For many people Downtown is the only part of Juneau which they see upon visiting the capitol city. The area is surrounded by mountains as well as the Gastineau Channel. When you look up towards Mount Juneau and Mount Roberts there is some evidence of the mining which occurred in the area one hundred years ago. The tailings from the miles upon miles of tunnels in the mountains provided the base for additional land to be reclaimed from the channel which grew the available space to support the mining camps.
In the summer the pace of activity changes as cruise ships arrive each day letting their passengers off to explore. On some of the busiest days this can bring 15,000 people into the city, but yet in the evening when the ships depart you can walk along the boardwalk and enjoy the calm from the day. While it can be busy in downtown, exploring one of the many hiking trails, which branch off from Basin Road or by taking the Mt. Roberts Tramway, lets you explore the surrounding area and the beauty around Downtown Juneau.
