National Shrine of St. Thérèse
4.8(664)google
4.9(7)yelp
Historic BuildingHealingPhoto Spot
Overview
The National Shrine of St. Thérèse is a deeply tranquil, spiritual oasis located roughly 20 miles north of Juneau, beautifully situated on its own heavily wooded tidal island. Accessible via a narrow stone pedestrian causeway, this historic Catholic shrine centers around a rustic, beautifully crafted stone chapel built using native beach pebbles. Lined with peaceful walking paths, a meditative stone labyrinth, and sweeping coastal vistas of the Lynn Canal, it offers an exceptionally serene retreat where visitors of all faiths can seek quiet reflection and watch marine life.
Practical Info
Every day8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Suggested Duration45-90 minutes
Best TimeBest visited during clear, calm summer or autumn late afternoons (June to September). This historic stone chapel sits on its own tiny tidal island linked to the mainland by a rustic causeway. Sunset light reflecting off the ocean waters makes it an incredibly spiritual and serene spot.
Getting ThereSituated roughly 22 miles north of downtown Juneau. Driving is required; take a highly scenic 30-to-35-minute road trip north via the Glacier Highway. A dedicated free visitor parking field is located right by the trailhead, followed by a brief, beautiful 5-minute walk down to the causeway.
Travel Tips
- The stone causeway linking the island shrine floods entirely during spring high tides; consult Juneau ocean tide books prior to crossing.
- This is a quiet spiritual retreat; the entire peninsula is a strict drone-free zone, and remote aircraft operation will face police intervention.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- Steller sea lions regularly haul out on the island perimeter rocks; shouting or spotlighting is banned, keep a 20-meter perimeter.
Reviews
Positive
- Set on an isolated island linked by a delicate causeway; the historic stone chapel looks holy facing the vast bay, offering stunning scenic value.
- The grounds are maintained like a fine artwork, packed with manicured gardens, meditative pathways, clean restrooms, and peaceful plaques.
- Completely free to the public, featuring a massive parking lot with zero cost; there are no extra charges, commercial shops, or souvenir hawking.
- Perfectly dodging Juneau's noisy cruise crowds, visitor density is low; the sound of waves hitting the rocks is crystal clear, scoring full marks for peace.
Heads up
- Located far from Juneau cruise docks and downtown (a 30-40 minute drive), with zero public buses running there, making transit tough without driving.
- The lone path to the stone chapel is a causeway paved with rough gravel; strollers and wheelchairs experience severe bumping, leaving accessibility thin.
- As a sacred religious space, the chapel interior is extremely tiny; holding just ten people makes it feel restricted, stopping long quiet reflections.
- The surrounding area completely lacks dining options, food trucks, or kiosks; running all the way out here without packing water/snacks leaves you hungry.