Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure is a must-see stop for anyone visiting Juneau, Alaska in the summer months. It is named because of its location. It is situated on Thunder Mountain, inside a rainforest in close proximity to the Juneau Icefield, birthplace to 38 glaciers. With its trademark Flower Towers, created from uprooted trees, and the lush landscaping around a carefully created streambed, it has become a popular wedding venue and local getaway.
Steve Bowhay Reclaims Thunder Mountain
In 1984, a landslide destroyed much of the face of Thunder Mountain, named for the sounds of its winter avalanches. After the landslide, the land was left in a state of destruction until Steve and Cindy Bowhay (pronounced Bowhee), purchased the land.
Steve is a landscaper by trade, and he set to work with a mission to reclaim the land. He began by creating a streambed along an area of bedrock to guide the voluminous rain and snowmelt safely down the mountain. He incorporated ponds and waterfalls, using the natural material found on the land, to slow the runoff and prevent further erosion.
Flower Towers Created in Glacier Gardens
During the process of building the streambed, some dead trees were uprooted. One of these trees landed upside down in the muddy soil, root ball pointed skyward. Thinking it looked similar to a planter, Steve decided to plant flowers in the root ball. This was the beginning of the Flower Towers.
Today, the Flower Towers are one of the principal highlights of the gardens. They beautify the landscaping that includes rhododendrons, azaleas, and a wide variety of flowers, as well as native plants such as Devil’s Club, Elderberry, Sitka Spruce, and Western Hemlock. As guests walk about the garden paths, the sounds of the water trickling and the scent of the flowers give an inviting and restful experience.
Tours of Glacier Gardens
During the summer months, Glacier Gardens is open for tours, including a trip up Thunder Mountain into the temperate rainforest bordering the property in the Tongass National Forest. At the top of the drive, tourists may get out and walk across a scenic boardwalk offering a panoramic vista of the breathtaking scenery surrounding the Juneau area. Umbrellas and hats are recommended, since Juneau weather is rainy most days in the summertime.
Many of the trees on the mountaintop are covered in Witch’s Hair, a soft, hanging lichen. In the winter, when other plants are covered in snow, this lichen is an important food source for foraging animals such as deer. It also serves as a natural indicator of healthy air quality.
By his hard work and determination to save the land on Thunder Mountain, Steve Bowhay created a paradise in the rainforest of Juneau, Alaska. These beautiful gardens should be included in any tour of Juneau and its surrounding glaciers.
For more information about tour dates and times, see the Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure website.
When visiting Alaska, be sure to check What to Pack for a Cruise to Alaska.
Suzanne Pitner - Suzanne Pitner is a teacher and published writer. A member of RWA and YARWA, she writes fiction as Suzanne Lilly.
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