Backpacking

WRANGELL-ST. ELIAS NATIONAL PARK

Experience the adventure of a lifetime by backpacking in some of the last true wilderness on Earth

Experience True Wilderness

Wrangell-St. Elias contains some of the most pristine, stunningly beautiful landscape on earth. It is one of the last remaining truly wild places that you can find. I promise you’ll feel as if you are living in an issue of National Geographic magazine!

Outside of the McCarthy/Kennecott area there are no trails, no cell service and no signs of human civilization at all. The water is so clean that it doesn’t even need to be treated or filtered for drinking. That is a rare thing to find anywhere else in the world. And the lack of people means that it is shockingly quiet and peaceful. With no light pollution the sky is darker and the stars brighter than anywhere else I have seen (except during the summer when the sun never sets of course!). Last and certainly not least, the park is like a massive wildlife sanctuary. With so little human presence or disturbance, wild animals are abundant and you will most certainly see them during your visit.

NOTE #1: Permits are not required for hiking or camping in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park but consider checking in with the National Park Service before your trip to get any updated information about the area and to let them know where you are in the event of an emergency.

NOTE #2: Bear cans are required for food storage on backcountry camping and backpacking trips.

Most backpacking trips require drop-off and pick-up by a bush plane

Bush Planes

Nearly all of the park is only accessible by bush plane. Flying into the backcountry and landing on a remote airstrip of dirt, sand or rock is very thrilling!

Contact Wrangell Mountain Air to book a flight.

Sharp navigation skills are necessary due to the lack of trails

No Trails

With no trails your navigation skills will be put to the test.

If you have little or no experience with map and compass then I highly recommend hiring a guide. Every year backpackers get lost or turn back due to the difficulty in navigating the terrain. Some parties even have to be rescued.

Campsites

You will find some of the most epic campsites in the world. But you can’t simply drive up in your car to get there. You have to earn it. The rewards are more than worth the hard work though!

Remember to practice Leave No Trace principles to preserve the wilderness in it’s pristine state.

You will feel as though you are walking through an epic adventure movie

Cinematic Landscape

Are you a fan of Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones?

This is the same type of landscape featured in those epic adventure films. You will be in awe at its grandeur and beauty.

There is no shortage of photo-worthy views in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Photographer’s Dream

At every turn you will want to get out our camera. Wrangell-St. Elias is full of photo worthy views.

I recommend that only the most dedicated photographers carry a tripod due to the added weight. Or consider bringing a lightweight, compact tripod.

Route-Finding

The extreme terrain requires advanced route-finding skills and a hearty spirit. Don’t underestimate the difficulty of traveling off-trail. It’s much more tiring than you could imagine so prepare and train accordingly before your trip.

NOTE: Hire a guide if you have little or no experience with wilderness navigation. This is not a place where you can just “figure it out” and rescues are difficult and not guaranteed. You must be prepared to be self-reliant in the Alaska wilderness.

Many peaks can be climbed along any backpacking route

Peak Bagging

Options for bagging peaks and taking side hikes are endless. The only limitation is your sense of adventure and willingness to explore along your route.

Be prepared to camp in unexpected places

Be Flexible

There are no established routes or campsites so you must rely on your own knowledge and skills to find your way. Plan your trip carefully before departing but be willing to make changes as soon as you start. You can’t possibly plan for everything in a wilderness area so make whatever adjustments necessary along your route to be safe and have fun.

Camping on a glacier is an unforgettable experience

Glacier Camping

Camping on a glacier is a unique experience. I highly recommend doing it at least once in your lifetime. You will never forget it!

A diverse geology sometimes makes for some unique rock structures

Alien Landscape

I often feel like I’m walking on the Moon or Mars on my trips. Wrangell-St. Elias sure does have a lot of diverse and unique geology!

Crossing a creek is essential on most backpacking trips

Creek Crossing

Wrangell-St. Elias is the most heavily glaciated part of Alaska. With more than 3,300 glaciers that feed creeks and rivers, water is everywhere. So it is inevitable that you will have to cross a creek at some point on your route.

CAUTION: Water crossings are the most dangerous and deadly hazard in Alaska. DO NOT attempt to cross a creek or river unless you are experienced. Seriously, it’s no joke.

If you do not have adequate experience then hire a guide. You’ll be glad you did.

Drinking Water

With no livestock and almost no human development, nearly all of Wrangell-St. Elias is clean and pristine.

That means that the water in the backcountry wilderness areas is safe to drink without treating or filtering.

It’s shocking at first and difficult to believe. But I have been guiding in the park for 15 years and I have never filtered or treated water. Not even once.

Bushwhacking

Without any trails you will almost certainly have to shwack your way through thick brush at some point on your trip.

I often hear people talk about bushwhacking in the lower 48 states (that’s Alaska speak for everywhere else in the United States except Alaska and Hawaii). But trust me, you have no idea what bushwhacking really is until you do it in Alaska. You’re in for a treat!

Food Storage

The national park requires food to be stored in a bear can.

For those who are unfamiliar, they are big cylinders with a fixed shape that fill a lot of room in your backpack and don’t really pack very well. I’ll be honest, they’re not particularly fun to carry but they do work remarkably well in preventing bears and other animals (foxes and ground squirrels in particular) from getting your food.

If you want to backpack in America’s largest national park you have to carry one. It’s worth the trouble so just suck it up and enjoy!

A bug head net is one of the most valuable items you can bring on a trip

Bugs

You never know how bad the bugs are going to be. Some years are better and some years are worse. And some years are absolutely horrendous!

My advice is to bring a bug head net on every trip. They are tiny, pack down to the size of a golf ball and weigh only a few ounces. If the mosquitos are bad the head net will save you from going mad. It’s a worthy and inexpensive investment.

NOTE: I don’t like using bugspray and I don’t want to carry the added weight and bulk. But obviously you are welcome to bring it if you prefer.

NOTE: If you happen to see a bear DO NOT approach it. The bears in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park are wild animals so practice proper bear safety. They are beautiful to watch from a distance and to photograph in their natural habitat. DO NOT walk toward a bear to get a closer look or to take a photo. This is very dangerous as it could incite a protective, aggressive response from the bear. Just relax and enjoy the site of this iconic animal in wild Alaska!

Bear Spray

There are A LOT of bears in Wrangell-St. Elias so bear spray is an essential item on every backpacking or camping trip.

Be sure to practice using it before your trip. Don’t rely on it to save you in a bear attack though. The best prevention is to practice proper bear safety.

PRO TIP #1: Be careful not to allow the trigger guard to be ripped off by branches if you have to bushwhack through thick brush. This could cause an accidental discharge of the bear spray. Trust me, it works really well on humans as well as bears. You don’t want to find out the hard way.

PRO TIP #2: Be prepared to give your bear spray to the pilot of the bush plane before departing for your flight. It cannot be stored in the main cabin in case of accidental discharge. The pilot will secure it in a separate storage compartment or strap it to the wing strut.

Dall sheep climbing a steep, rocky slope

Wildlife

One of the best things about Wrangell-St. Elias is its abundance of wildlife. You may find them to be quite curious because they are not used to seeing humans. So they may take as much time to watch and study you as you do to them. They are truly wild and magnificent to see!

Communication Devices

Outside of the Kennicott Valley there is no cell service (and only Verizon works there!). So plan on bringing some device for communicating in the backcountry in case of emergency or for contacting your flight service. Many people bring a Garmin inReach but you may want to consider renting a satellite phone.