KENNICOTT GLACIER
FLY-IN HIKE
Day Trip
-
Hiking/Flight
- Moderate
Travel in a small valley formed by the mighty Kennicott Glacier!
To start your adventure, your pilot will expertly land in what’s simply known as “The Fosse” – a small valley nestled between the lateral moraine of the Kennicott Glacier and the adjoining mountainside. As your pilot flies away, you and your guide will have free range of this remote oasis. You’ll walk among some of Alaska’s best flora while you trek towards the rewarding panoramic views of Mt. Blackburn. Proudly standing at 16,390 ft tall, this behemoth is surrounded by hanging glaciers, immense icefalls, and craggy peaks that only add to its majesty.
Although you’ll be close enough to the Kennicott Glacier to touch it, hiking on this glacier is not recommended for all groups. Access is steep and the glacier is covered by moraine (loose rock) that makes travel challenging.
ADVANCED RESERVATIONS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED!
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 – $1,300 total
2 participants – $2,000 total
3 participants – $2,850 total
4 participants – $4,460 total
5 participants – $3,325 total
6 participants – $6,840 total
Mileage
Variable!
Elevation gain/loss
Up to 800 ft
Terrain
Loose rocky surfaces, soft tundra
Tour Length
Full day (variable start and end time)
Dates Offered
Daily from June 15th – August 15th, 2025
Age Limit
All ages welcome!
Group Size
Always private!
DETAILS
Trip Highlights
- Customizable route, completely tailored to your interests and abilities!
- Two 10-minute scenic bush plane flights
- Incredible views from the air and ground of the Kennicott Glacier and 16,390 ft Mt. Blackburn
- A full day of hiking amongst some truly epic Alaskan terrain
What’s Included?
- Experienced and knowledgeable guide
- 10-minute bush plane flight 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, Sunscreen, and Bug Spray
- Hiking Boots with ankle support or other sturdy walking shoes.
- Trekking Poles
- Lunch, Snacks, and a Water Bottle
- Camera/Phone to take pictures!
- Backpack to carry it all.
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 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.
GALLERY
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!