I took an all-day Root Glacier Tour with St. Elias Alpine Guides. Other than the weather being…read morepoor, I had a wonderful experience. Funny. Quick backstory. Last year I visited Wrangell St. Elias National Park and figured I could handle hiking onto Root Glacier all by my lonesome. I was wrong! I admit it! So, unfortunately, last year I messed things up, lol. But, alas, now this year of 2022, I have returned to McCarthy/Kennicott determined to change my past and history! Hehehe. Now being 1 year smarter, I have realized that yep, I needed to be guided, especially since (in my opinion) you absolutely need crampons to hike onto Root Glacier. And a guided tour will provide those vital crampons as part of the package. Plus...glaciers can be dangerous. If you're on your own, hiking, and take a wrong turn, it can be fatal. Okay, so here I was with 2 tour guides and a total of about 10 others with me on my 8-hour Root Glacier Tour. The tour was $145, plus I purchased an $8 optional snack pack that St. Elias Guides provided which included your usual hiking items like nuts, beef jerky, chips, etc... Then with taxes...the grand total was $162. For all my travels throughout Alaska this past summer, $162 for an 8-hour tour was absolutely worth it!! I booked with St. Elias Alpine Guides online. It was simple and they had plenty of available days and times for me to choose from. I was picked up by minivan at the McCarthy Footbridge at 8:30am on a Saturday for the 9am starting hike and departure. The van drove to Kennicott where I checked-in at the front desk counter and was introduced to my tour guides. Normally I don't mention names, but today I will because of how much I genuinely liked my guides. I really felt like I connected with them, and they made the tour memorable for me. So...thank you Kelsey and Victor. You guys were awesome! From Kennicott where the Old Mill and Mine is located, we then ventured about 2 miles all the way to "The Toe" of Root Glacier where we stopped, sat down, and put on our crampons. Interestingly, Kelsey and Victor said it was mandatory to wear gloves while hiking (in case we fell) along with having a backpack for extra gear and clothing. Plus, obviously, plenty of water. So now hiking up and onto Root Glacier...the day was really ours to casually take time and explore. Kelsey and Victor introduced us to all the popular and photogenic spots. I got to learn about blue pools, crevasses and moulins (which are life ending if you fall into one). There was really no rush in terms of exploring. When someone wanted to stop to take photos, we stopped. We learned a lot about the history and factual info on Root Glacier. About midway through the day, say 1pm, the group paused for lunch, which was our responsibility. St. Elias doesn't provide lunches, only the little snack packs. Kelsey and Victor did boil hot water for us to have either a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. That was a nice way to recharge my battery. We walked around Root Glacier till 3pm before turning around and making our way back to be finished by 5pm. Overall, I got about 4 - 4.5 hours' worth of hiking and exploring on Root Glacier. Funny...the time goes by so fast when you're having fun. I wasn't ready to leave, lol. I felt like there was so much more to see. That's how much I was enjoying myself, lol. But ultimately, we still had to hike off Root Glacier and then trek the 2 miles back to Kennicott where the van initially dropped us off. In total, there were 7 - 8 miles worth of hiking throughout the day. Normally, that would be a long for some people, but when there's so much to see and do...it felt like I barely worked hard at all. Lastly, yeah, just, Root Glacier, it was mostly raining during my time out there for the day. And that certainly depressed my pictures somewhat. But I could sense when there's good weather with sun, how beautiful and colorful this glacier can be. In the end, I just had to deal with the conditions. Btw, and when you're hiking, it starts getting warm so although it could have been 40ish degrees outside, I actually took my jacket off while on the glacier. I must say...for all you park enthusiasts, and those interested in visiting Wrangell St. Elias NP...the #1 activity/sight/attraction is without a doubt this...ROOT GLACIER!!! I believe it is imperative when here exploring, you must do a guided tour! It's not often that Alaskan Glaciers are accessible through hiking...most of them are seen and witnessed from tour boats and by hiking trails to "The Toe" sections. But this Root Glacier offers you the best of it all! There's no other feeling like hiking on a glacier, so make sure to take advantage of Root Glacier's accessibility. You will be left with everlasting memories from your time here!

