Wrangell St. Elias National Park Backpacking Traverse — Indigo Alpine Guides
Indigo Alpine Guides
Alaska International
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Indigo Alpine Guides
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Wrangells Traverse

AUG 5 - 14, 2025 | AUG 16 - 25, 2025

 

TERRAIN

Massive mountain passes, glacier crossings, alpine tundra, alder schwacking, boulder fields.

PLACE

Wrangell St. Elias National Park | The ancestral and unceded territory of the Upper Tanana, Ahtna Nenn, and Denendeh.

EXPLORE

10 days, 9 nights

Guest to guide ratio: 7:2, min 4 guests

 
 

The Wrangells are one of our favorite places on earth. And we’re hiking a new epic traverse each summer.

Wrangell St. Elias National Park and the surrounding protected zones makeup the largest protected wilderness on earth. We’re going to traverse a new zone each year with bush plane access and exit direct from downtown Anchorage. This is the hardest trip we offer for folks who have a decent amount of backpacking experience and are down for a very authentic Alaskan adventure. With included flights right from downtown Anchorage — this trip is unparalleled in its ease of access to this wild place.

 
 
Tents in a gravel valley in Alaska with snowcapped Wrangell Mountains behind.

Over 10 days…

We’ll find our own way through massive valleys, make camp in open meadows keeping an eye out for animals, possibly cross some glaciers, explore ice caves, ford glacial rivers, climb some big mountain passes, and see some of those most incredible terrain Alaska has to offer. We’ll have to cover some miles to get to our pickup spot. Some years will be shorter with plenty of time for side exploration. Some years will be a push to get to where we’re going. The challenge is part of the fun of it. Crossing icy rivers makes the sun feel all the more sweet.

 
 

MOMENT BY MOMENT, DAY BY DAY

 
Back
Forward
DAY 1
pink image of anchorage city at sunset.

DAY 1

WELCOME TO ANCHORAGE

where the mountains and oceans meet and (this time of year) the sun never sets. This is the hub of Alaska and where many a wild adventure have started!

Join us at our gorgeous Air Bnb anytime after 3:30pm and make yourself at home. We’re staying at one of the most beautiful places in the heart of Anchorage away from the hotel and cruise ship crowds. We’ll meet up at 6 to get to know each other, talk about our upcoming adventure, share goals for the trip, go over gear, and share a great meal complete with local Alaskan beer.

DAY 2
Man looking out bush plane window at a river running through the Talkeetna Mountains.

DAY 2

In the morning we’ll have a delicious breakfast before a short 15 minute drive to Merrill Field. As the Alaskan saying goes, walk a month or fly an hour. In this case, flying turns an 8 hour drive into a 1.5 hour stunning flight across the Chugach mountains. If you’ve never flown in a bush plane you’re missing out on one of the greatest experiences in life, really. There’s nothing quite like seeing Alaska from the sky — breezing over tundra; spotting moose and grizzly; floating through massive glacial gorges with mile high walls of granite; watching the sun glint off rivers braided like lungs; seeing the tallest mountains in North America at eye level — it’s truly special.

Our skilled pilots will put us down in the small historic town of McCarthy where we’ll change to smaller planes and head deeper into the mountains. The pilots will fly off, leaving us in the bewildering silence and the awe of remoteness. Depending on what time we get into the mountains we will either make camp or make our first miles.

DAY 3 - 9
Talkeetna Mountains Alaska small lakes.

DAY 3 - 9

We’ll spend the next six days wandering high alpine meadows, climbing peaks, spotting caribou & bear (from a safe distance), watching the persistent alpenglow of the far-north dance across endless mountains, laughing around camp, eating delicious well-earned meals, and connecting in the deep way wilderness makes possible. There are no trails in Alaska and few people set foot out here at all

— SO BE PREPARED FOR THE REALNESS OF IT ALL.

This trip will have plenty of real challenge. All these trips will be point A to Point B — meaning we’ve got to cover some ground to get picked up. Some years may be easier than others. Reach out if you want details on the challenge of the particular trip you’re considering. It will most likely be your guides first time hiking the route too, so they’ll be in the mystery and excitement with you. It’s likely you’ll end at least a few evenings tired.

DAY 10
two hikers walking on aufeis in alaska.

DAY 10

THIS MOMENT IS ALWAYS BITTERSWEET

When you wake to the final morning in the backcountry relishing the memories, the deep sense of connection to a world that moves slower but also excited for your restaurant meal and hot shower. We’ll take some time this morning to soak in the quiet and reflect on how we want to return to the busier world — what we want to bring with us and what we’d rather leave behind.

