Water, Ice & Basecamp: Five Day Package
The full Wrangell-St Elias experience.
Trip Description
The Water, Ice and Backcountry package is designed to have the most variety and be the fullest experience that Wrangell-St. Elias has to offer. This package combines our two most exciting local day trips with a flight deep into the wilderness for a 3 day/ 2 night Backcountry adventure.
Customize your package from the trip options listed for each day. You will have the opportunity to choose your preferred trips during booking.
Glacier Day: Hike on a glacier! All of our glacier hikes start at our office in Kennicott, include a history tour through the Kennicott Millsite, interpretive nature hike on the Root Glacier Trail and exploration of the white ice of the Root Glacier. Click on the links below for a more detailed description of each hike.
Glacier Day Options:
| Trip Name | Difficulty & Length of Trip  | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Half Day Glacier Hike | Easy 4-5 hours | Hiking on a glacier! See blue pools, canyons, moulins and more! |
| Full Day Glacier Hike | Easy to Moderate 7 - 8 hours | Everything the half-day has to offer, just more of it! |
| Ice Explorer Climb & Hike | Medium to Hard 7 - 9 hours | The best of all worlds from Glacier Hiking & Ice Climbing. Great for families with mixed abilities and interests and for those who want it all. |
| Full day Ice Climb | Medium to Hard 7-9 hours | Ice climbing anywhere is extraordinary. Ice climbing on a glacier is out of this world. |
| Donoho Lakes Hike | Moderate 7-9 hours | Take the full day glacier hike and add an amazing waterfall and stunning alpine lakes. |
Packraft Day: Packraft on a glacial lake! Paddle your own boat around icebergs, explore the glacier’s edge and take in 360 degree views. Packrafts are inflatable, one-person boats that fit in a light backpack. A uniquely Alaskan experience.
Packraft Day Options:
| Trip | Difficulty & Length of Trip | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Glacier Lake Packraft | Easy 4 - 5 hours | Paddle your own boat in the stunning setting of a glacial lake. |
| Hike and Packraft | Medium 6 - 8 hours | Hike in, gear up, and explore areas only accessible by packrafts. |
Backcountry Days: Fly-in and camp in the wilderness! Start with a scenic bush plane flight through the Wrangells to one of our incredible backcountry locations. Enjoy three days and two nights of world-class hiking, amazing camping and great food. Our Backcountry Trips are a once in a lifetime experience.
Choose Basecamping or a Backpacking Loop from the destinations below.
Backcountry Options:
| Trip | Difficulty & Length of Trip | Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root Glacier | Easy - Hard 2-3 days | $ | Hike in from KWG’s office and explore our unbelievable backyard. Cross glaciers, hike in the alpine, camp with views of icefalls. |
| The Fosse | Easy - Hard 3-6 days | $$ | Fly over Alaska valley glaciers. Hike through wildflower-filled alpine to an iceberg filled lake and views of 16,390 ft Mt. Blackburn. |
| Nizina | Easy - Medium 3-6 days | $$ | Impressive flight next to the Mile High Cliffs. Mountain and valley views, glacial lake with floating/calving icebergs, dynamic geology. |
| Nikolai | Easy - Hard 3-6 days | $$ | An impressive flight to a dramatic location. Hike world class ridges with incredible wildflowers, dynamic geology and expansive views. |
| Fan Glacier | Easy - Hard 3-6 days | $$$ | A long flight gets you away from the crowds. Excellent hiking to views of hanging glaciers, huge vistas and unique kettle pools. |
| Skolai | Easy - Medium 3-6 days | $$ | Fly through the heart of the Wrangells to an epic alpine pass at 6,000ft. Hike to waterfalls, hanging glaciers, lakes and big views. |
| Wrangell Plateau | Easy - Medium 3-5 days | $$$ | A scenic flight to the enchanting alpine below Mt Wrangell, 14,163 ft. Hike to stunning views of waterfalls, glaciers and high peaks. |
| Iceberg | Easy - Hard 3-6 days | $$$ | Fly through a large portion of the park. Hike to emerald alpine lakes in a valley surrounded by jagged peaks in an impressive landscape. |
| Hidden Gems | Easy - Hard 3-8 days | $$$$ | These are special trips to places seldom seen. Trips and locations custom tailored to personalized itinerary and logistics. |
- The same private guide for the entire package
- Made to order lunches
- Round-trip transportation from your local lodging to where we begin each trip.
Duration: 5 days
Difficulty: Easy-Hard
Highlights:
- Ease of booking and customizable options
- Building a relationship with the same guide
- Bush plane flight to an amazing wilderness camping destination
- Seeing glacial formations: waterfalls, crevasses, blue pools, moulins
- Use packrafts to explore a unique, otherwise inaccessible landscape
Trip Details
Terrain Challenges: Uneven trail surfaces, loose rocks, short and steep gain/loss of elevation and walking in crampons on uneven glacial surfaces. Need to actively paddle your own packraft with a kayak paddle, in cold, glacial fed water.
