Which Guided Trip Type at Kennicott Wilderness Guides Fits My Alaska Trip?

Kennicott Wilderness Guides offers four main trip types out of McCarthy and Kennicott, Alaska: glacier hiking, glacier ice climbing, packrafting, and custom backcountry adventures. The right one depends on how much time you have, whether you want to carry gear or learn a technical skill, and how far off the beaten path you want to go. Glacier hiking suits most first-time visitors who want a glacier within a day's hike of their lodging. Ice climbing suits beginners who want a guided technical challenge. Packrafting suits hikers who want to combine walking and paddling. Custom backcountry trips suit experienced or private groups who want to go deep into the park. The company is currently booking trips for 2026.

Compare the four trip types

How to choose

Pick glacier hiking if you want a glacier without technical skills

This is the most accessible option. The site describes it as "The Alaska you have been waiting for," reachable within a day's hike from your lodging. Choose this if your priority is seeing a glacier and mountain scenery, and you don't want to learn rope work or carry a boat.

Pick ice climbing if you want a guided challenge and are new to it

The site explicitly welcomes people who have never been on a glacier or in a harness: "Both are new experiences for many of our guests." Choose this if you want to try a technical skill under supervision rather than just walk on ice.

Pick packrafting if you want to combine hiking and paddling

Packrafts are inflatable, one-person boats that pack into a light backpack. The site calls it "Alaska's Fastest Growing Sport." Choose this if you want variety in how you move through the landscape and are comfortable with both walking and paddling.

Pick a custom backcountry trip if you want private, tailored access

All backcountry trips are "custom and private excursions" into Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, which the site notes is America's largest national park and "one of the least visited and most pristine." Choose this if you have specific objectives, a private group, or want to go beyond the standard day routes.

Package trips: when you want logistics handled

If you'd rather not assemble each piece yourself, the site offers Adventure Packages that bundle trips, and Group Package Trips with pre-set dates that include local lodging and Anchorage-to-Anchorage logistics. Choose a package if your main constraint is time and you want the planning done for you.

Who each trip suits

The site states it offers experiences "for all ages, interests, and comfort levels," from families and first-time hikers to seasoned adventurers. That means the deciding factors are usually your available time, your appetite for learning a technical skill, and whether you want a private custom itinerary or a shared group date.

Practical notes before you book

• The company is currently booking trips for 2026, so plan around that season.
• Trips run out of the historic towns of McCarthy and Kennicott, described as a welcoming hamlet with food and local charm.
• The site does not publish prices on the pages reviewed, so confirm cost and availability directly when you inquire.
• If you're unsure, start with glacier hiking or ice climbing and add packrafting or a custom trip if you have more days.