Glacier Trek
Beginner/Intermediate
Glacier Trek via Ski Plane into Denali National Park
2–6 people
1-3 days
Call for pricing
Big mountains. Snow-covered glaciers. Wilderness. Blue ice crevasses.
Spending time in the heart of the huge glaciated mountains within Denali National Park and Preserve is an unforgettable experience. Glacier treks are a remarkable way for adventure travelers, families, or artists to live on the glacier and experience authentic mountain life in Alaska’s vast wilderness. We begin in Talkeetna with a stunning glacier flight, then land on a snow-covered glacier in the heart of Denali National Park. We unpack the plane and set up our new tent-home on the snow. AMS guides will teach you travel and safety protocols and basic mountaineering skills. Then, harnessed and roped together with your guide, you will make short forays on snowshoes or skis to experience some of the most spectacular vistas in the world. Some of our favorite Alaska Range areas for treks include: Ruth Glacier, Little Switzerland, Kahiltna Glacier, and Eldridge Glacier.
Beginner/Intermediate
Glacier Trek via Ski Plane into Denali National Park
2–6 people
1-3 days
Call for pricing
Schedule
Contact us about custom options for your Glacier Trek course.
What's Included
- Professional mountain guide(s)
- Personal warm outer-layer clothing: parka and insulated overpants
- Personal glacier travel gear: insulated mountaineering boots, harness, crampons, snowshoes, ice axe, ropes and carabiners
- Personal winter sleeping equipment: warm sleeping bags, insulated sleeping pads, tents
- Round-trip glacier flight
- All meals and snack foods during your trek
- All group camping and climbing equipment: ropes, tents, pickets, technical climbing gear, snow saws, wands
- Snow kitchen equipment: community kitchen tent, cooking stoves, utensils, and fuel
- Mountain communications: Emergency-use satellite phone, FRS on-mountain radios, Delorme in-Reach
- Maps, GPS
- Medical protocols, first aid, medication, and repair kits
- Fully equipped staging area at AMS HQ and AMS Mountain Shop in Talkeetna
- 24/7 support from staff at AMS in Talkeetna during your climb
- Pre-trek assistance with travel planning and training advice
- Luggage storage during your trek
- Welcome back table with fresh foods and drinks after your trek
- Staff assistance with lodging and shuttle logistics
Beginner/Intermediate
Glacier Trek via Ski Plane into Denali National Park
2–6 people
1-3 days
Call for pricing
This is a sample Denali National Park Glacier Trek itinerary. Actual day-to-day activities of any trek vary depending on trek location, weather, and snow conditions.
1-Day Trek
8:00 a.m.: Meet at AMS in Talkeetna with your instructors, muffins/tea/coffee provided, trek orientation, individual gear check, pack snacks from AMS food room, final pack-up and dress for the mountains and glacier flight.
9:30 a.m.: Drive to local air taxi for glacier flight.
10:30 a.m.: Arrive on the glacier, guides provide: glaciology class, equipment orientation and safety review, rope up for glacier travel and snowshoe or ski on the glacier to a vista point and lunch. Explore the terrain and choose from activities such as: building snow shelters, crevasse exploration, building snow anchors, sledding, snowball fights, camping and cooking class, and more.
6:00 p.m.: Ski plane meets us on the glacier for pickup.
6:45 p.m.: Return to Talkeetna and AMS to return equipment, say farewell.
2-Day Trek
Day 1
Meet 8:00 a.m. at AMS with your instructors. Muffins/tea/coffee provided. Trek orientation, individual gear check, and pack snacks from AMS food room. Final pack-up and dress for the mountains and glacier flight.
9:30am: Drive to local NPS ranger station to register for our overnight and air taxi for glacier flight.
10:45 a.m.: Arrive on the glacier. Glaciology class, equipment orientation and safety review, tent camp and kitchen set-up on the snow. After lunch, we rope up for glacier travel and snowshoe or ski on the glacier to a vista point and have hot drinks and snacks. Explore the terrain and return to camp, where guides have prepared a tasty dinner. Classes: sleeping warm, camping in the snow, cold-weather living, hygiene, the environment and natural history. Enjoy the evening around the snow table with unforgettable alpenglow and the sounds of nature.
