Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure

Upside-down tree flower pots and scenic overlooks in a 50-acre rainforest garden

Glacier Gardens is a 50-acre private rainforest garden about 6.5 miles northwest of downtown Juneau, open from spring through early autumn. The property is a former construction debris dump that was converted into a garden over three decades, and it has a genuine eccentric charm. The main attraction is the famous upside-down trees — wind-toppled Sitka spruce with their root balls planted in the ground, trunks pointing at the sky, and flower baskets growing from the roots.

Guided tours take you through the garden by open-air vehicle, rising to a 580-foot-high overlook with views of the Mendenhall Glacier, the valley, and the surrounding peaks. The conservatory holds tropical plants and a waterfall. The on-site café serves light food and drinks. Admission is around $25 for adults; the tour takes about an hour. It is a good stop en route to or from the Mendenhall Glacier.

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A story
The property's owners hit on an unusual idea after years of watching storms topple trees in the temperate rainforest: instead of clearing the fallen trees, they dug holes and planted the root balls downward, leaving the trunks and limbs pointing skyward. Flower pots are set into the hollows where the roots once grew. The result is a garden of upside-down trees blooming with impatiens and petunias — strange enough to stop you completely the first time you see it.