DON'T MISS OUT!
Book by May 18 before we release float plane seats
LAKE CLARK
NATIONAL PARK
- TELAQUANA TO TWIN LAKES -
LAKE CLARK
NATIONAL PARK
- TELAQUANA TO TWIN LAKES -
HIKE THE WILDEST WILDERNESS ON EARTH
We’ll bring the meals, gear, and expert guide
We’ll bring the meals, gear,
and expert guide
Your floatplane bobs above endless mountains. Landing 125 miles from civilization, you cross glacial rivers and precarious mountain passes in a land ruled by bears. You return home wiser, with the bold confidence of an adventurer who has traveled where few humans dare to roam.
- 7 Days
- 30 Miles
- Strenuous
Got questions? Contact us!
Price: $5,295
Just a $500 deposit to book!
2026 DATES
Aug 24-30 fully booked
Due to floatplane schedules, dates may slightly shift until the minimum booking of three people is met.
DEEP IN AN UNTAMED WILDERNESS
Traverse the Alaskan frontier through one of the most wild and remote landscapes left on Earth.
Lake Clark is the second least visited national park for a reason. There are no roads to get here, and you won’t be hiking on any trails. The only way in is by a jaw-dropping float plane ride from Anchorage, touching down in a world 125 miles from civilization.
Join a group of friendly adventurers and follow your expert guide across wide open tundra, through roaring glacial rivers, and over towering mountain passes. You’ll camp next to lakes so blue they seem to glow. You’ll discover an ancient landscape roamed by bears and caribou, alive with waterfalls and glaciers, and crowned by frozen peaks that rise like walls.
This is a true backpacking adventure. You’ll return with a story only a handful of people on Earth will ever share.
ADVENTURE ITINERARY
DAY ONE
Charter a floatplane into the wild
Greet your guide in Anchorage at Lake Hood, the airport for float planes! Review your gear and make sure everyone is set for the adventure ahead.
In our own chartered float plane, rocky peaks rise right next to your window as the pilot threads through mountain passes. Below, glaciers scrape down valleys and rivers curl through an endless wilderness. It’s impossible to take it all in!
125 miles from civilization, the pilot lands the plane on Lake Telaquana, skimming across the surface of the water. On the shore, you unload your pack and watch the plane fly away over the lake. The hum of the engine fades into the soft buzz of mosquitoes and pure silence.
From here, your guide leads you along an animal trail up a steep hillside. As the bushes give way to tundra, Lake Telaquana stretches behind you, radiant and expansive. High on a ridge, your guide prepares dinner under the endless summer sun. You made it. You’re in the Alaskan wilderness!
3 miles +1,800 ft
DAY TWO
Ford a river. Traverse the tundra.
After breakfast and coffee, follow your guide through a valley where a river winds through thick brush. Along the way, we’ll make plenty of noise to warn any hidden bears of our presence!
Your guide teaches you how to link together in a chain for a stable river crossing. When you step into the glacial water, the current surprises you with its force. Ice cold water freezes your feet and pushes you back with every step! Working as a team, you help each other reach the far side safely.
At the top of the next hill, a vast carpet of tundra unfolds before you, and the soft ground cushions every step. At lunch, you notice the ground cover is a living mosaic of countless colorful plants woven into a spongy mat. Berries dot the landscape, and your guide shows you how to snack as you hike.
Eventually, you reach a glacial valley where the ice has receded, leaving behind a chaotic field of giant boulders. Glacial melt trickles beneath the rocks, and hopping across them feels like a dance. On the far side, your guide leads the way up a hill to a misty alpine tarn.
As you set up camp, clouds swirl around the peaks and weave through boulders across the open tundra, wrapping the mountains in a mysterious mist. While eating dinner, make sure to scan the horizon. You might catch sight of a herd of caribou or a brown bear roaming across the rugged expanse!
7 miles +1,200 ft | -700 ft
DAY THREE
Camp at Turquoise Lake
Pack up camp and make your way over a small mountain pass. On the other side, nestled in a valley far below, Turquoise Lake glows like a radiant jewel.
Across the valley, a solid wall of mountains rises straight out of the water, impossible to reach from shore. As you wonder how you might descend, your guide leads the way across a steep hillside of slippery rocks and down through thick bushes. The sound of rushing water signals your arrival at a braided river valley. Link up with your hiking companions and carefully cross each river channel as it flows toward the lake.
At the far side of the valley, we set up camp. Behind you, towering mountains rise sharply. To one side, the lake glows brilliantly blue, and to the other, the braided river rushes through the expansive valley. Spend the afternoon taking in the enormity and raw beauty of this unforgettable location. This is one of Alaska’s most spectacular spots!
4.5 miles +500 ft | -2,100 ft
DAY FOUR
Ascend a mysterious mountain pass
During breakfast, you stare up at the massive wall of mountains lining the valley. So tall and rugged, their peaks are barely visible. As you hike closer, the scale is intimidating. You wonder how on Earth you’ll ever cross this enormous barrier. Should we turn back?
Right then, your guide points out a small creek cutting through a passageway into the heart of the mountains. Curiously, you follow, climbing over boulders as you ascend higher. The canyon walls close in around you, but your guide confidently leads the way across the stream and deeper into the mountains.
