Breathtaking Views

No matter which direction you turn your eyes will be wide with awe over the stunning landscape surrounding the Root Glacier. The glacier is packed with water-carved streams, blue pools, big ice walls and more. Big mountains circle the valley with the massive Stairway Icefall rising up from the Root several miles up the glacier. And if you’re lucky Mt. Blackburn (16,390 ft) will be visible in the distance. Blackburn is an iconic Alaska mountain that, much like Denali, is often hidden under a blanket of clouds. When it’s visible it is quite a treat to see!

Hiking

Hiking on the Root Glacier is a must-do for every visitor to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. There are so many beautiful ice features at every turn along your route that you’ll have a difficult time putting your camera away. And the views of the big mountains surrounding the Kennicott Valley are so stunning that you’ll swear you’re living in an issue of National Geographic. Seriously, even veteran glacier hikers will be impressed by how photogenic the Root Glacier is compared to other glaciers.

NOTE: Glaciers inherently contain several hazards that will not be apparent to the novice glacier hiker. So I highly recommend hiring a guide if you have little or no glacier traveling experience.

Stairway Icefall

Perhaps one of the most impressive and unique features that you’ll notice is the Stairway Icefall. If a glacier is viewed as a slow-moving river of ice then an icefall is the equivalent to a waterfall. When the glacier slides over a steep cliff the ice breaks apart and “falls” down the slope.

The Stairway Icefall rises over a vertical mile above the Root Glacier approximately 6 miles up-glacier from the typical hikers access point. It is the largest icefall in the world outside of the Himalayas and is so striking that it’s one of the first things that you’ll notice upon entering the Kennicott Valley.

Ice Pillars

Melting of the surface ice during the summer months sculpts most of the features on a glacier. With every twist and turn on the Root Glacier you will be greeted with something photo-worthy including rivers, waterfalls, blue pools, moulins and ice pillars.

The daily melting of the surface ice constantly alters the shapes of the features. Throughout the summer the ice will appear to twist and contort as water to trickles over the surface, continuing to carve away and create new little shapes. Some parts of the ice will form big pillars that are so bizarrely shaped that they seem to have come straight out of Dr. Seuss book.

Glaciers are the most beautiful and fascinating natural feature on earth in my opinion. Exploring them is my favorite thing to do and I simply can’t get enough!

Donoho Peak (6,696 ft)

Without a doubt, Donoho Peak is one of the most uniquely shaped mountains on Earth. When you look at the whole massif, the mountain has the appearance of a half-submerged crocodile in water. And the fact that it rests between two large bodies of frozen water, the Kennicott and Root Glaciers, perfectly sells this illusion. Nature sure does have a sense of humor!

Ice Caves

Walking on a glacier is exciting enough but crawling underneath the ice is one of the most thrilling things you can do. Glaciers often have caves that are formed by water melting and burrowing deep into the ice. Some of these caves are accessible, allowing you to explore a deep cavern under the surface. Not only is the ice the most beautiful blue color imaginable, but crawling under a massive, moving glacier will make you feel very small. It’s a humbling, thrilling experience that you will remember for the rest of your life!

NOTE: Do not attempt to enter a glacier cave unless you are an expert in glacier travel. Ice caves must be thoroughly assessed for their safety before entering and can be very dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing. If you want to explore an ice cave (and I highly recommend that you do!) then hire a guide through St. Elias Alpine Guides.

Bears

Both black and grizzly bears live in the Kennicott Valley and are often seen on the Root Glacier trail. Berries are the primary food source for bears in the Alaska interior so they are very busy roaming around the valley and eating all day long.

The bears that frequent the Root Glacier trail have limited space to forage for food because they are constricted between the glacier and the steep mountain ridge above. So they often cross the Root Glacier to the big, wide-open basin beneath the south face of Donoho Peak. This lush basin in full of food sources that motivate the bears to frequently commute across the ice in search of a berry feast to prepare them for winter hibernation. Since bears are naturally equipped with big claws that act like crampons, they hike across the glacier with ease and grace. Count yourself lucky if you happen to see a bear crossing the ice. It is quite a treat that you will never forget!

NOTE: If you happen to see a bear DO NOT approach it. The bears in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park are wild animals so practice proper bear safety. They are beautiful to watch from a distance and to photograph in their natural habitat. DO NOT walk toward a bear to get a closer look or to take a photo. This is very dangerous as it could incite a protective, aggressive response from the bear. Just relax and enjoy the site of this iconic animal in wild Alaska!