Backpack Wrangell St. Elias National Park -
For small groups, families and private trips!

A flight brings us up the Tana River Valley from McCarthy before landing near Iceberg Lake. Adorned with glaciers, high peaks, and tundra, this area offers endless views and day hike opportunities. From camp we spend each day hiking various directions along the tundra or up onto the alpine ridges. A great family experience.

Day 1- Meet in Valdez. We suggest getting to Valdez the day before departure. We spend an hour or so reviewing gear and packing the backpacks. We then drive north to Chitina (2 hrs) where we catch a small plane flight to the ghost town of McCarthy to catch our next flight deep into the park. After being dropped by bush plane, we take a short hike to set you base camp.
(Lunch Dinner)

Day 2-4 -For 3 days we will explore the many options to hike in the region. We can hike out toward the massive Tana Glacier through the tundra covered hillsides.

Heading North, we can walk on a more accessible Glacier end have the chance to explore the ice with crampons. We can also hike up the ridge through fields of wildflowers and glacier erratics

Motivated groups can venture upward to bag a peak or more alpine ridges. The views are amazing.
(Breakfast Lunch Dinner)

Day 5- We will have a relaxing morning and a chance to pack up before the plane picks up the group. We fly out 2-3 at a time. Upon returning to McCarthy we will have time to explore town before catching the next flight to Chitina and driving in the Van back to Valdez. The trip ends when we return to Valdez in the early evening.
(Breakfast Lunch)

This itinerary was designed for groups or families that are not looking to carry a heavy backpack for miles at a time, but would still like to get into the backcountry to experience Alaska's wild lands.  We get out on day hikes that are equal in beauty to any major backpacking expedition.