After breakfast the distant sound of engines will filter in. We’ll pack up camp and fly to McCarthy — a small mining town about 40 minutes away. Then we’ll have either two more flights or a flight a drive to get us back to Anchorage by mid to late afternoon. From our drop off spot, you’re on your own to Uber back to wherever you’ve chosen to stay for the night. That night (after showers and clean clothes and hopefully not checking your email) we’ll have a group celebratory dinner at one of Anchorage’s coolest restaurants and say our goodbyes.

NOTE
Aerial view of winding river in The Brooks Range.

The Alaska Factor

Any expedition in Alaska requires flexibility, patience, and a big sense of adventure. We always try our best to follow our itineraries as written, but rarely do. That’s part of the fun of it! Alaska weather is always changing and shifting and we will always respectfully honor what the weather allows or doesn’t allow us to do. We get the incredible luxury of flying into these beautiful places, but with flying also comes a need to defer to the conditions.  Sometimes flights may be delayed for a day or more as we wait for an appropriate weather window. Trip itineraries may also shift due to group skill, pilot availability, or any number of unforeseen circumstances. Please come with an open mind, a spirit of enthusiastic adventure, and a willingness to see where the trip takes you.

 

WHERE WE SLEEP

 
 
 
looking inside an airbnb through the open front door.
““I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, remember the limitations of being human.””
— Oriah Mountain Dreamer
 

Beautiful AirBnbs

  • We'll share one of the most beautiful AirBnbs in Anchorage to start our trip. Our AirBnb provides a great place for trip prep and a cozy spot to hang out before entering the backcountry.

    We’ll gather, meet, and get everything sorted for our morning departure.

    Note:

    We do sometimes switch up AirBnbs so it may not look exactly like the photos shown.

    We love using AirBnbs for the homeyness over most Anchorage hotels. But it's hard to nearly impossible to find AirBnbs that have 8 beds. We aim to have each person get their own bed. It's possible depending on trip size and whether or not there's any coouples that 1 - 2 people may need to sleep on their camping mattress. This will be done on a first come first served basis. Anyone who needs to sleep on their camp mattress will get $100 back from us.

Beautiful living room with fire in fire place.
 
 

Backcountry Camping

  • Backcountry camping can be cozy and comfy.

    We like to bring some creature comforts like desert and umbrellas and our favorite coffee press for the mornings. And the best part is opening your tent door to the pinks, purples, and oranges shining on snow capped peaks (or feel super cozy in your tent when it’s raining outside). We'll have a giant tarp for the kitchen so we can hang out comfortably out of the wind and rain.

    And you’ll have the most exquisite bathroom views you’ve ever had in your life.

five tents in a meadow with a double rainbow above.
Tents with fresh snow in the mountains.
 

 WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

 
“This trip kicked my butt! But in the best way possible — if it wasn’t so hard I don’t think i’d still be thinking about it every day months later. The group was fantastic and my guide had me laughing through all the hard bits. ”
— Willow S.
“I can’t recommend them enough. Hands down the best guide service i’ve ever used (and I’ve used lots over the years.) Where other trips felt like tours, this felt like going out with super competent and experienced friends.”
— Jesse T.
“I’ve never seen a place like it. Every corner revealed a new complete masterpiece. This trip had a bit of everything. I was worried it was going to feel too long but when the plane came to pick us up I almost cried... I didn’t want to leave.”
— Laila D.

BOOK WRANGELLS TRAVERSE

Step 1. Send in the form under ‘Book Now’. Step 2. We’ll get back to you to discuss your trip.

Step 3. Fill out some info and send a trip deposit. Step 4. We’ll send you a logistics booklet and packing list. Step 5. Book your flights!

 

JOIN A GROUP TRIP

Fill out the form below and we’ll make it happen!

$6,450 per person | $1,500 deposit to hold your spot

BOOK A PRIVATE TRIP

If you’d like a private trip with custom dates, reach out below.

Custom pricing | Currently booking a year out

 

 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Check out the FAQ’s below, or text or call us at 845-661-3008 to talk it through! Or send us an email. We love hearing from folks.

 

  • This is the hardest trip we offer and is best for folks who either have a decent amount of backpacking experience and / or are pretty athletic. If you're on the fence, give us a call. Because we pick a new route each year, some trips are harder than others.

    Backpacking in Alaska is no joke! We’ll be hiking 4-7 miles per day off trail across scree slopes, over mountain passes, and through the occasional but notorious thick Alaskan alder. That being said, if you’ve backpacked a bit before and physically prepare before the trip, you’ll do great! If you’re an expert backpacker you’ll still find this to be a rewarding and at times challenging trip. Guests will be expected to practice excellent self-care, pack and unpack their own packs, setup and breakdown their own tents, and carry a portion of group equipment. All the challenges of off-trail backpacking are overwhelmingly worth it for the splendor, the views, and the deep knowing in your gut that you did something powerful and profound.