Who: Anyone looking for 2 day trips plus a 3 day backcountry adventure!
When: June-September
Flight times depend on air service availability.
Where: Our Glacier Hikes leave from our office in Kennicott and our Packrafting Trip leaves from the Footbridge in McCarthy. The Backcountry Trip leaves from the McCarthy Airstrip.
Trip Includes
- Pre-trip planning.
- Experienced, friendly, knowledgeable guides!
- Round-trip, local transportation to where we begin our trip.
- Small guide to client ratios.
- Customizable itinerary.
- Airfare into the backcountry.
- Medical equipment, training and protocols to Wilderness First Responder Standards.
- SAT phone & Delorme InReach.
- Emergency camping gear (in the rare instance the plane cannot pick us up, do to weather conditions, we are prepared to spend the night in the backcountry)
- Technical gear and equipment.
- Day packs (if needed)
- Leave No Trace and Bear Safety education/ ethics.
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.
Five Day Package Pricing
Client:Guide Ratio & Price (Price Includes Flight Cost)
Fosse
1:1 / $4,750 per person
2:1 / $2,900 per person
3:1 / $2,390 per person
4:1 / $2,185 per person
Nizina
1:1 / $5,310 per person
2:1 / $3,355 per person
3:1 / $2,815 per person
4:1 / $2,640 per person
Skolai
1:1 / $5,230 per person
2:1 / $3,260 per person
3:1 / $2,710 per person
4:1 / $2,545 per person
Fan
1:1 / $5,360 per person
2:1 / $3,355 per person
3:1 / $2,800 per person
4:1 / $2,640 per person
Iceberg
1:1 / $5,360 per person
2:1 / $3,365 per person
3:1 / $2,805 per person
4:1 / $2,650 per person
Wrangell Plateau
1:1 / $5,570 per person
2:1 / $3,515 per person
3:1 / $2,940 per person
4:1 / $2,800 per person
Nikolai
1:1 / $4,750 per person
2:1 / $2,900 per person
3:1 / $2,390 per person
4:1 / $2,185 per person
Hidden Gems
1:1 / $7,020 per person
2:1 / $4,600 per person
3:1 / $3,905 per person
4:1 / $3,510 per person
$100/child discount for all children 12 and under on all private day hikes (issued at final payment)
$50/person discount for AK residents & Active Military and family. Valid with current I.D. (Issued at final payment)
Photo Gallery
Click to enlarge
Five Day Package Pricing
Client:Guide Ratio & Price (Price Includes Flight Cost)
Fosse
1:1 / $4,750 per person
2:1 / $2,900 per person
3:1 / $2,390 per person
4:1 / $2,185 per person
Nizina
1:1 / $5,310 per person
2:1 / $3,355 per person
3:1 / $2,815 per person
4:1 / $2,640 per person
Skolai
1:1 / $5,230 per person
2:1 / $3,260 per person
3:1 / $2,710 per person
4:1 / $2,545 per person
Fan
1:1 / $5,360 per person
2:1 / $3,355 per person
3:1 / $2,800 per person
4:1 / $2,640 per person
Iceberg
1:1 / $5,360 per person
2:1 / $3,365 per person
3:1 / $2,805 per person
4:1 / $2,650 per person
Wrangell Plateau
1:1 / $5,570 per person
2:1 / $3,515 per person
3:1 / $2,940 per person
4:1 / $2,800 per person
Nikolai
1:1 / $4,750 per person
2:1 / $2,900 per person
3:1 / $2,390 per person
4:1 / $2,185 per person
Hidden Gems
1:1 / $7,020 per person
2:1 / $4,600 per person
3:1 / $3,905 per person
4:1 / $3,510 per person
$100/child discount for all children 12 and under on all private day hikes (issued at final payment)
$50/person discount for AK residents & Active Military and family. Valid with current I.D. (Issued at final payment)
Trip Description
The Water, Ice and Backcountry package is designed to have the most variety and be the fullest experience that Wrangell-St. Elias has to offer. This package combines our two most exciting local day trips with a flight deep into the wilderness for a 3 day/ 2 night Backcountry adventure.
Customize your package from the trip options listed for each day. You will have the opportunity to choose your preferred trips during booking.
Glacier Day: Hike on a glacier! All of our glacier hikes start at our office in Kennicott, include a history tour through the Kennicott Millsite, interpretive nature hike on the Root Glacier Trail and exploration of the white ice of the Root Glacier. Click on the links below for a more detailed description of each hike.