This hike is the reason you come to McCarthy, in my opinion…read more On a clear day, the views are hard to beat. This glacier is moderate enough that you can easily hike up on it with no gear or previous experience. You can see a massive icefall in the distance as well as the towering Wrangle Mountains. To get here simply take a shuttle into Kennecott, then walk through the historic mining town and...keep walking. You'll find yourself on a trail. Eventually, you'll come to a junction that points the way to the Root Glacier. Looks like there is also some pretty good backpacking opportunities in the area. Definitely going to explore the other trails in the network next time I visit.

We have had two phenomenal days with St. Elias Alpine Guides! We rafted the Kennicott and Nizina…read moreRivers with Jeff and Stella. They were knowledgeable and fun! They made us a delicious lunch on a gravel bar half way through the trip. After we finished rafting, Wrangell Mountain Air picked us up and gave us a great 20 minute flight seeing tour of the rivers, glaciers and Kennecott and McCarthy. A wonderful way to spend a day! The next day, we had a wonderful tour of the Root Glacier and The Kennecott Mill with Michael. I've never had such an entertaining and well informed tour guide! We can't say enough great things about the fun we had in Wrangell St. Elias because of St. Elias Alpine Guides!

Here for the half day glacier hike tour. Our guide is Jake. Total 8 people in our group. Crampons,…read moregloves, sunglasses are required. Also, bring your own foods/snacks and water bottle! Today's goal is to look for a blue pool!!

My Dad and I had the best time doing the Half Day Root Glacier hike this past summer. We were in…read moreMcCarthy/Kennicott in late June (2019) and met our guide Johnny in Kennicott. We were quite surprised that we were the only people on the tour but also enjoyed it very much as we were able to go at a leisurely pace on the two-mile hike to/from Root Glacier. Our guide Johnny was so informative and told us about the history of Kennicott in addition to explaining about glaciers and how they form. Once we got to Root Glacier, we strapped on our crampons (provided by McCarthy River Tours & Outfitters) and as my dad said several times, began "walking on a big ice cube!" Johnny was so patient and attentive to the wants and needs of our small group. My favorite part was walking to the blue pool of water while on the glacier. It was incredible and Johnny was a great sport about taking our photo. We too a leisurely stroll back to Kennicott, filled with more photos and great conversation. I am really hoping to someday return to the McCarthy/Kennicott area and would absolutely love to do a rafting trip with this company. Definitely five stars - look for the Alaska TourSaver book for a possible buy one-get one coupon/discount! Thank you Johnny for providing my Dad and I with an excellent afternoon!

Cannot say enough great things about McCarthy River Tours. Chris (TBone) was very communicative and…read morereassuring they could accommodate our special needs. Booking was quick and easy followed up with a phone call from the owner. Ron and Morgan, our guides were the best; beginning with the safety orientation through outfitting for cold water and preparing us for all that we were about to experience. Ron (3rd season guide) especially was very knowledgeable about local geology, fauna, glacier activity, and history. Morgan (1st season guide) was very enthusiastic and that enthusiasm inspired us. Both of them provided humor with local knowledge and anecdotes. Greatly appreciate their insightfulness. We had booked a two hour rafting experience that included a paddle to the face of the Kennicott and Root Glaciers. This was totally amazing and puts into perspective the power of a moving glacier. From there we entered the headwaters of the Kennicott River and the pace picked up quickly as we sped through several Class II/III rapids. A wee bit of splashing (thank goodness for the provided dry suits). The excitement continued all the way to the end of the trip where we pulled out. After securing the rafts we were transported back to our origination point. We will return to experience their other outdoor adventure packages.

