Where on earth
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- Region
- Alaska, USA
- Country
- United States
- Biome
- Coastal-influenced alpine (700–2,000 m)
- Best season
- July – August
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Backpacking
- Hiking
- Climbing
- Sea Kayaking
- Beachcombing
Key takeaways
- Biome: Coastal-influenced alpine (700–2,000 m)
- Best season: July – August
- Difficulty: moderate
- Top activity: backpacking
Photos of Wrangell-St. Elias — Goat Trail
Topic summary
A 20-mile off-trail traverse from Chitistone Pass to McCarthy — Alaska's most classic ridge walk.
Key takeaways
- Difficulty: moderate
- Best season: July – August
Intended uses
backpacking
Climate suitability
Coastal-influenced alpine (700–2,000 m)
Tools for a trip here
Picked for how, when and where you're going. Free, no signup.
- Sleep System Temp CalculatorCold nights: check your bag and pad add up to a safe sleep.
- Base Weight CalculatorEvery ounce is carried — total your kit and find your base weight.
- Pack Volume SizerSize the pack for your trip length and season.
- Water Purification MatrixTreat water from streams and lakes on trail.
- Layering CalculatorCold-season miles: layer for climbs and camp.
Plan with verified data
Wrangell-St. Elias — Goat Trail trip tools
How to get there
Drive the washboarded McCarthy Road from Chitina toward McCarthy. Cars cannot enter McCarthy; a footbridge at the road end leads into town. Kennicott is five miles down the road from McCarthy. Nizina is another park access point, and small planes provide an option for backcountry access. Confirm the specific Goat Trail approach before booking transport.
- McCarthy
A park gateway reached by the McCarthy Road from Chitina. Leave the vehicle at the road end and use the footbridge to enter town; confirm onward arrangements for the intended backcountry route.
- Nizina
Another access point for Wrangell–St. Elias. Confirm transport arrangements and its suitability for the intended Goat Trail approach with the National Park Service.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikivoyage. Confirm road and trailhead conditions with the managing agency before you leave.
Popular pursuits at Wrangell-St. Elias — Goat Trail
- Backpacking
Multi-day travel with everything on your back — see the packing blocks below.
- Hiking
Day miles on marked trail, with route notes and trail links below.
- Climbing
Rock and alpine lines with approach beta.
- Sea Kayaking
Coastal crossings, tides, and protected camps.
- Beachcombing
Tide-line walking between camps.
Animals around Wrangell-St. Elias — Goat Trail
Maps, GPS & compass for this trip
Carry a waterproof paper map and a compass you can steer by, and treat the GPS as the backup — not the other way round. Buying links go to Amazon; Wild10 earns a commission at no cost to you.
Waterproof topo maps
- Waterproof topographic map — Wrangell-St. Elias — Goat TrailAmazon search for waterproof, tear-resistant topo maps covering this area.
- National Geographic Trails IllustratedThe waterproof Trails Illustrated series — check for a sheet covering this area.
- Waterproof map case & compass lanyardKeep a paper map readable in rain, spray and a swamped boat.
Fishing at Wrangell-St. Elias — Goat Trail
Planning to fish Wrangell-St. Elias — Goat Trail, Alaska? Fishing licenses, open seasons and catch limits in Alaska are set by the local wildlife authority and change every year — check the official source before you cast a line.
Do I need a fishing license at Wrangell-St. Elias — Goat Trail?
- A Alaska fishing license is normally required for anyone over the local youth age.
- Read the current Alaska fishing regulations for special waters, barbless-hook or catch-and-release rules.
- Clean, drain and dry boats and gear between waters to stop invasive species.
Hunting near Wrangell-St. Elias — Goat Trail
Thinking about hunting Wrangell-St. Elias — Goat Trail, Alaska? Hunting seasons, tags and draws in Alaska are set by the wildlife authority each year. Confirm the rules for your species and unit before you go.
Is hunting allowed at Wrangell-St. Elias — Goat Trail?
- Confirm the land around Wrangell-St. Elias — Goat Trail is open to hunting and which management unit it falls in.
What do I need to hunt in Alaska?
- A Alaska hunting license — most jurisdictions also require hunter education certification.
- Species tags or draw results for big game such as deer, elk, moose or bear where they occur.
- Knowledge of firearm and bow transport rules, which differ by land type and border crossing.
A vast, glaciated Alaska setting
Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve is a vast, glaciated landscape in Alaska and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its scale is the starting point for planning: reaching a park gateway is different from reaching a backcountry starting point. For a trip centered on the Goat Trail, confirm the route location, approach, and current conditions with the National Park Service before arranging transport. Do not assume that the name means a marked or maintained walking trail. Backcountry travel here can take the form of a base camp or a point-to-point hike, with small-plane access an option. Choose between those styles only after establishing where the intended walk begins and ends, and how the group will reach and leave those places.
McCarthy, Kennicott, and the road approach
The road approach runs from Chitina to McCarthy along the washboarded McCarthy Road. A car can get you to the end of the road, but not into McCarthy itself; a footbridge provides the onward connection into town. That change from driving to walking matters when organizing baggage and any onward travel. Kennicott, an old copper mining town, is five miles down the road from McCarthy and gives this gateway area a historic dimension alongside its mountain setting. Nizina is another park access point. Neither gateway should be treated as a confirmed Goat Trail trailhead without checking the intended approach. Build the trip around a verified connection between the road or flight arrival and the actual backcountry route, rather than assuming those pieces join directly.
