Is prior rafting experience necessary?

No prior experience is required; guides provide instruction and support throughout the trip.

What age is suitable to join the trip?

This adventure is open to participants aged 8 and older.

How physically demanding is the trip?

The trip is challenging and requires good fitness due to extended paddling and carrying gear over uneven terrain.

What safety measures are in place?

All trips include professional guides, safety briefings, and proper equipment to ensure participant safety.

What wildlife might we see?

You may encounter bears, moose, eagles, and various waterfowl native to the Alaskan wilderness.

Are meals provided during the adventure?

Yes, all meals are included and prepared by guides using fresh ingredients suited for backcountry conditions.

Source to Sea: Epic Rafting Adventure in McCarthy, Alaska

Get ready for an unforgettable 15-day rafting expedition along Alaska's stunning wilderness with St. Elias Alpine Guides. The Source to Sea journey takes you from pristine glacial streams all the way to the sea, showcasing some of the most breathtaking landscapes McCarthy has to offer. Ideal for adventurers ages 8 and up, this trip combines thrilling rapids with serene moments on calm stretches of river. Small group sizes guarantee a personalized experience, allowing you to connect with nature and your fellow paddlers without distractions. Along the route, expect to witness towering peaks, expansive tundra, and abundant wildlife that make this region genuinely unique. The guaranteed group rates make it easier than ever to plan with friends or family. Whether you’re an experienced rafter or trying this adventure sport for the first time, expert guides from St. Elias Alpine Guides ensure safety while maximizing excitement. From learning the basics of navigating whitewater to enjoying evenings around the campfire under Alaska’s long daylight hours, every day brings new discoveries. This is more than a trip; it’s an epic outdoor journey that builds unforgettable memories in one of America’s most remote and beautiful places.

About St. Elias Alpine Guides

St. Elias Alpine Guides is a guiding company based in McCarthy, Alaska, offering guided adventures throughout Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and surrounding wilderness. The company leads a range of trips including packrafting, multi-day rafting, glacier hiking, ice climbing, fly-in hiking, and private basecamp expeditions. Popular itineraries include Doubtful–Nizina Packrafting, Tebay Lakes Basecamp Packrafting, Chitina River trips, Western Copper River rafting, Raft and Flightsee, Full-Day Glacier Hike on Root Glacier, Skolai Pass fly-in hiking, Bremner Mine basecamp hiking, and multi-day Ice Climbing and Ice Climbing Camp programs.

Trips are available as scheduled group departures or fully private, customizable experiences with options for day trips and multi-day expeditions. Many itineraries accommodate families and groups; for example, Chitina River trips welcome guests ages eight and up and Western Copper River trips can include children as young as three. Several trips conclude with scenic bush plane flights or operate from remote fly-in access points.

St. Elias Alpine Guides emphasizes small-group guiding, route planning, and trip customization to match client skill levels and objectives. Guides provide logistics, gear guidance, and route choices appropriate to each itinerary. Booking information lists fixed departures for some trips and private-date options for others, with clear descriptions of duration and difficulty. The company’s offerings focus on authentic wilderness experiences in McCarthy, Root Glacier, Tebay Lakes, the Copper River corridor, and surrounding Alaskan river systems.

Clients can select multi-day basecamps, day hikes, guided ice-climbing instruction, or combined raft-and-flightsee itineraries to tailor pace, challenges, and family needs. Booking details and gear lists.