Day 2
Morning wake-up and hot breakfast. Full day of activity: travel further into the mountains adding more miles on the glacier, downhill skiing, building snow shelters, crevasse exploration, building snow anchors, sledding, snowball fights, camping and cooking class, crevasse rescue classes, rappelling, ice climbing, moderate peak ascent.
4:30 p.m.: Return to camp and pack up our camp and gear to meet our return flight back to Talkeetna.
5:30 p.m.: Ski plane meets us on the glacier for pickup.
6:15 p.m.: Return to Talkeetna and AMS to return equipment, say farewell.
3-Day Trek
Day 1
8:00 a.m.: Meet at AMS in Talkeetna with your instructors. Muffins/tea/coffee provided. Trek orientation, individual gear check, and pack snacks from AMS food room. Final pack-up and dress for the mountains and glacier flight.
9:30 a.m.: Drive to local NPS ranger station to register for our overnight and air taxi for glacier flight.
10:45 a.m.: Arrive on the glacier. Glaciology class, equipment orientation and safety review, set up our tent camp and kitchen on the snow. After lunch, we rope up for glacier travel and snowshoe or ski on the glacier to a vista point and have hot drinks and snacks. Explore the terrain and return to camp, guides prepare a tasty dinner. Classes: sleeping warm, camping in the snow, cold-weather living, hygiene, the environment and natural history. Enjoy the evening around the snow table with unforgettable alpenglow and the sounds of nature.
Day 2
Morning wake-up and hot breakfast. Full day of activity: moving camp, travel further into the mountains adding more miles on the glacier, picnic lunch, downhill skiing, building snow shelters, crevasse exploration, building snow anchors, sledding, snowball fights, camping and cooking class, crevasse rescue classes, rappelling, ice climbing, moderate peak ascent and more. Early evening travel back to camp, guides prepare a tasty dinner. Classes: Denali National Park and Preserve, climbing history, snow science. Enjoy another beautiful evening in nature around the snow table.
Day 3
Morning wake-up and hot breakfast. Full day of activity: moving camp, travel further into the mountains adding more miles on the glacier, downhill skiing, building snow shelters, crevasse exploration, building snow anchors, sledding, snowball fights, camping and cooking class, crevasse rescue classes, rappelling, ice climbing, moderate peak ascent.
4:30 p.m.: Return to camp and pack up camp and gear to meet our return flight back to Talkeetna.
5:30 p.m.: Ski plane meets us on the glacier for pickup.
6:15 p.m.: Return to Talkeetna and AMS to return equipment, say farewell.
Beginner/Intermediate
Glacier Trek via Ski Plane into Denali National Park
2–6 people
1-3 days
Call for pricing
No prior camping or climbing experience is necessary.
The difficulty of Glacier treks will be customized according to your individual and the group’s abilities and goals. All participants are expected to be healthy, with good physical fitness and comfort in remote wilderness areas.
Please note: This is wilderness camping, so there is no running water or public toilet. All specialty equipment is provided.
Beginner/Intermediate
Glacier Trek via Ski Plane into Denali National Park
2–6 people
1-3 days
Call for pricing
My life goal is not to climb the Seven Summits, but rather to set foot within all 397 units of America’s National Park System. One of them Denali National Preserve, is particularly remote and difficult to access, but AMS got me there! A spectacular landing on the seldom visited Dall Glacier and two magnificent nights spent on the ice, encircled by grandeur. Thank you AMS!
— Chris Calvert, 3-Day Glacier Trek
Glacier trekking at Ruth Glacier was amazing. It’s tied as number one with scuba diving with sharks at Sharks Hole, Tahiti in my most amazing experiences list. The views were magnificent, the weather was crystal clear and warm, only the sound of melting snow. I encourage everyone to experience such natural beauty.
—Mary Erginsoy, 2-day Trek
I can’t believe how lucky I was to find Colby and AMS while sitting at my desk in Chicago. We’ve been on three backcountry ski trips with Colby and each one is better than the previous one. We’ll be back!
—Tom Prusinski, 3-Day Trek(s)
AMS customized a trip for us to enjoy the AK Range. The office staff took specific care to answer our endless questions and provided us with the perfect guide: Leighan. I highly recommend AMS.
—Katie Rice, 3-Day Trek
