« Hiking Overview

Full-Day Glacier Hike

Go farther, see more!

Trip Description

A whole day hiking on one of the world’s most amazing glaciers.

Starting with the same historic tour and nature hike as the Half Day Glacier Hike, this trip gives you more time on the ice to go further and see more. Hike through slot canyons, find blue pools and discover seldom visited areas of the glacier. After lunch, head towards the Stairway Icefall (7,000 ft of ice!) following the ridges carved in the ice by sun and water. Hike among winding creeks and impressive moulins, the vertical blue tubes carved by water tumbling into the ice. See as much terrain as possible or go slower and spend extra time in special places, either way a full day spent on the Root Glacier is always a day well spent. Go beyond the crowds and discover places even your guide has never been before!

Duration: 7-8 hrs
Difficulty: Medium Full-Day Glacier Hike

Highlights:

  • Chances to see blue ice features
  • Exploring areas of glacier landscape beyond the reach of the Half Day
  • Historical tour of Kennicott Millsite
  • Views of Mt. Blackburn (16,390 ft) and the Stairway Icefall (7,000 ft of ice!)
  • Time to spend exploring
Trip Details

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

Who:
Anyone looking for a 6+ mile hike and a glacier adventure.

  • Families with children 12 and under must book a private hike, $20 will be discounted for each child 12 and under at time of final payment.

When:
Group Hikes leave at 9:30. Pick up from McCarthy at 9am (transportation provided free of charge).
Private Hikes can be scheduled to start anytime between anytime 8am and 11am.

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 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.

$155/person
Max Group Ratio Size: 
1 Guide : 6 Clients

Private Trip Prices

Private trips allow you and your guide to design the day that meets your goals and objectives.

Client:Guide Ratio & Price

1:1 / $540 per person
2:1 / $375 per person
3:1 / $270 per person
4:1 / $225 per person
5+ / $200 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

$155/person
Max Group Ratio Size: 
1 Guide : 6 Clients

Private Trip Prices

Private trips allow you and your guide to design the day that meets your goals and objectives.

Client:Guide Ratio & Price

1:1 / $540 per person
2:1 / $375 per person
3:1 / $270 per person
4:1 / $225 per person
5+ / $200 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

A whole day hiking on one of the world’s most amazing glaciers.

Starting with the same historic tour and nature hike as the Half Day Glacier Hike, this trip gives you more time on the ice to go further and see more. Hike through slot canyons, find blue pools and discover seldom visited areas of the glacier. After lunch, head towards the Stairway Icefall (7,000 ft of ice!) following the ridges carved in the ice by sun and water. Hike among winding creeks and impressive moulins, the vertical blue tubes carved by water tumbling into the ice. See as much terrain as possible or go slower and spend extra time in special places, either way a full day spent on the Root Glacier is always a day well spent. Go beyond the crowds and discover places even your guide has never been before!

Duration: 7-8 hrs
Difficulty: Medium Full-Day Glacier Hike

Highlights:

  • Chances to see blue ice features
  • Exploring areas of glacier landscape beyond the reach of the Half Day
  • Historical tour of Kennicott Millsite
  • Views of Mt. Blackburn (16,390 ft) and the Stairway Icefall (7,000 ft of ice!)
  • Time to spend exploring
Trip Details

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

Who:
Anyone looking for a 6+ mile hike and a glacier adventure.

  • Families with children 12 and under must book a private hike. $20 will be discounted for each child 12 and under at time of final payment.

When:
Group Hikes leave at 9:30. Pick up from McCarthy at 9am (transportation provided free of charge).
Private Hikes can be scheduled to start anytime between anytime 8am and 11am.

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 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.

Full-Day Glacier Hike
Photo Gallery

Click to enlarge, or use arrows to scroll.

A great experience that I would love to do again!

We booked a tour through KWG to walk on Root Glacier.  It was a great experience that I would love to do again!  We made a short hike out to the glacier, dropped our packs, strapped on our crampons, then began the several hour walk on the glacier.  Our guide introduced us to the various unique features of the glacier and was incredibly knowledgeable about the history as well and how the glacier impacted the town.  We took many pictures, a few videos, filled our water bottles from melting glacier water (not the silty stuff), ate lunch on the glacier and basked in the warm sun.  Other than the beautiful weather, I can attribute many of those great experiences to KWG.  I’d definitely do it again!

Andrew C. Elite from Fayetteville, North Carolina

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