Choosing a backcountry trip style
Small-plane travel is an option for reaching the backcountry, while flightseeing offers a separate way to see the park’s glaciated terrain. For time on the ground, the broad choices are base camping and point-to-point hiking. A base-camp plan concentrates the stay around one location; a point-to-point plan requires a workable arrival at one end and departure from the other. Those are planning formats, not verified Goat Trail itineraries. Before choosing either, establish the walking line, terrain demands, and transport arrangements with the National Park Service and any transport provider involved. Pack for Alaska mountain weather and carry navigation appropriate to travel without a dependable marked trail. Leave flexibility in the schedule rather than tying a remote walking plan to a tight onward connection.
Route options
- Backcountry base camp
A backcountry trip format with small-plane access as an option. Select the camp location and any walking objectives after confirming terrain and access; this is not a specified Goat Trail itinerary.
- Point-to-point backcountry hike
An alternative to base camping that requires confirmed access and departure arrangements at separate ends of the walk. Establish the actual route before committing to a Goat Trail trip.
Sample itineraries
- McCarthy access orientation · 1 day
Suggested access-day plan, not a Goat Trail itinerary: drive the washboarded McCarthy Road from Chitina, leave the vehicle at the road end, and cross the footbridge into McCarthy. Confirm Goat Trail access and route details with the National Park Service before heading into the backcountry.
- McCarthy and Kennicott orientation · 2 days
Suggested orientation plan, not a Goat Trail trek: spend the first day reaching McCarthy and the second visiting Kennicott, the old copper mining town 5 miles away by road. Arrange onward transport separately; do not treat this schedule as an established backcountry route.
Seasonal conditions
Spring
Confirm locally before choosing dates
Goat Trail's spring travel conditions are not established here. In this glaciated landscape, confirm weather, surface conditions, and access before committing to a route.
Summer
Confirm locally before choosing dates
Do not assume summer makes the backcountry straightforward. Confirm Goat Trail navigation requirements and current conditions, and verify any small-plane arrangements before departure.
Fall
Confirm locally before choosing dates
A reliable fall hiking window is not established here. Check weather and access close to departure, and carry layers and shelter appropriate for the forecast.
Winter
Confirm locally before choosing dates
Winter suitability for Goat Trail is not established here. Obtain route-specific advice before planning travel in the park's glaciated backcountry; do not reuse a warmer-season itinerary without reassessing conditions.
| Season | Window | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Confirm locally before choosing dates | Goat Trail's spring travel conditions are not established here. In this glaciated landscape, confirm weather, surface conditions, and access before committing to a route. |
| Summer | Confirm locally before choosing dates | Do not assume summer makes the backcountry straightforward. Confirm Goat Trail navigation requirements and current conditions, and verify any small-plane arrangements before departure. |
| Fall | Confirm locally before choosing dates | A reliable fall hiking window is not established here. Check weather and access close to departure, and carry layers and shelter appropriate for the forecast. |
| Winter | Confirm locally before choosing dates | Winter suitability for Goat Trail is not established here. Obtain route-specific advice before planning travel in the park's glaciated backcountry; do not reuse a warmer-season itinerary without reassessing conditions. |
Permits, fees & closures
Confirm current Goat Trail permit requirements with the National Park Service.
Confirm current permits, fees, and closures with the managing agency before you go.
Hazards & regulations
- McCarthy Road is washboarded. Drive cautiously and allow flexibility in the approach schedule.
- The backcountry is described as lacking trails. Do not assume Goat Trail is a marked or maintained walking route; confirm navigation requirements before departure.
- The park is extensively glaciated. Establish whether the intended route encounters glacial terrain and obtain appropriate advice before committing.
What to pack for Wrangell-St. Elias — Goat Trail
- Detailed maps for the confirmed route
- Compass and offline navigation
- Emergency communication device
- Waterproof outer layers
- Insulating layers suited to the forecast
- Shelter appropriate to the planned trip
- First-aid kit
- Water treatment and carrying capacity
- Food and contingency supplies
Wrangell-St. Elias — Goat Trail FAQ
- Is there enough information here to navigate Goat Trail?
- No. Goat Trail's endpoints, length, route line, and access arrangements are not established here. Obtain route-specific information from the National Park Service before setting an itinerary.
- How do you reach McCarthy?
- Drive McCarthy Road from Chitina to the road end, then cross the footbridge into McCarthy. You cannot drive your car into McCarthy.
- Where is Kennicott?
- Kennicott is an old copper mining town 5 miles down the road from McCarthy. That distance does not describe Goat Trail.
- Are there other ways into the backcountry?
- Nizina is another park access point, and small-plane travel is an option for reaching the backcountry. Neither is established here as the correct access for Goat Trail.
- Should this be a base camp or a point-to-point hike?
- Both are possible styles of backcountry travel in Wrangell-St. Elias. Goat Trail-specific logistics are not established here, so confirm the route and transport before choosing either format.