ICEBERG LAKE
ALASKA FLY-IN HIKE
Day Trip
-
Hiking/Flight
- Moderate
A stark landscape of rock and ice deep in the Chugach Mountains.
Iceberg Lake is a unique landscape that shows off the dynamic environment of Alaska. You’ll land on a sandy bench that was originally below the water level of the lake! This once vast lake owed its size to the ice dam that blocked it from draining on the side of the West Lobe of the Tana Glacier. Recently, however, the shifting and melting of the glacier allowed much of the lake to drain leaving a smaller lake behind. Although the lake isn’t as filled with icebergs as it once was, the vastness of the glaciers beyond are sure to take your breath away!
With no trails to guide you, this truly Alaskan wilderness is yours to explore without limits. Spend your day hiking south towards Iceberg Lake or set your sights to the north where a smaller glacier spills into the valley, stopping to enjoy smaller lakes fed by the hanging glaciers above. No matter what direction you go, be sure to keep your eyes peeled, as bears are commonly seen here. Even if you don’t spot one, you’ll be sure to see signs of these magnificent creatures.
The Alaska Factor
Here in Alaska we’re faced with what we like to call “The Alaska Factor.” Alaska’s wild and untamed landscape offers us the opportunity to authentically explore true wilderness. Part of embracing the Alaska Factor is understanding that things may not always go as planned. Water levels might rise, snow might fall, glaciers might shift and move – the landscape is dynamic and unpredictable. That’s what makes Alaska, Alaska!
It’s important to expect the unexpected! Weather may cause delays, reroutes, or unplanned overnight trips. Although extremely unlikely, there is a small chance unfavorable weather conditions may require you and your guide to stay overnight in the backcountry. On all of our Fly-In Trips, your guide will come prepared with an overnight bag that includes shelter, sleeping bags/pads, and food for your group. Your guide will also have a satellite phone in order to communicate with the flight service. The Alaska Factor makes anything possible, and we’ll always come prepared! Unexpected reroutes that result in a longer flight will incur additional fees. You will be responsible for covering the cost of these fees.
Tour Details
Price
1 participant – $2,852 total
2 participants – $2,852 total
3 participants – $4,197 total
4 participants – $6,896 total
5 participants – $8,620 total
6 participants – $11,640 total
7 participants – $13,580 total
Mileage
Variable!
Terrain
Uneven surfaces, loose rock, wet marsh, creek crossings
Elevation gain/loss
Up to 300 ft
Tour Length
Full day (variable start and end time)
Dates Offered
Daily from June 15th – September 10th, 2023
Age Limit
All ages welcome!
Group Size
Always private!
DETAILS
Trip Highlights
- Customizable route, completely tailored to your interests and abilities!
- Two 30-minute scenic bush plane flights
- A vast landscape of rock and ice, with young flora adding pops of color
- A full day exploring a uniquely dynamic Alaskan environment in the Chugach Mountains
What’s Included?
- Experienced and knowledgeable guide
- 30-minute bush plane flights there and back
- Emergency overnight gear
- Roundtrip ground transportation!
What’s Not Included?
- Gratuity
- Personal gear
- Lunch or snacks
Equipment List
Come prepared with the following:
- Rain Gear – Both jacket and pants
- Extra Layers – Warm sweater and/or jacket
- Hat and Light Gloves – Cloudy, rainy weather can make even a July day cold!
- Sunglasses and Sunscreen
- Hiking Boots or Other Sturdy Walking Shoes
- Lunch, Snacks, and a Water Bottle
- Camera/Phone to Take Pictures!
- Backpack to carry it all
GALLERY
FAQ
Glacier Activities – Yes, you do need to bring your own lunch. Bringing lunch is highly recommended to help keep you fueled during your time out on the glacier, especially for the Full-Day Hike or Ice Climbing!
Fly-In Activities – Yes. You’ll be out in the Backcountry from morning until evening, so you’ll definitely want to bring a lunch
Raft & Flightsee – No, lunch is provided! Please let us know at the time of your booking if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions.
Kayaking Activities – Yes, you do need to bring your own lunch.
You’re welcome to reserve a Snack Pack for $8 or purchase one at our office at the start of your hike. If you are staying at the Kennicott Glacier Lodge and have purchased a meal plan, they will provide you with a sack lunch for the day.
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!
St. Elias Alpine Guides was started in McCarthy in 1978 by legendary climber Bob Jacobs who wanted to explore even more remote wilds and was feeling like Denali was getting too crowded even back in the 70s! The current owners worked as guides for the company for many years before taking over the business and are only the third generation of owners in 40 years! We’ve been around longer than the Park itself and are the longest continually operating business in the area. We are proud of our long and consistent legacy in the most magnificent wilderness on earth! To learn more about us, click 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!