Wrangell Mountain Air - McCarthy, Alaska

Lindsey

Our family took the Glacier Adventure Day Trip package with Wrangell Mountain Air, in conjunction with St. Elias Guides on August 2, 2024, so this review will discuss both companies. Even with the always changing Alaskan weather, we had the best time and experience with both companies! Wrangell Mountain Air was very prompt in picking up/dropping off in both Kennicott/McCarthy and Chitina. Communication and instructions prior to our date was very clear and efficient. The pilots and staff were very knowledgeable and kind at WMA! Both pilots we had provided us with a great tour in the air when flying over certain landmarks and areas. You can tell that they LOVE to fly and love Alaska. The WMA office in McCarthy did have a great little space with covered area to wait and also had a super clean outhouse if needed. Our hiking trip out to Root Glacier with St. Elias Guides was also fantastic. Our guide with St. Elias was very friendly and encouraging with everyone in the larger group and was a wealth of knowledge. He made sure everyone felt comfortable and safe throughout the whole hike. Between the two companies, transportation in a sprinter van from the airport to/from the St. Elias Guide office was provided and timely. Having the shuttle service in McCarthy, with included sack lunch, in addition to great staff and customer service, I would highly recommend Wrangell Mountain Air and would recommend this trip!

Wrangell Mountain Air will send you a comprehensive list of what to bring/not bring, so make sure to read over it! Things to make sure and take with you for this Glacier Day trip:
1. Sunglasses (required for glacier hike)
2. Hiking Poles for the hike to/from the glacier-- the hike to the glacier turn off is fairly flat, however, the drop to the glacier/back up is on the steeper/moderate side and the poles helped!
3. Good hiking shoes--beneficial if water resistant/water proof
4. Layers--it was nice to peel a few off for the short flight!

kamalesh P.

My wife and I took the 90 minute flight yesterday, Our pilot was very courteous and professional as well as very knowledgeable about the Wrangell St Elias National Park including geological history.
The scenery was amazing and awe inspiring,
All in all , an unforgettable experience!

Ariel A.

Really excellent sightseeing flights. They have several that go around the local area and then several that go out to the coast. We really enjoyed the personalized tour Of the local mountains. I was very impressed with the amount of knowledge our pilot had of the surrounding mountains and types of rock. He helped us get as close as safely possible to wildlife, and we were able to see some mountain goats. He also used routes to avoid turbulence, which was really heavy that day. I was impressed too, that he focused on safety. Had an incredible but smooth landing, and takeoff, Even on the gravel runway. He was able to point out many things to us and I probably took 1000 photos. So many beautiful gorgeous spots I don’t have words. Highly recommend 10 out of 10.

Songchun F.

Responsive and friendly staff and professional pilots. We were able to make some last minute changes to our flights and the staff accommodated us promptly. The planes were small but felt safe. On the flight from Chitina to McCarthy, I got some of the best photo shots of the whole Alaska trip. The pilot pointed out many interesting things to look at and talked about the history of the town. Amazing experience!

Lucas M.

A flightsee Tour with Wrangell Mountain Air is a must-do if you are visiting McCarthy! Both the staff and the pilots are dedicated to making sure that you have a great experience. I had the chance to go on the 70 minute and 90 minute tour, where I saw some the coolest things I'd ever seen. The pilot was down to earth and extremely informative during the flight pointing out specific geological and historical landmarks all while checking in on us to make sure we were doing okay and seeing the things we were interested in seeing. I would highly recommend Wrangell Mountain Air to anyone and everyone! With the variety of services they offer, you'll have the chance to experience some of the grandest parts of the Wrangell-St Elias NP.

Jules A.

We took the 70 Minute flightseeing Tour with Dave and we have no words for this experience. At first we were not sure because flights are not cheap but it was SO worth every Dollar. We saw so many glaciers, mountains, some mountain goats and even the old mines. Views were breathtaking and we were so close to the glaciers. It was almost unreal to see this spectacular things that our nature created. We are so happy about our trip and can definitely recommend going on a flightseeing Tour with Wrangell Mountain Air.

LarryS

We took 70 minute flight tour with Dave. He did a great job of explaining everything we saw. Definitely a highlight of our 2 week alaska trip. Highly recommend.

Jason P.

Amazing experience. This is the only time I've ever flown in a smaller plane, and the views were absolutely incredible. Just make sure not to leave any valuables in your car as you'll most likely be in Kennicott for a few days with the vehicle unattended.