$455,206Average Value$375Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
Quiet residential area on Douglas Island, a short walk to downtown
West Juneau is for those who want Alaskan wilderness while still being close to downtown Juneau. Across the town’s bridge and onto Douglas Island, the Gastineau Channel separates these two areas, and whales are a common sight in its waters. “We have a laid-back vibe, and Douglas Island is all locals,” says Mandy, a lifelong resident who works on the island’s south side. “Because tourism is so big downtown, we get all different types of people in the summertime. But a lot of people end up moving here and enjoying the slower pace.” This residential pocket is surrounded by pine forests and mountains, with the Coastal Range to the south and the Boundary Ranges to the north. Of the 400 homes here, most of them have views of this landscape. National parks and recreation areas are often a ferry ride away, but this proximity comes with stipulations. “We almost live in a different world,” says Mandy. “We have to get our groceries from a barge. By the time we get our apples, they’ve been on the boat for a few weeks. When I was a kid, there used to be ice in my milk because it’d been frozen for so long.” And while 300-plus inches of snow might be too much for some people, others prefer the rural lifestyle that comes with it.
West Juneau is for those who want Alaskan wilderness while still being close to the action.
A life-sized whale sculpture emerging from an infinity pool is situated near West Juneau.
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Exploring the Alaskan wilderness on Douglas Island
A part of Juneau’s vast network of trails, Douglas Island has about 50 miles of gravel and dirt paths. These hikes meander through pine forests and offer elevated views of the Gastineau Channel, Juneau and the surrounding mountains. Named after a mining operation in the early 1900s, the Treadwell Ditch Trail is the standout here: it runs along the island’s eastern coast and is just under 30 miles. Other trails lead to mountain cabins, available for rent through the City of Juneau and the U.S. Forest Service. Community-owned and operated, Eaglecrest Ski Area is toward the middle of the island, and it has over 640 acres with a 1620-foot drop. Slopes get over 300 inches of annual snow and cater to beginners, intermediates and experts. "It has some of the most challenging runs in the state," says Gwen Place, a Juneau resident since the 1980s and an Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker since 2005. "If you learn to ski there, you can pretty much ski anywhere. It's steep and short." On the eastern side of Douglas proper, Sandy Beach is a popular destination for dog walkers and history buffs. The Treadwell Mine Historic Trail is here, still littered with equipment and old buildings. Covering Juneau and most of the Alexander Archipelago, Tongass National Forest has almost 17 million acres to explore.
The Treadwell Ditch Trail is a popular trail for locals in West Juneau to bike during the day.
Locals often stroll through West Juneau, taking in the scenic views and relaxed atmosphere.
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Across the bridge from downtown Juneau
Downtown Juneau draws a lot of tourists, especially in the summer. But locals can enjoy its shopping, dining and attractions year-round. In this historic district, some buildings date back to the 1890s and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Alaskan Hotel & Bar is one such place, and it’s still filled with Victorian décor. Its Thursday open mics are popular with local voices, and performances could include songs, poems or anything else. The Hangar On The Wharf is another crowded spot, a converted airplane hangar on a pier that overlooks the channel. A few blocks away, Deckhand Dave’s Fish Tacos is a food truck turned full-blown restaurant; it’s known for fresh seafood and outdoor seating. Art galleries feature indigenous carvings and masks, and the Alaska State Museum highlights this culture as well. Shoppers can find outdoor wear at Foggy Mountain Shop, and Cordova’s has upscale women’s clothing. Rainbow Foods specializes in organic produce on the north side of town, and about a half-mile west, Foodland IGA is next to the Juneau-Douglas Bridge. Breeze-In Foodland is a convenience store across the channel, and it’s the only grocer in West Juneau itself.
The Hangar On The Wharf is another crowded spot near West Juneau that serves delicious food.
West Juneau is near Deckhand Dave’s Fish Tacos, where you can enjoy their fresh seafood daily.
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Winter fireworks and downtown events
In addition to its snowy slopes, the Eaglecrest Ski Area has a Winter Fireworks Spectacular south of the neighborhood. Downtown Juneau is the main hub for events, though; its Centennial Hall hosts the Wearable Art Extravaganza, a costuming show in September. It’s been going on for over 20 years, and the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council changes the theme every year. The Juneau Public Market has vendor booths on Thanksgiving weekend, and they sell Alaska Native arts, organic foods and other unique items. Among the many other events here, the Juneau Jazz & Classics Festival brings live music in spring.
Eaglecrest Ski Area is near West Juneau, offering ski slopes to enjoy during the winter months.
Watch cruise ships come through the Gastineau Channel that separates West Juneau from Downtown.
