Wrangell-St. Elias Backpacking Guide

CMI offers guided backpacking and hiking trips in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve early June through September. Fly-in trips available from Glennallen, McCarthy, Nabesna, and Tok. Walk-in trips available from Nabesna Road, McCarthy Road, and Kennicott.

CMI is one of the park’s most experienced, qualified guides and has established new routes that have never been done before or repeated. CMI can guide you on any of the classic routes, as well as offer alternatives other guide services don’t have experience with.

Contact CMI to arrange the ideal trip for you or your group. Five to ten day trips recommended. Trip intensity levels listed with each trip below (learn more about levels here).

Summer 2025 Scheduled Open Group Trips (limited to 5 participants)

June 18-23, 2025: Volcanoes of Ice Traverse (intensity Level 2), $4,000 per person

July 3-9, 2025: Skolai to Wolverine Traverse (intensity Level 2), $3,500 per person

Contact CMI for inquiries and registration

email info@chugachsnow.org or call/text 907-831-9686.

Learn more about why Chugach Mountain Institute is your best choice for a guided backpacking trip in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve.

If you are interested in a guided Wrangell-St. Elias trip call/text 907-831-9686 or email Info@ChugachSnow.org for inquiries and availability.

Routes and areas include, but are not limited to (for those with hyperlinks, click for more info):

• Western St. Elias Range Traverse (Level 2-3)
• Donoho Wilderness Sampler (Level 2-3)
• Skolai & Chitistone (Level 1-3)
• Skolai to Wolverine Traverse, aka “Goat Trail” (Level 2-3)
• Wolverine Area Exploration (Level 1-3)
• Fosse Exploration (Level 1-3)
• Fosse to Kennicott (Level 2-3)
• Oz Traverse (Level 2-3)
• Lakina Area Exploration (Level 1-3)
• Lakina to Kennicott (Level 3)
• Nikolai Area Exploration (Level 1-3)
• Skyscraper Traverse (Level 3)
• Wrangell Plateau Area Exploration (Level 1-3)
• Mt. Drum Area Exploration (Level 1-3)
• Dadina to Chelle Traverse (Level 2-3)
• Sanford to Dadina Traverse, aka “Sanford Plateau” (Level 2-3)
• Sheep to Sanford Traverse (Level 2-3)
• Volcanoes of Ice Traverse (Level 2-3)
• Wrangells Mega Traverse (Level 3)

• Iceberg Lake Area Exploration (Level 1-3)
• Iceberg to Bremner Traverse, aka “Seven Pass” (Level 2-3)
• Allie’s Valley to Bremner, aka “Seven Pass High Route” (Level 2-3)
• Bremner Area Exploration (Level 1-3)
• Bremner to Tebay Traverse (Level 3)
• Tebay Lakes Area Exploration (Level 1-3)
• Steamboat Hills Area Exploration (Level 1-3)
• Fan Glacier Area Exploration (Level 1-3)

• Horsfeld to Chisana (Level 2-3)
• Horsfeld to Solo Creek (Level 2-3)
• Solo Creek to Chisana (Level 2-3)
• Baultoff to Chisana (Level 2-3)
• Nabesna River to Chisana (Level 2-3)

Other Wrangell-St. Elias Trips:

Mountaineering: year round (intensity Level 2-3)

Backcountry Skiing & Ski Mountaineering: November through May (intensity Level 2-3)

Ice Climbing: October through March (intensity Level 1-3)