Wrangell St. Elias National Park Flightseeing - Wrangell Mt. Air

Within its 13 million acres, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park boasts North America's largest assemblage of glaciers and its greatest collection of peaks above 16,000 feet. This remote mountain kingdom, where four ranges converge, allows a mere 100 miles of roadway to pierce its borders. So what better way to experience the highlights of America's largest national park than by plane? Wrangell Mountain Air offers flightseeing tours to fit the needs of most travelers, as well as day-trip options and charters into the Alaskan backcountry and across the state. In fact, if your needs call for an airplane, Wrangell can arrange it.

Their popular 70-minute Mountain Tour includes a breathtaking array of the park's natural wonders. Soar above 13 glaciers, Chitistone Canyon, the warped limestone of the Mile High Cliffs, the 7,000-foot Stairway Icefall, and Erie Mine, which clings to the mountainside 3,000 feet above Root Glacier.

Prefer to see as much as possible? Choose from one of three 90-minute Grand Tour routes. Option 1 hits the park's big three: Mt. Logan, the 2nd-highest peak in North America; Mt. St. Elias, the 2nd-highest peak in the U.S.; and Bagley Ice Field, the largest non-polar ice field in the world. Option 2 packs in 15 glaciers, mountains galore, and the Stairway Icefall. Option 3 flies past Mt. Wrangell, an active volcano, Nabesna Glacier-the longest valley glacier in North America-and the Mile High Cliffs.

Budget-minded travelers will enjoy the 50-minute Backcountry Tour, a shortened version of the Mountain Tour. You'll fly by park highlights such as the Sourdough Rock Glacier and the iceberg-choked lake at the toe of the Nizina Glaicer.

And the 35-minute Glacier Tour offers an affordable, bird's-eye-view of the park, including the Stairway Icefall, Erie Mine, Mt. Blackburn (16,390'), and glaciers such as Gates and Kennicott. All tours offer great aerial photo opportunities of the towns of McCarthy and Kennicott.

But tours of the park aren’t all this company does. Want to explore McCarthy-Kennicott? Wrangell Mountain Air can take you there from Chitina, with a popular flight that allows you to avoid driving the McCarthy Road (which is restricted by many rental-car companies). There’s also great flightseeing along the way; you’ll take a detour through the Wrangell Mountains, over the Kennicott and Root Glaciers and past the Kennicott mines. Do it as a day trip or a fly/drive package with overnight lodging. Take the full package and you’ll get a tour of Kennicott, a half-day hike on the Root Glacier (with crampons!), and lunch.

Looking to explore the gorgeous, remote Alaskan backcountry inside Wrangell-St. Elias? Wrangell Mountain Air can fly you to many backcountry destinations for hiking and rafting, including several point-to-point backpacking routes.

And if your needs call for a charter flight anywhere in the state, Wrangell can handle that, too. They commonly pick up and drop off visitors at cities and towns across Alaska.

Details: No experience necessary. No minimum age requirement.

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Tour Highlights

Tours conducted in high-wing aircraft for best viewing
Individual passenger headsets provided
All tours are narrated by pilot/guide
Custom tours of any length available
Only 2-person minimum required

2008 Times & Prices

	Dates	Depart	Return	Adult
Glacier Tour (35 minutes)	5/15 – 9/30	See below	35min	$90
Backcountry Tour (50 minutes)	5/15 – 9/30	See below	50min	$120
Mountain Tour (70 minutes)	5/15 – 9/30	See below	70min	$160
Grand Tour (90 minutes)	5/15 – 9/30	See below	90min	$195
Chitina to McCarthy/Kennicott (flight only)	5/15 – 9/30	See below	90min	$100 one-way, $199 round-trip
Chitina to McCarthy/Kennicott (full package)	5/15 – 9/30	See below	90min	$289

Note:

Backcountry charters: from $70 to $350 (unguided)
There are no set departure times. Flightseeing trips depart with two or more passengers and the weather is good enough
Children under 2 may sit on their parent's lap for free
Wrangell Mountain Air also provides daily flights from Chitina to McCarthy and charter flights from Anchorage and other locations

What to Bring

Please bring sunglasses, a jacket, a camera, and plenty of film.
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Directions

Drive to the end of the McCarthy-Chitina Road, where it meets the Kennicott River. Wrangell Mountain Air will pick you up from there by prior arrangement.

Payment Policy

Reservations require a 50% deposit within 14 days of the day the flight is reserved. Full payment is required when booking one-way fares and when bookings are made less than 30 days prior to travel date. Payment can be made by check or credit card. Wrangell Mountain Air accepts AE, DISC, MC, V. Upon receipt of your deposit, a written confirmation will be sent to you with your credit card receipt. The confirmation will also include information about check-in and baggage limits as well as the day, time, and departure point of the flight. The balance is due 30 days before the day of your flight. Late payments may result in releasing your reservation. Rebooking will be subject to availability. Reservations made less than 30 days in advance of travel require full payment.
	Cancellation Policy
More than 48 hours before departure: 10% of total cost. Less than 48 hours: 50% of total cost. No shows: 100% of total deposit. Wrangell Mountain Air recommends that you purchase travel insurance in case you have to change or cancel your travel plans. In the interest of safety, they reserve the right to change flight schedules and/or destinations at their discretion. Wrangell Mountain Air further reserves the right to make changes to prices without notice. All flight cancellations made by Wrangell Mountain Air due to weather will receive a full refund. Upon advancement of deposit to Wrangell Mountain Air, Inc., the depositor agrees to be bound by all of the above stated terms and conditions.
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McCarthy Kennicott Alaska