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Hillside homes: views of the Gastineau Channel, Boundary Range
While they’re not up for sale often, most hillside homes have views of downtown Juneau and the Boundary Ranges. They’re typically two-stories and ranch-styles of about 2,000 square feet, and they have large, sloping lots. Higher up the hill, homes have more expansive views and square footage. Exteriors mostly feature earth-toned siding or wood paneling, and interiors are reminiscent of their late-20th-century build dates. Home sales aren’t publicly recorded in Alaska, but buyers can expect between $550,000 and $700,000. Apartments and condos are on the neighborhood’s northern and southern ends, often in the form of duplexes. If they’re not being rented out, these sizeable units are in the same price range. Homeowners make up most of the neighborhood, though.
Ranch-style homes in West Juneau are situated along the hillside, offering scenic views.
Most West Juneau homes have scenic views of the Gastineau Channel and into downtown.
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High ratings for Juneau-Borough Schools, bus transport
Students on Douglas Island attend Sayéik: Gastineau Community School, which serves kindergarten through sixth grade. This school has approximately 20 teachers and 300 children, and it gets a B-minus from Niche. Bus transport is available for this school, as it’s about 2 miles east of West Juneau. Buses also go to Thunder Mountain Middle, about 10 miles up the channel and serving grades seven and eight. While this was previously a high school, funding changes have merged Juneau’s middle schools to this one location for 2024-2025. Niche previously gave it an A; they ranked it as the third-best public high school in Alaska, ahead of 130 others. Juneau-Douglas High is now the main option, and it’s in downtown Juneau. This school gets an A-minus and ranks No. 16 on the same list. An alternative for kindergarten through eighth grade, Juneau Community Charter Schools is also downtown and gets another A-minus. The University of Alaska Southeast’s Juneau campus is here, too, and it has over 40 degree programs. These include Alaska Native Arts, Applied Fisheries, and Mining.
Gastineau Elementary School serves students in kindergarten through 6th grade in West Juneau.
Students from West Juneau attend nearby Juneau-Douglas High until graduation.
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Traveling with cars, ferries and planes
West Juneau has a few neighborhood streets, but the Douglas Highway is the only way to get around the island. This paved, two-lane road goes to neighboring Douglas and North Douglas, and it intersects with the bridge into Juneau. After crossing the bridge, drivers can proceed north on Egan Drive — also known as Highway 7 and the Glacier Highway — and go 8 miles to the Juneau International Airport. They can get to the Lower 48 from here or fly to other towns in Alaska. Ferries are a common way to get around the archipelago, as the Alaska Marine Highway connects 30-plus communities by water. The ferry terminal is accessible in Auke Bay, about 15 miles north of downtown, and Capital Transit operates a bus line through here. The boat ride north to Skagway takes about five hours, and its Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park is a frequent weekend destination. Accessible via ferry or seaplane, Glacier Bay National Park is about 120 miles northwest of Juneau. For those that have shipped their car here, it likely has snow tires, but the City of Juneau clears 250 lane miles of streets in the winter.
Eight miles from West Juneau, the Juneau International Airport provides flights to the lower 48.
Catch a daily departure from Juneau International Airport, which is near West Juneau.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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This 3-story townhouse on Douglas Island offers sweeping views of downtown Juneau, the Gastineau Channel and its surrounding mountains. The home features 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 2 decks, vaulted ceilings and large picture windows that take full advantage of the view and allow abundant natural light. There is plenty of storage throughout with ample closet space and a garage. Recent upgrades
Build your dream home, or investment property, on this lot that boasts beautiful views of Gastineau Channel, Mt. Juneau and Mt. Roberts, as well as downtown Juneau. Situated at the top of Blueberry Hills on Douglas Island it’s the perfect spot to enjoy the Northern Lights and 4th of July fireworks. It’s close to numerous trails and the beauty of the wilderness as well the privacy afforded from
Erika FagerstromReal Broker, LLC Juneau Home Group
3.34 ACRES OF PRIME VIEW LAND IN WEST JUNEAU!! Over 3 acres of land, zoned D-5, on Pioneer Avenue ready to develop or subdivide. Build your private single family home or compound with incredible panoramic views of Downtown Juneau, Gastineau Channel, Mt. Roberts and Mt. Juneau.
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Gina Pelaia,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
2,132
Median Age
41
Population Density
2 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
17.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$83,308
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$103,924
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
94.8%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
47.2%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
16.9%
% Population in Labor Force
70.5%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
67''
Average Winter Low Temperature
24°F
Average Summer High Temperature
64°F
Annual Snowfall
84''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
13/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
15/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
27/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
