MCCARTHY HIKING FIELD GUIDE
Steamboat Hills Base Camp: Four Days in the Hidden Heart of the Wrangells
A 4-day private hiking or backpacking experience in McCarthy, tailored for moderate to advanced explorers and offered by St. Elias Alpine Guides.
Steamboat Hills Base Camp: Four Days in the Hidden Heart of the Wrangells.
Discover the lesser-known reaches of the Wrangell Mountains from a private base camp in McCarthy. Over four days, St. Elias Alpine Guides frames a personalized program — choose a base-camp or backpacking style and set dates that work for your group — to explore remote terrain with expert guiding and flexible pacing.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Private, Tailored Four-Day Adventure
This is a 4-day private trip designed so you can choose a base-camp hiking format or a moderate backpacking style; itineraries and dates are arranged specifically for your party size.
Explore the Hidden Gems of the Wrangells
The program emphasizes small-group exploration of McCarthy and surrounding Wrangell landscapes, letting participants connect with remote wilderness under guided leadership.
Moderate to Advanced—Choose Your Pace
Offered as either a Moderate–Advanced base camp hiking trip or a Moderate backpacking trip, the itinerary can be adapted to your group's preferred level of challenge and objectives.
What the day feels like
What the four days feel like
Across four days in McCarthy, the trip unfolds as a private, customizable program with guided hikes or backpacking legs determined by the style you select. Whether set up from a central base camp or moving camp-to-camp, the emphasis is on sustained time in the Wrangell backcountry, paced for moderate to advanced participants and tailored to your chosen dates.
THE EXPERIENCE
Private, Tailored Four-Day Adventure
This is a 4-day private trip designed so you can choose a base-camp hiking format or a moderate backpacking style; itineraries and dates are arranged specifically for your party size.
THE TERRAIN
Explore the Hidden Gems of the Wrangells
The program emphasizes small-group exploration of McCarthy and surrounding Wrangell landscapes, letting participants connect with remote wilderness under guided leadership.
THE STYLE
Moderate to Advanced—Choose Your Pace
Offered as either a Moderate–Advanced base camp hiking trip or a Moderate backpacking trip, the itinerary can be adapted to your group's preferred level of challenge and objectives.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this trip suits — and who should look elsewhere.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Four days total; trips are offered as either a Moderate–Advanced Base Camp Hiking trip or a Moderate Backpacking trip—select the format you prefer when booking.
Consult the operator’s equipment list for required clothing and technical gear; the operator provides a full packing list and recommends gear appropriate to a base-camp or backpacking option.
This is a private trip—book your preferred dates; 2025 private rates are published per participant and vary by group size (single, pair, and 3–6 person tiers).
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Is the Steamboat Hills trip offered as a public departure or private only?
This trip is offered only on a private-trip basis; you may choose dates that work for your party and the operator will book a private departure for your group.
How long is the trip?
The program runs four days in total.
What are the 2025 private rates?
Published 2025 private rates are: 1 participant $5,450; 2 participants $3,650 per person; 3–6 participants $3,050 per person.
Can I choose between base-camp hiking and backpacking?
Yes—this trip is offered either as a Moderate–Advanced Base Camp Hiking trip or as a Moderate Backpacking trip; indicate your preferred style when booking or ask the operator for guidance.
How do I book or discuss dates and trip details?
Book the dates that suit you directly with the operator or schedule a planning call via the Expedition Coordinator link provided by St. Elias Alpine Guides to start planning your private trip.
Where can I find the required equipment list?
The operator publishes a complete equipment list—refer to the trip page and equipment list linked by St. Elias Alpine Guides for specific gear requirements and recommendations.