It really is difficult to write a Yelp review for the largest National Park in the entire National…read morePark System. To give it some perspective, Wrangell-St. Elias is SIX Yellowstones, it's huge... and it's great. While I haven't had the chance to go into the backcountry (yet), I have been to (I think) every Ranger Station and down both the Nabesna Road and the McCarthy Road. Ranger Stations - Slana Ranger Station, Copper Center Ranger Station, Chitina Ranger Station, and McCarthy/Kennecott Ranger Station. Apparently there's also a District Office in Yakutat that I haven't been to. Highlights for me definitely include the Slana Region of the park and the Nabesna Road. I have stayed at both the Viking Lodge Cabin and the Caribou Creek Cabin. I am borderline obsessed with these public use cabins and that they're available for people to reserve for such a non-existent fee. The Rambler Mine Trail is another favorite, so much so that I've done it twice. I still hope to go back someday to do the Skookum Volcano Trail... I find the differences between the park and preserve in this area of the park to be fascinating in addition to no hunting in the park but residents can subsidence hunt (I agree). I finally had the opportunity to drive down the McCarthy Road this past summer and loved it. Sure, it's crazy to drive over two hours down a 60-mile dirt road just to end at a footbridge but that was actually half the fun. Not so fun - the 268 foot bridge... scary! Kennecott/McCarthy are a bit more touristy but fascinating in their own right(s). I loved exploring 'downtown' McCarthy and seeing the history throughout these two areas. The Mill Town Tour and Glacier Tours were also highlights (reviews for those coming soon). Definitely stop at a Ranger Station before driving either of the roads to pick up the Audio CD for a self-guided tour of the roads... I loved them both. Wrangell-St. Elias is so diverse, so remote, so scenic, it's one of my all-time favorite parks and I highly, highly recommend it. Spend the extra money for a high clearance rental car!

I finally made it to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park! I have a lot to say and will use the entire…read morespace available to write so, here goes... There are 2 options for arriving here. You can drive the 60 mile gravel/dirt McCarthy Road (which can take up to 3 hours) or you can fly with an Alaskan Bush propeller plane and Wrangell Mountain Air. When first booking my plans, I was definitely driving McCarthy Road, no doubt about it. But then researching further into my travels, if you do drive rugged McCarthy Road, you are not permitted to take a rental car. For me, I was flying into Fairbanks, renting a car and then doing a circle around Denali, this Wrangell-St. Elias and finally Kenai Fjords...the 3 out of 8 parks that you can actually drive to. But...the rental car agency was specific about not taking their autos on McCarthy Road. Well, my conscious got the better of me. Also, I was scared if I did get a flat on McCarthy Road, who would rescue me? Especially when there's no cell phone reception either. So...at the last minute I had a change of heart and flew Wrangell Mountain Air. I'm grateful for Wrangell Mountain Air! The scenery along my round trip flights was fantastic! It was like a true sightseeing flight but I was being transported 30 minutes from the town of Chitina, Alaska to here in McCarthy/Kennicott. It was $330 round trip but a truly memorable experience! I highly recommend it. Simply book at wrangellmountainair.com. Now...there is 1 major highlight/tour you absolutely MUST DO. And that is taking a tour onto ROOT GLACIER. Unfortunately for myself, I had researched that you can go onto Root Glacier at your own accord so I figured why not take my time and do it myself? For me, a huge mistake! Why? Because you absolutely need crampons (spikes) on your shoes to climb Root Glacier. Without crampons, I was slipping and sliding. Trying to walk on Root Glacier was impossible! Plus...it's dangerous to go alone on Root Glacier. You need an experienced tour guide that offers crampons. Obviously I highly regret not doing a glacier tour. But...by the time I realized where I made a mistake it was too late. Grrr. I hope to return here to get an up close view of Root Glacier. It should be everyone's priority #1! Before I get into a few of the hikes and explorations, I'd like to give extra details... I visited back in late June of this 2021 summer and the mosquitos were unbearable! Seriously unbearable to the point where just trying to hike was torturous! I swear I'm being serious. Definitely try to visit later on in the summer. I was here for 3 nights and 4 days and it rained for 3.5 of the days! Ugh. How sad! So disappointed with Mother Nature. My hikes and explorations were dampened by the rain and cold. It just sucked and I was carrying around my vaccine card with me which got destroyed by the rain. My mistake again. I stayed at charming McCarthy Cabins 5 miles outside McCarthy/Kennicott. For $150 per night, it's the cheapest option for accommodations other than camping out. I recommend McCarthy Cabins and the owner, Denise, is friendly and accommodative. Eating... - For 2 nights I ate at The Potato, a casual all-American type restaurant. - One time I tried the Meatza Wagon, a food truck with some really innovative and creative options for sandwiches and fish tacos. I really liked this out of the ordinary food truck stand situated beside the Kennicott Glacier Lodge. Hiking... - Bonanza Mine and or Jumbo Mine Trails. Both very similar in lengths, elevations and covering similar terrains. They're both (give or take) 8.3 miles round trip gaining almost 4000 feet in elevation! I had read they're each scenic and worthwhile. I attempted both but because of the poor weather, rain, fog and snow still covering the trails, I never made it all the way to the top of either of them. That's was pretty disheartening not to make it to the apexes. Plus because of the fog, I was barely able to take any fulfilling photos. But...I can imagine both hikes being stunning during good weather. I wouldn't do both. I'd choose one or the other. I had Bonanza Mine sounding more scenic in my research. - Erie Mine Trail. I appreciated this hike as it took me along both Root and Kennicott Glaciers. It's 4 miles round trip but you can extend further to the Erie Mine tram cables for a total of 8 miles altogether. I will say that eventually this trail climbed along the cliff's edge, and with rain and snow I didn't want to chance going further so eventually after 2.5 miles I turned around and headed back towards the trailhead. Along the way the views of the glaciers were terrific! - The Toe of Root Glacier. This a good intro hike to the area where I casually walked towards the edge of a lake looking out upon Root Glacier set in the distance. Maybe this was 2 - 3 miles total round trip. The trailhead starts just outside McCarthy. Don't forget the historic Kennicott Mine Tour! Since there's no more room, I have to end here. Thank you.

