Root glacier or flightseeing?

Question

So this june i will have only 1 full day for wrangell-st elias NP and i am incapable of choosing between a Root glacier hike tour or a flightseeing tour.

On the first hand, i know the hike is very beautiful, but i will only see a very small area of the park. And, i have already done glacier hikes in Argentina and scandinavia and i dont know if its worth it, unless something really spectacular in terms of ice caves and views and such.

On the other hand, flightseeing would give a more complete view of the park, and would be cheaper , but only takes 2 hours without actually ever touching the park. What do i do with the rest of my day?:)

Would really appreciate any help or opinion on the matter. Thank you

Answer

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is immense, and with only one full day, choosing between a Root Glacier hike and a flightseeing tour comes down to what kind of experience you value most.

The Root Glacier hike offers an up-close, tactile experience with glaciers. Even if you've hiked glaciers in Argentina or Scandinavia, Root Glacier has unique features:

Beautiful ice formations and some areas with small ice caves.
Guided hikes typically include insights about the glacier’s geology, crevasses, and glacial history.
You spend several hours immersed in the landscape, which can be very rewarding if you enjoy being on foot and photographing detailed ice features.
It is limited to a small portion of the park, so you won’t get the sense of the full scale of Wrangell-St. Elias.

The flightseeing tour provides a broad overview of the park’s vast landscapes:

Usually lasts around 2 hours and covers massive glaciers, towering peaks, and remote areas you cannot reach on foot.
Gives a real sense of scale and the sheer remoteness of Wrangell-St. Elias.
Less physical effort, so you can use the rest of your day for other activities or exploring the small town areas like McCarthy or Kennecott.
Cheaper than a full-day guided hike and allows for aerial photography opportunities.

Considerations for decision-making:

If you prioritize immersive glacier experience and are happy to spend several hours in a small area, choose the Root Glacier hike.
If you prefer maximizing your view of the park and seeing more of its dramatic scale without much physical effort, the flightseeing tour is likely more rewarding.
Given your prior glacier experiences, the flightseeing tour may provide a fresh perspective since you’ll see areas completely different from Argentina or Scandinavia.
You could combine the flightseeing with a short local hike or visit historic sites like the Kennecott mines to fill the rest of your day.

In summary, if your goal is to experience the grandeur and vastness of Wrangell-St. Elias in a single day, flightseeing is probably the better option. If you want hands-on glacier experience and don’t mind seeing only a small portion of the park, go for the hike. Either choice offers a memorable experience, just in different ways.

Root glacier or flightseeing?

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