Hiking near McCarthy, Alaska presents a raw encounter with rugged landscapes shaped by glaciers, rivers, and towering mountain walls. Located within the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, this area serves up a range of trails that challenge and reward in equal measure. Whether you’re after a modest forest walk or a demanding alpine trek, McCarthy’s trails bring the wilderness close, daring you to move through its wild heart.

Key hikes include the Root Glacier Trail, an accessible path about 3 miles round trip with moderate elevation gain, full of rocky terrain and patches of mossy forest. Here, creeks babble insistently, pushing the pace along muddy sections and ice-polished stones. The trail edges vast glacier ice fields that shift silently underfoot, making it a favorite for day hikers and photographers alike.

For a longer route, the Scott Glacier Trail leads into more remote zones, covering roughly 8 miles with steady climbs amid dense spruce and alpine meadows. The terrain is mixed—sometimes slippery with loose talus, sometimes firm with compacted dirt. Wild animals mark territory nearby, their presence a quiet reminder of the untamed wilderness enveloping you.

Preparing for hiking in McCarthy means respecting the landscape’s fierce independence. Bring layered clothing as weather can change suddenly, sturdy boots for uneven surfaces, and sufficient water. Summer offers long daylight hours for timing your trek, but spring and fall bring their own rewards: fewer crowds and wildlife sightings abundant along quieter trails.

Whether you’re targeting the modest or the demanding, hiking near McCarthy merges practical challenge with immediate access to nature’s elements. It’s a place to test preparation, tune your senses, and engage respectfully with a landscape that’s assertively itself — always ready to shift, push, and invite onward.