Why the Root Glacier hike is the park's signature trail
If you only do one hike in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, make it the Root Glacier Trail. Starting from the historic Kennecott mill town, the trail leads you to the edge of a living glacier where you can step onto the ice itself, peer into deep blue moulins, and listen to meltwater roaring beneath your boots. It is the rare Alaska glacier experience you can reach on foot, without a flightseeing tour or a boat.
The trail begins where the Kennecott townsite ends, following an old mining road north along the lateral moraine. From the start you get sweeping views of the Stairway Icefall tumbling down from Mount Blackburn, the fifth-highest peak in the United States.
Distance, difficulty, and what to expect
The hike to the glacier toe is about 4 miles round trip with modest elevation gain, making it accessible to most reasonably fit hikers. Continuing onto the ice or out to the Erie Mine bunkhouse extends it to 6 miles or more. Plan for the following:
- Time: 3 to 5 hours round trip depending on how long you spend on the ice
- Terrain: packed gravel road, then rocky moraine and uneven glacier ice
- Trailhead: the edge of Kennecott, reachable on foot or by shuttle from the McCarthy footbridge
- Water crossings: a couple of footbridges over Bonanza Creek and National Creek
You can hike to the overlook and the glacier's edge entirely on your own. To actually walk out onto the ice safely, you need traction.
Walking on the ice: crampons and guided options
The glacier surface looks gentle but hides crevasses, slick blue ice, and meltwater channels. Microspikes or crampons are essential for anything beyond the very margin. Two outfitters in McCarthy, Kennicott Wilderness Guides and St. Elias Alpine Guides, run half-day and full-day guided glacier treks that include crampons, a guide, and ice-axe basics. A guided trip is the smart choice for first-time glacier walkers and for reaching the ice caves and moulins deeper on the glacier.
If you go independently, stay near the lower-angle margin, avoid snow-covered areas that can mask crevasses, and turn back well before any feature you cannot clearly see across. For the full guided-versus-independent breakdown and how this hike fits into a longer trip, see our 4-day Wrangell-St. Elias itinerary.
Best time to hike Root Glacier
The hiking season runs roughly late May through mid-September, with June through August offering the most reliable footbridge access and shuttle service. July brings the longest daylight and warmest temperatures, while early September delivers fall color in the tundra and thinner crowds. Outside these months the McCarthy Road can be impassable and services in town shut down.
Expect cool, changeable weather even in summer. Mornings on the glacier can be near freezing while afternoons in the valley reach the 60s and 70s Fahrenheit.
What to pack
- Microspikes or crampons if you plan to step onto the ice
- Sturdy waterproof boots and trekking poles
- Layers including a warm midlayer and a windproof shell
- Sun protection: glacier ice reflects intense UV
- At least 2 liters of water and high-energy snacks
- Bear spray, as black and grizzly bears use the valley
Getting to the trailhead
Reaching the Root Glacier hike is part of the adventure. You drive the rough 60-mile McCarthy Road to the Kennicott River, park, and cross the footbridge into McCarthy. From there it is a 4.5-mile walk or a shuttle ride up to Kennecott, where the trail begins. Allow a full half day for travel from the bridge if you are not staying in town. Most visitors base themselves in McCarthy or Kennecott to put the trailhead within easy reach.
