We’re Committed to Taking Care of Juneau
As guides, we take our role in educating and preserving Southeast Alaska to heart.
Our Sustainability Commitments
Concrete, consistent steps we take every season to ensure the longevity of Alaska's wild places.
We partner with top research organizations
We work closely with partners like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Alaska to document wildlife and collect critical data.
We care about what happens in Juneau
We’re a founding member of Tourism Best Practices Management, which gives Juneau residents a voice in the industry.
50,000 plastic bottles per season
We use refillable jugs and compostable cups on tours to reduce plastic waste. That's a lot of bottles that would have otherwise ended up in the landfill.
Our water is locally sourced
The water you drink on tour comes from Thunder Mountain, just a few miles from one of our popular sights, Mendenhall Glacier.
Our Approach
We’re Committed to Doing Our Part
As guides, we’re up close and personal with the Southeast Alaskan environment every day. We see the impact that tourism and people can have on the plants, animals, and waters in this part of the world. And that’s why we take sustainability so seriously.
From the materials we use on our boats to the approach we take with the community, our work takes into account the incredible resources around us and how we can all be better stewards of Alaska and beyond.
50,000
Plastic bottles saved per season
1,598
Gallons of compost created
900 lbs
Waste diverted annually
Waste Reduction
We Compost and Cut Down Our Carbon Footprint
We offer water for every guest on tour. Instead of plastic bottles, we use refillable jugs and compostable cups to eliminate plastic use. We keep 50,000 bottles out of the landfill every year using this method.
By adding more compostable products, we’ve been able to reduce waste and create 1,338 gallons of compost, which is nearly 900 pounds.
Soon, we plan to phase out plastic-wrapped trail mix and begin using compostable packaging.
And we’ve partnered with Alaska Heat Smart, a company that installs heat pumps throughout our community to help residents save on energy costs and reduce energy use.
Trail Stewardship
Taking Care of the Trails
We work closely with the US Forest Service to avoid overcrowding trails on our tours. We schedule our excursions to reduce intense foot traffic, giving the environment space. And one of our favorite trails that you enjoy, the Rainforest Trail, was created by our founders, Bob and Dawn in collaboration with the local Trail Mix organization.
The Rainforest Trail was created by our founders, Bob and Dawn in collaboration with Trail Mix. It's part of our legacy in Juneau.
— Est. 1999
Responsible Whale Watching
Watching After the Giants
Whale Sense Program
Gastineau Guiding is an active and contributing member of WhaleSENSE, a voluntary program in partnership with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) that promotes responsible commercial whale watching. WhaleSENSE has been designed to build on existing federal whale-watching regulations to encourage responsible, conscientious interactions with whales while on the water. Specific stipulations include recommendations on approaching whales, cow/calf pairs, distance from whales and interactions with other viewing boats while on the water.
The program also provides training to guides and captains on how to follow these regulations and promote awareness of responsible viewing. We are proud to fly the WhaleSense flag on all our custom safari vessels and to set a positive example for the whale-watching community and fellow tour operators.
WhaleSENSE Certified
NOAA Voluntary Program Partner
It’s the Little Things
Taking good care of Juneau is really about doing small steps consistently and listening to our neighbors.
Giving Juneau Residents a Voice
We listen to our neighbors. As a founding member of Tourism Best Practices Management, we help ensure local residents have a say in how tourism operates in their hometown.
Working With the City of Juneau
We work directly with the Juneau Commission on Sustainability (JCOS) through the City and Borough of Juneau to find ways to operate more sustainably every season.
Collaborating With Operators
We collaborate with other Juneau tour operators on sustainable business practices — because protecting this place is a shared responsibility.