ICE CLIMBING
- Advanced
- Climbing
Climb on glacial ice - no experience required!
Experience the thrill of ice climbing in Alaska! Set amidst the stunning beauty of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the vertical ice walls of the Root Glacier offer the perfect venue for people of all skill levels.
Get geared up with your experienced guide and head out on the 2-mile trail that takes you to the glacier. Once on the ice, your guide will teach you the basics of climbing before you advance to more challenging glacial features. To truly put your skills to the test, you can even climb out of a moulin – a vertical hole that goes deep inside of the glacier! No matter what you accomplish during your day of climbing, our guides’ focus is always to facilitate a safe, fun, and supportive environment for you to learn! If you’re interested in going beyond the basics of beginner’s Ice Climbing, then we recommend you book a Private Trip. Private Trips give you the flexibility to advance as quickly (or slowly) as you need!
Want the full itinerary? See our Ice Climbing Itinerary for more information.
Looking to learn the ropes for future climbing adventures? Consider our Three-Day Ice Climbing Camp!
ADVANCED RESERVATIONS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED!
Tour Details
Price
Adult(13+) $197
Kids(12-) $177
Mileage
5-6 miles, 4 are on an out-and-back trail
Terrain
Uneven trail and glacier travel. The last 1/4 mile of trail is not well-maintained and includes ~200 ft of steep, loose rock over ice. Climbing up to 75 feet on vertical walls of ice!
Tour Length
8-9 hours
Tour Start Times
9 am in Kennecott
Dates Offered
Daily from May 22nd – September 13th, 2026
Age Limit
No set age limit! Private trip recommended for those traveling with children under the age of 8.
Group Size
5-6 guests to 1 guide, multiple tours can go out at once.
Private Options are available and recommended for those with prior climbing experience!
DETAILS
Trip Highlights
- Ice climb on one of Alaska’s most beautiful valley glaciers!
- Scale 75 foot vertical walls of ice!
- Climb your way out of a moulin – one of the most unbelievable glacial features!
- Friendly and professional guides to teach you basic and advanced techniques.
- Climbing options for everyone, from the nervous novice to the seasoned climber – private trips recommended for those looking for a customizable experience.
- Technical gear is included, just come prepared with basic day-hiking gear!
- Views of the 7,000 ft Stairway Icefall and 16,390 ft Mt. Blackburn.
What’s Included?
- Experienced and knowledgeable guide
- Rope, harness, helmet, climbing boots, crampons, and ice tools!
- Roundtrip transportation to and from Kennecott!
(Pick-up time and location vary depending on your lodging location. Please reference your confirmation for specific details.)
What’s Not Included?
- Gratuity
- Personal gear (see equipment list)
- Lunch or snacks
Once you book your trip, you’ll receive a confirmation with all the information you need!
Equipment List
Required gear:
- Rain Gear – Both jacket and pants!
- Layers – Hat, warm sweater and/or jacket, pants (NO SHORTS!).
- Light Gloves – Gloves are used to protect your hands from the jagged ice!
- Sunglasses and Sunscreen – The reflective nature of the glacier makes these an absolute necessity!
- Hiking Boots with ankle support or other sturdy walking shoes.
- Lunch, Snacks, and a Water Bottle
- Backpack – Please make sure it is big enough to carry your extra layers, lunch, water, and the crampons and climbing boots we lend you.
Refer to your confirmation for a full gear list.
GALLERY
FAQ
Each activity that we offer is unique and requires a different skills set that may not be suitable for all ages. Here are the age limits for our Day Trips:
Kennecott Mill Town Tour – All ages are welcome! Please keep in mind that there are steep stairs that all participants must be able to navigate independently. A hands free carrier is required for those 2 and under.
Half-Day Glacier Hike – All ages are welcome! Consider that you will hike between 5-6 miles. A hands free carrier is recommended for young children. A Private Trip is a great choice depending on the ages and abilities of your kids.
Full-Day Glacier Hike – All ages are welcome! Consider that you will hike between 8-11 miles. A hands free carrier is recommended for young children. To give your family the ultimate flexibility, a Private Trip is a great choice depending on the ages and abilities of your kids.
Ice Climbing – We recommend participants be 8 years old or older. Participants are expected to swing ice tools that can weigh between 2-5 lbs and use their own strength to move themself up the wall. Please consider your kid’s capabilities! We strongly encourage that families with children under 8 years old book a Private Trip.
Raft & Flightsee – We require participants be 8 years old or older. Participants must be able to hold on to the boat independently and be able to quickly and fully follow instructions given by the guide.
Kayaking Trips – We require participants be 3 years old or older.
Fly-In Hiking Trips – All ages are welcome! A hands free carrier is strongly recommended for those 2 or under.
Tipping is customary in the guiding industry and always appreciated. Our guides are paid professionals but tips make up a significant portion of their income and can go a long way toward making guiding a feasible long-term career choice. For our day trips, a good estimate is between 10% and 20% of the trip cost. So if you go on a day hike or climb with us, that would come to between $10 and $35 per person, depending on the trip and the percentage. As in any industry, your tip should be based on the service you feel you received. If you had the time of your life, the sky’s the limit! You can tip your guides in cash, via Venmo or you can leave a gratuity on your card. If your trip includes a flight you should plan on tipping your pilot independently, any amount that you pre-tip will go to your guide directly. Thank you for considering this ahead of time!
Because we are a long-established company with a great reputation in a stunning and remote location, we attract the best guides in the business! We hire competent men and women with extensive outdoor experience, first aid training, and great personalities and then put them through a thorough training program unique to our area and our programs. Because our schedule is as dynamic as the environment we live in, we usually assign guides the night before for our Day Trips. We love and trust every one of them and we know you will too! You can read more about these fabulous individuals here.
Meet the incredible guides that are the heart of our trips!
Who are the guides that make up the St. Elias Alpine Guides team? They are a diverse and competent group of people from all across the country. Their extensive outdoor experience, wilderness medical training, and great personalities make them stand out from the crowd. We put them through a thorough training program unique to our area – glaciology lessons, backcountry navigation, and training trips on the slopes of the Wrangell Mountains add to our guides’ abilities to adapt and dominate in the diverse terrain of WSENP. From a glacier hike to an 8-day expedition, they’ll be sure to make it a trip of a lifetime!
Because our schedule is as dynamic as the environment we live in, we usually assign guides the night before for our Day Trips. And while we can’t guarantee who your guide will be – we love and trust every one of them and we know you will too!