Juneau Icefield, Ice field in British Columbia, Canada

Juneau Icefield is a vast expanse of interconnected ice located at the British Columbia-Alaska border. It feeds numerous valley glaciers that descend into surrounding canyons and fjords.

The ice field advanced to its greatest extent around 1700 before beginning its retreat. Researchers have tracked its changes through detailed studies since the mid-20th century.

The ice field lies in Tlingit homeland around Juneau, and its glaciers feed the rivers of the region. The Juneau Icefield Research Program has run summer field schools on the ice since 1948, training students in glaciology and surveying; its camps and snowmobile routes are the main human presence a visitor notices on the plateau.

Access to the ice field is primarily by helicopter, which lands on designated zones for guided exploration. Visitors should prepare for cold weather and bring appropriate gear for walking on ice.

More than 40 major glaciers flow outward from this ice field into surrounding valleys and fjords. The ice itself varies greatly in thickness across different sections.