My first stay here was Labor Day weekend, 2016. I arrived with no reservation but was able to…read moresecure a campsite with a great view of the glacier. It didn't have a picnic table as they were taken by all of those with reservations. Side note, that site does have a picnic table as of today. This year, I made sure to make a reservation 2 weeks in advance and I was extremely pleased by the large, private site provided to us. Great customer service as always. This is McCarthy, which is very remote, so understandably there isn't any trash service and you have to take your trash back home you with. No big deal. Make sure to keep your trash and food secured in your vehicle as not to attract squirrels and bears. (Especially the squirrels, they are quick little buggers and jumped in my SUV while I was setting up camp.) There is only one outhouse for the whole campground at the entrance which is slightly inconvenient. This is no frills camping which is how camping should be. Each site has a fire ring and flat surface for a tent, most have a picnic table. It's only $15 a night which is cheap. A short, 10-15 minute walk to the footbridge. It's wooded and private, which is important to me. I want to feel like I'm camping by in the woods by myself, not exposed with strangers. I plan to return here every year.

A cool and rustic peace of history. A visit to Wrangell is not complete without a stop to…read moreKennecott. Shuttle service to and from McCarthy was frequent and accessible for a small fee. We only had a day to explore, but you can see the main points easily. If you want to fit some of the longer hikes, plan on a second day. We explored by ourselves although tours are offered (and it is the only way to visit the inside of the Kennecott Mill). However, doing a self-guided tour around Kennecott was more than enough. It was at the end of the season, so services were limited. I can't speak much about that, but the pit toilets were still pretty well-maintained. Just plan a day to visit.

A quick 10 minute drive from McCarthy, the Kennecott Mines are a great historical site to explore…read morewhen you're visiting McCarthy. It had such a rich history with so much to learn and explore. Unfortunately, we came after much of it was closed for the season, so we didn't get to go inside any of the buildings. But from what we could see from the outside and read on the plaques, this mining town was fascinating! While we didn't do it, they do offer paid tours of the 14-story mill. This sounds like it would be a fascinating tour. We ended our time here with a short hike up to the mill, across the waterfall, and down back to the shuttle stop. It was actually so beautiful and relaxing. A perfect way to end our time here. Hop onto one of the shuttle vans and head on over!