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Wrangell-St. Elias Hiking Expedition: Alaska’s Deep Wilderness

Itinerary
Wrangell-St. Elias Hiking Expedition: Alaska’s Deep Wilderness
Guide(s)
Jack Bynum, Indigo Alpine Guides
Trip options

Add-ons

Breakfasts and dinners are included in the price of this trip. Special dietary requirements can be accommodated, please let us know down below if you have any.

Wrangell-St. Elias Hiking Expedition: Alaska’s Deep Wilderness
Itinerary
Wrangell-St. Elias Hiking Expedition: Alaska’s Deep Wilderness
People
1 Person
Date(s)
--
Duration
10 day
Guide(s)
Jack Bynum, Indigo Alpine Guides

  • Experience the ultimate Alaskan adventure in Wrangell-St. Elias, America’s largest national park. At over 13 million acres, it’s six times the size of Yellowstone, with towering 16,000-foot peaks, glaciers, and untamed wilderness. We’ll fly by bush plane into remote areas most will never see, then spend 10 days exploring two distinct regions of the park. Our routes will take us through alpine meadows, along glaciers, and up ridgelines for panoramic views. Each day brings new challenges, each evening a cozy tent and hot meal. This is Alaska at its wildest, made surprisingly accessible. Ready to step into the wild?

    • Welcome to Anchorage, where the mountains and oceans meet and (this time of year) the sun never sets. This is the hub of Alaska and where many-a-wild adventures have started!

      Settle in a gorgeous rental apartment anytime after 3pm and make yourself at home. We’re staying at one of the most beautiful places in the heart of Anchorage, away from the hotel and cruise ship crowds. We’ll meet up as a group at 5:30pm to get to know each other, talk about our upcoming adventure, share goals for the trip, go over gear, and share a great meal complete with local Alaskan beer.

      Meals: Dinner
      Accommodation: Rental apartment in Anchorage

      Anchorage waterfront

    • In the morning we’ll have a delicious breakfast before a short 15-minute drive to Merrill Field. As the Alaskan saying goes, walk a month or fly an hour. In our case, a 2-hour stunning flight across the Chugach mountains will replace what would be an 8-hour drive! Our skilled pilots will put us down in the small historic town of McCarthy, where we’ll change to smaller planes and head deeper into the mountains. After landing, we’ll hike less than a mile to our basecamp for the next 3 nights. That evening we’ll rest and absorb the magnitude and remoteness of the place, whether in sunshine or rain.

      Meals: Breakfast and dinner
      Accommodation: Wrangell St. Elias basecamp

      Bush planes on a grassy field with snow-capped mountain backdrop and hikers nearby

    • We’ll explore the stunning Wrangells landscape layer by layer – from Scottish-like wildflower meadows at the base, through Grand Canyon-esque red cliffs in the middle, to glaciated peaks above. Each day brings a new off-trail adventure, tailored to the group’s interests and abilities. Evenings are spent sharing meals, playing cards, and gathering around the campfire. If our group is bigger than six, we’ll split into two parties with separate guides, allowing some to take slower walks while others tackle more ambitious routes.

      Meals: Breakfast and dinner
      Accommodation: Wrangell St. Elias basecamp

      Three hikers on a rocky terrain with mountains in the background under a cloudy sky

    • After lunch, bush planes with large tundra tires will pick us up from our remote basecamp and take us to our next home. We’ll set up again and settle in for a relaxing evening taking in our new view. These flights are often a trip highlight, offering incredible views and unique experiences, and AK bush pilots are some of the wildest and most competent characters you’ll ever meet.

      Meals: Breakfast and dinner
      Accommodation: Wrangell St. Elias basecamp

      Tents in an alpine landscape at dusk with a glacier, rocky terrain, and clouds

    • We’ll spend our days on long hikes exploring our new surroundings, sharing hot meals around a fire or in the tents if it’s raining. If you get exhausted, you can spend some time in camp resting, reading, making art, or playing the camp guitar—whatever suits you. Our dome tent serves as a cozy community space with camp chairs, perfect for staying warm and social even during rain, with hot drinks always available. While the planes allow us to bring these comfort items, we have to be weight-conscious, so we still pack light like we’re out for backpacking.

