« Hiking Overview

Donoho Lake Hikes

A glacier adventure to a wild destination

Trip Description

Journey across the glacier to a fairytale lake in a storybook setting.

This trip covers a lot of ground. Walk through historic Kennicott and hike an interpretive trail to the ice. Cross the entire width of the Root Glacier, navigating creeks and icy ridges. Stop for blue pools, waterfalls and moulins. Keep your camera ready for big views of Stairway Icefall, Donoho Peak and Mount Blackburn. Top it off with a hidden lake where glaciated peaks reflect in the mirrored surface, and birds overhead make it feel like an oil painting come to life. The return trip to Kennicott offers opportunities for variations in route to see more of the glacier on the way home. It’s a full day of hiking and the payoff is worth it.

Duration: 7-9 hrs
Difficulty: Medium – Hard Donoho Lakes Hike

Highlights:

  • Crossing a big Alaskan valley glacier
  • Variety of hiking terrain: trails, glaciers, light bushwacking
  • Donoho Falls, a waterfall running under the glacier
  • Views of big peaks from the lakes
  • Potential to see birds and bears
  • Views of Mt. Blackburn (16,390 ft) and the Stairway Icefall (7,000 ft of ice!)
Trip Details

Terrain Challenges May Include:
Uneven trail surfaces, loose rocks, short and steep gain/loss of elevation, walking in crampons on uneven glacial surfaces and bushy sections.

Who:
Anyone looking for a full day glacier adventure with a destination.

When:
Can be scheduled to start anytime between 8am and 10pm.

Where:
This trip leaves from the KWG office, located across Main Street Kennicott from the Kennicott Glacier Lodge.

Trip Includes
  • Crampons adjustable to your boots or shoes
  • Experienced, friendly, knowledgeable guides!
  • Small or custom client to guide ratios, no more than 6 people to one guide.
  • Round-trip transportation from your local lodging to where we begin our trip.
  • A full array of medical, communications, and technical gear.
  • Extra layers if you forgot anything or couldn’t fit it in your luggage!
  • Day packs if you need one.

Trip Does not Include

  • Guide Gratuity (recommended 10-20% of tour cost)
  • Personal clothing & gear. For further suggestions on gear you will want to bring from home (this might help you pack for your whole Alaskan vacation!) visit our Trip Planning Page for a gear list.
  • Pre & Post trip lodging.
  • Transportation to and from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
Donoho Lakes Hike Pricing

Client:Guide Ratio & Price

1:1 / $599 per person
2:1 / $372 per person
3:1 / $278 per person
4:1 / $229 per person
5+ / $199 per person

$20/child discount for all children 12 and under on all private day hikes (issued at final payment)
$5/person discount for AK residents & Active Military and family. Valid with current I.D. (Issued at final payment)

Photo Gallery

Click to enlarge

Donoho Lakes Hike Pricing

Client:Guide Ratio & Price

1:1 / $599 per person
2:1 / $372 per person
3:1 / $278 per person
4:1 / $229 per person
5+ / $199 per person

$20/child discount for all children 12 and under on all private day hikes (issued at final payment)
$5/person discount for AK residents & Active Military and family. Valid with current I.D. (Issued at final payment)

Trip Description

Journey across the glacier to a fairytale lake in a storybook setting.

This trip covers a lot of ground. Walk through historic Kennicott and hike an interpretive trail to the ice. Cross the entire width of the Root Glacier, navigating creeks and icy ridges. Stop for blue pools, waterfalls and moulins. Keep your camera ready for big views of Stairway Icefall, Donoho Peak and Mount Blackburn. Top it off with a hidden lake where glaciated peaks reflect in the mirrored surface, and birds overhead make it feel like an oil painting come to life. The return trip to Kennicott offers opportunities for variations in route to see more of the glacier on the way home. It’s a full day of hiking and the payoff is worth it.

Duration: 7-9 hrs
Difficulty: Medium – Hard Donoho Lakes Hike

Highlights:

  • Crossing a big Alaskan valley glacier
  • Variety of hiking terrain: trails, glaciers, light bushwacking
  • Donoho Falls, a waterfall running under the glacier
  • Views of big peaks from the lakes
  • Potential to see birds and bears
  • Views of Mt. Blackburn (16,390 ft) and the Stairway Icefall (7,000 ft of ice!)
Trip Details

Terrain Challenges May Include:
Uneven trail surfaces, loose rocks, short and steep gain/loss of elevation, walking in crampons on uneven glacial surfaces and bushy sections.

Who:
Anyone looking for a full day glacier adventure with a destination.

When:
Can be scheduled to start anytime between 8am and 10pm.

Where:
This trip leaves from the KWG office, located across Main Street Kennicott from the Kennicott Glacier Lodge.

Trip Includes
  • Crampons adjustable to your boots or shoes
  • Experienced, friendly, knowledgeable guides!
  • Small or custom client to guide ratios, no more than 6 people to one guide.
  • Round-trip transportation from your local lodging to where we begin our trip.
  • A full array of medical, communications, and technical gear.
  • Extra layers if you forgot anything or couldn’t fit it in your luggage!
  • Day packs if you need one.

Trip Does not Include

  • Guide Gratuity (recommended 10-20% of tour cost)
  • Personal clothing & gear. For further suggestions on gear you will want to bring from home (this might help you pack for your whole Alaskan vacation!) visit our Trip Planning Page for a gear list.
  • Pre & Post trip lodging.
  • Transportation to and from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

Donoho Lakes
Photo Gallery

Click to enlarge, or use arrows to scroll.

Glaciers up close!

The hike to Donoho Lakes was everything promised. Our guide, Nick, is incredibly knowledgeable about glacier formation and movement, and he entertained us as we hiked for a couple of hours across the Root. He showed us many glacial pools and moulins, so beautiful. Donoho Lakes and Falls are very peaceful and incredibly beautiful. It was an exceptional trip, made so in large part by our fantastic guide.

Dana V.

Half-Day Glacier Hike

Half-Day Glacier Hike

Duration : 4-5 hours
Cost : $
Difficulty : medium
Full-Day Glacier Hike

Full-Day Glacier Hike

Duration : 7-8 hours
Cost : $$
Difficulty : medium
Ice Explorer Climb & Hike

Ice Explorer Climb & Hike

Duration : 7-9 hours
Cost : $$
Difficulty : medium - hard
Fly-in Hikes

Fly-in Hikes

Duration : 7-9 hours
Cost : $$$
Difficulty : easy - hard
Donoho Lakes Hike

Donoho Lakes Hike

Duration : 7-9 hours
Cost : $$
Difficulty : medium - hard
Glacier’s Edge Hike

Glacier’s Edge Hike

Duration : 4-5 hours
Cost : $
Difficulty : easy
Alpine Hikes

Alpine Hikes

Duration : 7-9 hours
Cost : $$
Difficulty : medium - hard