feed any animals: If you are visiting Juneau, you may see any wild animals, don’t feed them as they can attack you to defend themselves. Learn all the rules and safety techniques and prepare yourself before taking any action.
• Avoid eating any plant or fruit from the forest: You may see a mouth-watering fruit in the forest, but do not think of consuming them. They can be harmful. Teach your children not to eat anything from the forest, especially do not eat Baneberry plants as they can kill you.
• Avoid walking alone: The place is safe to travel in daylight, but it’s not safe to walk alone at night, especially for female travelers. It’s better if you travel in a group or ask somebody to accompany you if you’re you’re traveling alone at night.

How safe is Juneau to travel alone?

The place, Juneau, is safe to travel alone. If you avoid going to local bars and clubs, especially at night, then you are safe from becoming a violent crime victim. Juneau offers a lot of beautiful places for tourists to witness. The scenery and the northern lights, no one would want to miss.

Is Juneau safe for solo females?

Yes, Juneau is safe for female travelers to travel alone, but there are some parts that solo females should avoid. These include walking alone at night.

The city is mostly safe for solo travelers to explore the natural beauty. But if you are traveling alone, know all the safety tips before packing your bags.

So, how safe is Juneau for Travel?

Juneau is safe for travelers. The main concern for travelers would be the weather condition.

Juneau is a beautiful city that millions of people come to see every year. There are some dangers, but if you take all the precautions, then you will be very safe. If you are traveling alone, know all the safety tips and avoid traveling alone at night. Overall, Juneau is worth visiting, and it should definitely be on your bucket list.

Read safety guides for other cities in Alaska –

• How safe is Anchorage, Alaska
• How safe is Fairbanks, Alaska
• How safe is Juneau, Alaska
• How safe is Ketchikan, Alaska
• How safe is Seward, Alaska
• How safe is Sitka, Alaska

FAQs

Is downtown Juneau safe?

Yes, downtown Juneau is safe for traveling, but the clubs and bars are not entirely safe for travelers to visit as the locals are heavy drinkers and cause danger to tourists.

Is Juneau Alaska worth visiting?

Juneau, Alaska, is worth visiting as the place is enriched with history, natural beauty, culture, art, and many more.

What is the best month to visit Juneau, Alaska?

The best time to visit Juneau is between May and August. You will have to compete with hordes of cruise passengers at the area’s top attractions, but the days will be long and sunny. Plus, these months correspond with whale migration season, meaning you’re guaranteed to see some activity in the water.

When can you see the northern lights in Juneau?

Juneau is a wonderful place in Alaska where you can watch the Aurora phenomenon. Go hiking on some of the trails at Juneau to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights.