MCCARTHY HIKING FIELD GUIDE
Five Days on the Upper Chitistone Goat Trail: Tracing a Historic Miner's Route from McCarthy
A 5-day guided traverse of a historic miner's route through the tundra near McCarthy — this guide summarizes duration, dates, rates, and booking options with St. Elias Alpine Guides.
Five Days on the Upper Chitistone Goat Trail: Tracing a Historic Miner's Route from McCarthy.
Follow a historic miner’s route across the Alaskan tundra on a thrilling five-day journey out of McCarthy with St. Elias Alpine Guides. The Upper Chitistone Goat Trail invites travelers to experience a unique landscape on a guided itinerary offered as group departures in August 2025 or as private, customizable expeditions.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
A historic miner’s route across tundra
The trail follows an old miner’s route, carrying you over open tundra and through terrain shaped by Alaska’s mining past — the core defining element of this five-day experience.
August group departures in 2025
St. Elias Alpine Guides is running a group trip in August 2025 and also offers private and custom trip options for travelers who want different dates or a tailored itinerary.
Guided, multi-day exploration
This is a guided, multi-day trek organized by St. Elias Alpine Guides — available as an advertised group departure or as a private expedition with per-person pricing that varies by party size.
What the day feels like
What the trip feels like
Over five days you follow the Upper Chitistone Goat Trail along a historic miner’s corridor through the tundra, moving as part of a guided group or a private party and experiencing the remote landscape that defines this region near McCarthy.
THE ROUTE
A historic miner’s route across tundra
The trail follows an old miner’s route, carrying you over open tundra and through terrain shaped by Alaska’s mining past — the core defining element of this five-day experience.
THE TIMING
August group departures in 2025
St. Elias Alpine Guides is running a group trip in August 2025 and also offers private and custom trip options for travelers who want different dates or a tailored itinerary.
THE EXPERIENCE
Guided, multi-day exploration
This is a guided, multi-day trek organized by St. Elias Alpine Guides — available as an advertised group departure or as a private expedition with per-person pricing that varies by party size.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this trip is set up for and how party size affects the experience.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The advertised group departure runs August 9–13, 2025; the trip is a five-day itinerary.
Group rate and private per-person pricing are published for 2025; consult the operator’s trip page to view the group rate and the range of private rates by party size.
Specific gear requirements and packing guidance are provided by the operator—refer to the trip page and the operator FAQ for an official gear list prior to departure.
St. Elias Alpine Guides offers private and custom dates; book a planning call with their Expedition Coordinator to arrange private departures or custom itineraries.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Upper Chitistone Goat Trail trip?
The trip is a five-day itinerary.
When is the 2025 group departure?
The advertised 2025 group trip dates are August 9–13, 2025.
What is the group rate for 2025?
The 2025 group rate is $2,670 per person.
Are private trips available and how are they priced?
Yes. Private trip pricing for 2025 is listed by party size: one participant $5,825; two participants $3,500 per person; three–six participants $2,790 per person; seven–eight participants qualify for the group rate.
How do I start planning a private or custom trip?
Private trips and custom dates are available; you can sign up for a call with the operator’s Expedition Coordinator to begin planning.
Where can I find more trip details and operator information?
Full trip information and operator details are available on the St. Elias Alpine Guides trip page and on their FAQ page.