      Meals: Breakfast and dinner
      Accommodation: Wrangell St. Elias basecamp

      Hikers on a mountain trail overlooking a vast valley with winding glaciers and snowy peaks

    • After breakfast, we’ll pack up camp and our planes will fly us back to McCarthy—a small mining town about 40 minutes away. Then, two more flights or a flight and drive will get us back to Anchorage by mid to late afternoon. From our drop off spot, you can take a taxi back to your chosen accommodation for the night. In the evening, we’ll have a group celebratory dinner (at your own expense) at one of Anchorage’s coolest restaurants and say our goodbyes.

      Meals: Breakfast

      Anchorage at night

    • Alaska’s weather is dynamic and ever-changing, requiring flexibility in our plans. Flying conditions, weather patterns, and other factors may cause adjustments to the schedule. Flight delays of a day or more are possible while waiting for appropriate weather windows, and the itinerary may also shift due to group skill, pilot availability, or any number of unforeseen circumstances. Please bring an open mind and adventurous spirit; working with nature’s rhythms is part of what makes this expedition special

    • Included:

        • Experienced, local hiking guides with extensive knowledge of the area
        • 10-day hiking trip in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
        • Accommodation on the first night in Anchorage
        • All bush flights in and out of the mountains
        • Breakfasts and dinners as indicated in the itinerary
        • Group supplies: cooking equipment, water treatment options, group shelters, bear canisters, toilet supplies, emergency communication devices, maps, GPS, first aid kit
        • National Park entrance fees

      Not included:

        • Flights to Anchorage
        • Transportation within Anchorage
        • Dinner in Anchorage on Day 10
        • Personal gear
        • Lunches and snacks
        • Guide gratuities — optional (10-20% customary)
        • Travel and medical insurance — optional (but recommended)

    • This hiking trip in Wrangell-St. Elias is an intermediate to challenging adventure in remote Alaskan terrain. A good fitness level is required and prior hiking experience is strongly recommended.

      You must be able to walk 2 miles (3.2 km) off-trail, sometimes up steep terrain, with a 30-pound (13.6 kg) pack in order to carry gear between remote airstrips and camps. To get the most out of this adventure, you should be comfortable hiking 8-10 miles (13-16 km) on varied terrain.

      Daily hiking is flexible—you can opt for shorter walks near camp or join longer, challenging day hikes. The group can be split based on preferred hiking distances and speeds. Full-day adventures involve off-trail travel across scree slopes, mountain passes, and occasional dense Alaskan alder thickets. Even experienced backpackers will find these hikes rewarding and challenging.

      Beyond fitness levels, all participants must be self-sufficient with basic camp tasks such as packing and unpacking gear, setting up and breaking down tents, and carrying a share of group equipment to and from airstrips. While the off-trail hiking can be demanding, the spectacular views and sense of accomplishment make it all worthwhile.

      For more hiking adventures in the USA, click here!

    • Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

        • Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag)
        • Hiking poles — optional
        • Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
        • Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
        • Comfortable hiking clothes
        • Spare clothes for layering
        • Waterproof rain jacket
        • Sunhat
        • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
        • Sleeping bag and sleeping pad
        • Personal bowl
        • Eating utensils
        • Lunches you can eat on-the-go
        • Headlamp
        • Sunglasses
        • Camera — optional (but recommended)

      Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season.

      Note: Please keep in mind that the personal gear limit for this trip is set at 30 lbs (13.6 kg).

    • Group sizes and pricing

        • For this hiking trip in Wrangell St. Elias, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1.
        • It takes a minimum of 5 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 7 participants.

      Hiking in Wrangell St. Elias can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

      Min. age requirements

        • If you are older than 16, you’re good to go.
        • Minors younger than 16 may be permitted to join this hiking trip in Wrangell St. Elias on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

      If your group has hikers under the age of 16, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

    • The starting point of your hiking trip in Wrangell St. Elias is Anchorage, AK. To get there, most people fly into Ted Stevens International Airport (ANC). From there, you can take a shuttle service, public transport, or rent a car to reach Anchorage. Please plan to arrive in Anchorage no later than 5pm on Day 1 and book your flights for no earlier than 8pm on the final day.

      Once you’re there, you will meet your guide and group at 5:30pm on Day 1 in Anchorage.

    • We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

      Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

      Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!

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