Glacier Day Options:
| Trip Name | Difficulty & Length of Trip | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Half Day Glacier Hike | Easy 4-5 hours | Hiking on a glacier! See blue pools, canyons, moulins and more! |
| Full Day Glacier Hike | Easy to Moderate 7 - 8 hours | Everything the half-day has to offer, just more of it! |
| Ice Explorer Climb & Hike | Medium to Hard 7 - 9 hours | The best of all worlds from Glacier Hiking & Ice Climbing. Great for families with mixed abilities and interests and for those who want it all. |
| Full day Ice Climb | Medium to Hard 7-9 hours | Ice climbing anywhere is extraordinary. Ice climbing on a glacier is out of this world. |
| Donoho Lakes Hike | Moderate 7-9 hours | Take the full day glacier hike and add an amazing waterfall and stunning alpine lakes. |
Packraft Day: Packraft on a glacial lake! Paddle your own boat around icebergs, explore the glacier’s edge and take in 360 degree views. Packrafts are inflatable, one-person boats that fit in a light backpack. A uniquely Alaskan experience.
Packraft Day Options:
| Trip | Difficulty & Length of Trip | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Glacier Lake Packraft | Easy 4 - 5 hours | Paddle your own boat in the stunning setting of a glacial lake. |
| Hike and Packraft | Medium 6 - 8 hours | Hike in, gear up, and explore areas only accessible by packrafts. |
Backcountry Days: Fly-in and camp in the wilderness! Start with a scenic bush plane flight through the Wrangells to one of our incredible backcountry locations. Enjoy three days and two nights of world-class hiking, amazing camping and great food. Our Backcountry Trips are a once in a lifetime experience.
Choose Basecamping or a Backpacking Loop from the destinations below.
Backcountry Options:
| Trip | Difficulty & Length of Trip | Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root Glacier | Easy - Hard 2-3 days | $ | Hike in from KWG’s office and explore our unbelievable backyard. Cross glaciers, hike in the alpine, camp with views of icefalls. |
| The Fosse | Easy - Hard 3-6 days | $$ | Fly over Alaska valley glaciers. Hike through wildflower-filled alpine to an iceberg filled lake and views of 16,390 ft Mt. Blackburn. |
| Nizina | Easy - Medium 3-6 days | $$ | Impressive flight next to the Mile High Cliffs. Mountain and valley views, glacial lake with floating/calving icebergs, dynamic geology. |
| Nikolai | Easy - Hard 3-6 days | $$ | An impressive flight to a dramatic location. Hike world class ridges with incredible wildflowers, dynamic geology and expansive views. |
| Fan Glacier | Easy - Hard 3-6 days | $$$ | A long flight gets you away from the crowds. Excellent hiking to views of hanging glaciers, huge vistas and unique kettle pools. |
| Skolai | Easy - Medium 3-6 days | $$ | Fly through the heart of the Wrangells to an epic alpine pass at 6,000ft. Hike to waterfalls, hanging glaciers, lakes and big views. |
| Wrangell Plateau | Easy - Medium 3-5 days | $$$ | A scenic flight to the enchanting alpine below Mt Wrangell, 14,163 ft. Hike to stunning views of waterfalls, glaciers and high peaks. |
| Iceberg | Easy - Hard 3-6 days | $$$ | Fly through a large portion of the park. Hike to emerald alpine lakes in a valley surrounded by jagged peaks in an impressive landscape. |
| Hidden Gems | Easy - Hard 3-8 days | $$$$ | These are special trips to places seldom seen. Trips and locations custom tailored to personalized itinerary and logistics. |
- The same private guide for the entire package
- Made to order lunches
- Round-trip transportation from your local lodging to where we begin each trip.
Duration: 5 days
Difficulty: Easy-Hard
Highlights:
- Ease of booking and customizable options
- Building a relationship with the same guide
- Bush plane flight to an amazing wilderness camping destination
- Seeing glacial formations: waterfalls, crevasses, blue pools, moulins
- Use packrafts to explore a unique, otherwise inaccessible landscape
Trip Details
Terrain Challenges: Uneven trail surfaces, loose rocks, short and steep gain/loss of elevation and walking in crampons on uneven glacial surfaces. Need to actively paddle your own packraft with a kayak paddle, in cold, glacial fed water.
Who: Anyone looking for 2 day trips plus a 3 day backcountry adventure!
When: June-September
Flight times depend on air service availability.
Where: Our Glacier Hikes leave from our office in Kennicott and our Packrafting Trip leaves from the Footbridge in McCarthy. The Backcountry Trip leaves from the McCarthy Airstrip.
Trip Includes
- Pre-trip planning.
- Experienced, friendly, knowledgeable guides!
- Round-trip, local transportation to where we begin our trip.
- Small guide to client ratios.
- Customizable itinerary.
- Airfare into the backcountry.
- Medical equipment, training and protocols to Wilderness First Responder Standards.
- SAT phone & Delorme InReach.
- Emergency camping gear (in the rare instance the plane cannot pick us up, do to weather conditions, we are prepared to spend the night in the backcountry)
- Technical gear and equipment.
- Day packs (if needed)
- Leave No Trace and Bear Safety education/ ethics.
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.
Water, Ice & Basecamp: Five Day Package
Photo Gallery
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