Do I need prior paddling experience?

No previous paddling experience is necessary, but participants should be comfortable in water and have basic swimming skills.

What should I pack for overnight camping?

Bring weather-appropriate sleeping gear, a personal camping set, and warm clothing for cold nights.

Guided trips typically include meals or provisions; check with St. Elias Alpine Guides for specifics.

Is this activity suitable for children?

Participants should be at least 12 years old and comfortable in water; children must be accompanied by adults.

What if the weather turns bad?

Trips may be adjusted or rescheduled to ensure safety, based on forecast and conditions.

How physically demanding is this trip?

While moderate, it requires good endurance and comfort paddling for several hours daily.

Tebay Lakes Basecamp Packrafting | Kayak in McCarthy, Alaska

Embark on an unforgettable adventure with the Tebay Lakes Basecamp Packrafting experience in McCarthy, Alaska. Guided by the expert team at St. Elias Alpine Guides, this trip combines the thrill of kayaking with the pristine wilderness of the Alaskan backcountry. Starting from the historic and rugged town of McCarthy, you'll get equipped with lightweight packrafts suitable for traversing icy rivers and calm glacial lakes. As you paddle through crystal-clear waters surrounded by towering mountain peaks and glacial landscapes, you'll witness stunning vistas and abundant wildlife. The journey offers a perfect blend of adventure, solitude, and breathtaking scenery, ideal for outdoor enthusiasts seeking both challenge and serenity. Whether navigating gentle lakes or tackling mild rapids, this trip delivers a unique perspective of Alaska's untouched natural beauty. With overnight camping at remote lakeside bases, you'll enjoy nights under the stars and mornings filled with mountain vistas. This experience is perfect for those looking to combine paddling skills with wilderness immersion, making it a highlight of any Alaskan adventure itinerary.

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.