  • The price includes accommodations on the first night in Anchorage, all bush flights in and out, all ground transportation, all breakfasts and dinners, all group supplies—cooking equipment, water treatment options, group shelters, bear canisters, toilet supplies, emergency communication devices, maps, GPS, first aid kit, National Park entrance fees, and the support of your experienced and trained guides.

  • The price does not include travel to Fairbanks, transportation to the hotel, extra room expenses (i.e. room service), travel insurance or rescue insurance (both recommended), or gratuity for your guide (10-20% of the trip cost recommended). The price doesn’t include personal gear— backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, layers, rain gear, personal bowl, personal eating utensils, headlamp, and personal toiletries. If needed some of this gear can be rented for an additional fee. The price also does not include the cost of lunches. On our trips lunches are really just extended snacking throughout the day. By not having long elaborate sit-down lunches we allow more time to experience new terrain. Guests are expected to provide their own snacks / lunches — we will provide you with guidance for how to plan for proper amounts and keep the weight low. The price does not include costs incurred during delayed flights (additional hotel nights, extra food, etc.)

  • Our trips in Gates of the Arctic have a max of 7 guests and 2 guides. If you trip has more than 6 guests you will have 2 guides.

  • Meals will be delicious backcountry cuisine. We’ve spent a lot of years in the backcountry and we like to eat well! That being said, we also don't love heavy packs. Our meals strike a balance between dehydrated backpacker food and gourmet fresh — in that balance are delicious meals without crazy weight. We can accommodate most dietary restrictions. Please reach out with questions. We will supply all the breakfasts, dinners, and occasional desserts for the trip. We ask guests to pack their own lunch snacks. On our trips lunch is between when breakfast ends and dinner begins — snack away!

  • Any expedition in Alaska requires flexibility, patience, and a big sense of adventure. We always try our best to follow our itineraries as written, but rarely do. That’s part of the fun of it! Alaska weather is always changing and shifting and we will always respectfully honor what the weather allows or doesn’t allow us to do. We get the incredible luxury of flying into these beautiful places, but with flying also comes a need to defer to the conditions. Sometimes flights may be delayed for a day or more as we wait for an appropriate weather window. Trip itineraries may also shift due to group skill, pilot availability, or any number of unforeseen circumstances. Please come with an open mind, a spirit of enthusiastic adventure, and a willingness to see where the trip takes you. We do not offer refunds or cover incurred costs when trips have to be rerouted or itineraries changed due to weather or other circumstances out of our control.

  • If arriving by plane you will want to fly in/out of Ted Stevens International Airport. Please plan to arrive in Anchorage no later than 5 pm on Day 1 and book your flights for no earlier than 11 pm on the final day. You can check into the AirBnb anytime after 3:30 on day 1.

  • We have people come on our trips by themselves all the time! There’s nothing like travel through remote wilderness to build community.

  • Indigo Alpine Guide trips are most often run by the owner Jack Bynum and his closest and most trusted friends. All the people who work for IAG have over a decade of experience guiding trips in the most remote places on earth, have wilderness medical training and advanced guiding certifications.

  • You may cancel up to 120 days before the scheduled travel date and receive a full refund minus a $300 per-person service fee. If you cancel between 120 and 60 days of travel, there is a 50% cancellation fee. Within 60 days of travel, there is a 100% cancellation fee. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance.

  • We always encourage folks to purchase trip cancelation insurance in addition to the mandatory medical evacuation insurance. We require that you have at least $200,000 in medical evacuation insurance. Your insurance policy should cover hazardous sports and we recommend that your policy cover search and rescue. Since we cannot confirm each client’s policy individually, it is your responsibility to make sure your policy will cover you while you participate in your activities of choice on the expedition.

    For US citizens, we recommend Global Rescue. You will have a choice of purchasing it with or without the cancellation coverage–so make sure to select the one that gives you the coverage that you need. Other commonly used companies include World Nomads and Squaremouth.

    You are welcome to seek out other insurance options, as these are only recommendations. When selecting a policy, please make sure they insure all the activities you’ll be participating in (many don’t include roped climbing, skiing, mountaineering, etc).

  • Backpacking in Alaska can be pretty tough. If you’re super athletic and up for adventure, coming out here for your first trip could work. But be prepared for a steep learning curve.

    You’ll likely have a better time if you have at least 4-5 trips of any length under your belt before coming to Alaska. If you’re unsure, reach out!

 

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

Let us know. We’re always happy to chat.