Nugget Falls

At the foot of Bullard Mountain in the U.S. state of Alaska, Nugget Falls, often referred to as Nugget Creek Falls or Mendenhall Glacier Falls, is a waterfall that flows downstream of the Nugget Glacier. The waterfall, which was created by the creek from the Nugget Glacier, cascades 115 meters down onto a sandbar in Mendenhall Lake, the freshwater pool at the face of the Mendenhall Glacier, in two tiers of 30 and 85 meters, respectively. The lake then empties into the Inside Passage through the Mendenhall River.

A brief, two-mile out-and-back walk through the Tongass Forest with an overlook for fantastic photo ops leads to this two-level cascade. Dramatically, the two tiers' combined 377-foot plunge empties into Mendenhall Lake, one of Alaska's best lakes, which is a vivid blue. The surrounding Mendenhall Glacier and magnificent mountains serve as the backdrop to everything.

Enjoy capturing shots while listening to the rumbling of the water as it crashes into the lake from your close-up vantage point. Put on your raincoat because you might even get misted. Brown bears are frequently spotted prowling the region, so keep a watch out for animals.

Location: East of Mendenhall Glacier, Auke Bay, Alaska