Private Root Glacier Hike in Kennecott, Alaska
per person
Step onto the shimmering surface of the Root Glacier and discover one of Alaska’s most stunning natural wonders on a private half-day Root Glacier hike tailored just for your group. With crampons securely fastened to your boots, you’ll traverse a landscape sculpted by centuries of ice, where bright blue pools, towering ice formations, and deep crevasses await. This isn’t just a hike; it’s an intimate exploration of a living glacier, where the ice cracks and shifts beneath your feet, and every step brings a new discovery. You’ll feel the cold air rising from the glacier’s surface as your guide shares their expert knowledge in glaciology and geology, turning this adventure into a fascinating lesson on the forces that shape the Earth.
Explore Kennecott’s Historic Copper Mining Town Before Your Glacier Adventure
Your journey begins with a shuttle from McCarthy to the historic Kennecott Mill town, or you can meet us directly if you’re already staying in Kennecott. Before setting foot on the glacier, your adventure begins with a guided walking tour through the heart of Kennecott, a once-thriving copper mining town frozen in time. As you wander past the towering red buildings and rusted mining equipment, you’ll feel the history beneath your feet and imagine the tireless workers who braved the harsh Alaskan wilderness over a century ago. Your guide will share the incredible story of how prospectors stumbled upon the richest copper deposit ever found, leading to the rapid rise of this remote mining empire.
Beat the Crowds with an Early Morning Root Glacier Hike
Once at the glacier, your private guide will cater the pace and path to your group’s interests, fitness level, and comfort—whether you’re eager to delve into glacier formations or prefer a more relaxed pace to soak in the incredible views. Book an early morning departure to beat the crowds and have the glacier all to yourselves, experiencing the tranquility and raw beauty of this untamed environment before the day’s rush begins. This exclusive hike is your chance to explore Alaska’s glaciers on your terms, with the best local guides to lead the way.
Book your private hike today and experience an unforgettable blend of adventure, history, and natural beauty!
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Our Custom Root Glacier Hikes are considered Moderate hike trips for those interested in a 4-6 hour hike. The Root Glacier hike ranges from 5-6 miles. These private reservations are tailored to your group’s needs and interest levels.
- Interpretive walking tour through the heart of Kennecott’s historic mining town
- Expansive glacial and mountain vistas as you hike along the Glacier Moraine
- Hike on the shimmering white ice of the Root Glacier for a one-of-a-kind experience
- Discover unique glacial features like blue pools, crevasses, and moulins up close
- Sip pure, refreshing water straight from a glacial stream frozen for 40,000 years!
- Marvel at unbeatable views of the awe-inspiring mile-high Stairway Icefall towering above
Private Root Glacier Hike – 5+ Hours
Discover the wonders of Alaska’s wild beauty on a private, fully customized glacier hike through the breathtaking Root Glacier. Unlike crowded group tours, our personalized experience is tailored to your pace, fitness level, and interests, offering an intimate and exclusive adventure. Led by expert local guides, you’ll uncover the secrets of this dynamic ice landscape while learning about its fascinating geological features and history. Whether you’re exploring sparkling blue pools, peering into deep crevasses, or hiking across the glacier’s rolling surface, this tour offers the rare chance to connect with one of the world’s most awe-inspiring environments.
- Tours Launch the last weekend of May through the first weekend of September
- Guest to Guide Ratio/person
- 1:1/$420
- 2:1/$225
- 3:1/$165
- 4+:1/$125
- Crampons
- Expert guide
- Trekking poles (by request)
- Local lodging pickup by request – must reserve in advance
- Sturdy hiking shoes or boots
- Backpack
- Sunglasses & sunscreen (even if it’s cloudy)
- Rain gear (top and bottom)
- Lightweight gloves
- Water bottle
- Snacks/sack lunch
- Camera
- Gratuity for your guide (10-20% of the trip cost is recommended)
May 20th to September 5th: 7:00 am, 8:00 am, 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 11:00 am, Noon & 1:00 pm
- Raft and Hike Package
- Lodging
- Fly in/fly out from Glennallen 1-day package
From Our Gallery
Be our guest and see this tour for yourself
Spend an unforgettable day exploring the Root Glacier, one of Alaska's most scenic one-day treks!
Glacier Hike - Total time between 5 and 8 hours
Trips launch on the hour between 7am and 1pm
Meet up 15 minutes prior to departure
- Please include hotel accommodations in booking details, we can arrange meet up at your hotel if it is between our office and Kennicott
Crampon Fitting & Shuttle to Kennicott
Hike through the historic townsite of Kennicott
- Your guide provides a in depth interpretive tour of the townsite and mill operations as you stroll past the historic buildings
Kennicott to the Glacier - ~2 miles
- Stroll alongside the glacier while learning about glaciation, moraines, erratics and plants along the trail
- The glacier trail is gently sloping with some loose cobble, the final ¼ mile to the white ice is mildly more strenuous with steeper downhill and traverse to the ice.
On the glacier - 1 mile to 4 miles depending on your groups preference
- Take a minute to put on the crampons that your guide has fitted for you
- Your guide will guide you through an introductory to walking with crampons, including safety and comfort considerations.
- Explore, Ice Walls, Blue Pools and Moulins
- Take in unrivaled 360 degree views of the Stairway Icefall, Mount Blackburn, and the surrounding Wrangell and Chugach mountain ranges
- Fill your water bottle with ice cold glacial water
The Glacier back to Kennicott 2 miles
- The steepest part of the trail is ascending the path back up to the main trail.
- Enjoy the sweeping views of the Root and Kennicott Glacier with all of the new information that you just learned about on your tour
- Get some great group shots by the waterfall at jumbo creek
- Take one last shot to get the best angle on a picture of the iconic Kennicott Mill building
Kennicott back to hotel or shop
- Your guide will bring you back to your hotel if it is along the way
- You are welcome to stay in Kennicott to explore more at this time
- If you met at our office, we will bring you back to the office!
Comments:
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Sarah-Anne R.
Our guide was great! They made sure we had comfortable gear for the hike and glacier walk and checked in with how we were feeling regularly. They adjusted the glacier exploration to cater to our pace! The Root Glacier was beautiful!
Julien B.
Everything was great, and our guide was super friendly and very knowledgeable about the history of Kennicott and the nature around it.
Lisa Y.
The Root Glacier hike was great. It was my first time on a glacier and I loved learning all about it. I really enjoyed spending the day with your guides!
Laura K.
Awesome trip! Our guides were amazing and lots of fun! They were informative and reactive to what we wanted to do and see.
Marcel B.
We are Swiss travelers and enjoyed the glacier hike, our guide was super nice! Keep the place as it is, beautiful and calm!