Just when it feels like a dead end, a wide, flat meadow opens before you. At the top of the meadow, a stream crashes down from a waterfall, flows through a grassy knoll, and drops over another fall. Here in this nook, we set up camp between the two waterfalls, surrounded by green tundra and massive, jagged peaks that tower above our cozy tents.
Before dinner, you wade into the creek, admire the intricate details of the mountain peaks, and we spot a herd of sheep high along the ridge. As you slip into your tent for the night, you are filled with excitement and curiosity. You’ve come so far. Tomorrow you will reach the top of the mountain pass!
4 miles +1,500 ft
DAY FIVE
Conquer the mountain pass. Enter a wild valley.
Today, you will conquer the mountain pass, and you can’t wait to see what unfolds!
The hiking is easy at first, as the valley remains wide and you’ve grown used to hopping across fields of rocks. Gradually, the grassy tundra fades, replaced by bare rock and steep icy walls surround you.
Higher you climb until only one final wall of rock stands between you and the summit. It looks impossibly steep, but by now, you trust your guide completely. You follow behind as your guide carves a path of switchbacks up the face of the wall, reducing the steepness and leading you safely to the top.
At the summit, the view stops you in your tracks. Ahead lies a luminous green valley, dappled with sunlight. Sharp, snowy peaks line the walls, while streams cut through mossy rocks and tundra below. In the distance, you spot the dark blue waters of Twin Lakes. It feels like you’ve stepped through a portal into a film!
Sliding down the rocks on the other side of the pass, you enter the enchanted valley. You arrive at an alpine lake and set up camp on the shore. Your guide makes dinner, and the evening is yours to enjoy the epic, otherworldly views. You can’t get enough!
4.5 miles +1,700 ft | -900 ft
DAY SIX
Camp at Twin Lakes
High at the alpine lake, you take one last look at the views before hiking down into the valley. The route is pleasant, winding across grassy meadows and trickling streams. Along the way, we pause to scan the mountains above for herds of sheep before continuing further.
The route funnels us down to the river at the valley floor, and we cross it several times before it dives into a narrow canyon. Your guide veers away from the water and leads you to a hidden pathway down the mountainside. As we descend, you step into an enchanted forest. Moss covered bark, mushrooms, and patches of sunlight line the trail. The sound of lapping water signals our arrival at the majestic Twin Lakes.
The water here is a dark, impossibly deep blue. The mountains surrounding the lake glow with surprising color. Orange, red, and brown catch the light. Upper Twin Lake stretches long and skinny, giving a perfect view deep into the surrounding mountains. It’s unreal.
We set up camp on the shore, swim, and savor one last Alaskan night. You’ve reached the final stop of this epic adventure. It’s time to celebrate! Tomorrow, the float plane will bring us back to civilization.
7 miles +500 ft | -2,750 ft
DAY SEVEN
Fly in a floatplane to Anchorage
Wake up to the sound of waves lapping on the shore of Upper Twin Lake. Enjoy a warm breakfast while admiring the remote beauty one last time. You swim and stroll along the shoreline.
When the distant hum of an engine finally reaches your ears, you are struck by a wave of mixed feelings. Civilization will be nice, but now that you’ve tasted a true Alaskan adventure, you’re not ready for it to end! The floatplane skims across the lake and comes to shore. The pilot greets us with a smile and loads our packs.
Flying back through the vast mountain range, you feel a surge of pride. You traversed the Alaskan wilderness! We land back in Anchorage as true adventurers, with a welcome return home to civilization.
0 miles
What kind of person is this trip for?
People who want a true wilderness expedition in one of the most remote places on Earth. You should be comfortable being far from civilization, hiking off trail, and embracing the unpredictability of a wild landscape with weather that can shift quickly.
If you’ve ever wanted to go somewhere with nothing but mountains, tundra, and open wilderness in every direction, this trip is for you.
How challenging is this trip?
This is a strenuous and rugged backpacking trip suitable for people who exercise regularly and enjoy challenging themselves. Expect to hike 7 miles a day while carrying a 30-40 lb pack. This is a wilderness route with no trail and terrain that includes river crossings, boulder fields, steep passes, and dense brush.
If you can jog four miles, you’ll likely enjoy this trip.
Training is required. You can prepare with 6 mile hikes with 2,000 feet of elevation gain while carrying a weighted pack. Jogging, using a stairmaster, or treadmill at high incline is also effective.
What's included?
Accommodations
• 6 nights camping in tents
Chartered Flights
• Scenic float plane flight from Anchorage to Lake Clark National Park and back
Meals and Snacks
• All meals from the first day’s lunch to the last day’s lunch
• All snacks, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and desserts!
Group Camping Gear
• Bear canisters, water filters, stove, cookware, first aid kit
• Individual tent for each client
• See Gear List
Wilderness Guide
• Professional wilderness guide with a wilderness first responder certification
Wilderness Permit
• Permit to backpack Lake Clark’s backcountry
What's not included?
Transportation to Alaska
• Adventurers fly to Anchorage & take a taxi to meeting point at Lake Hood
Personal Gear & Clothing
• Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack
• Personal clothing
• Gear rental available
Gratuity for Guides
• Most people tip around 10% of trip cost
Gratuity for Pilot
• Most people tip $20 for each flight
Trip Insurance
• “Cancel for any reason” trip insurance recommended
Backcountry Evacuation
• Read Terms & Conditions for full evacuation policy
What gear do I need?
Here is a link to the gear list.
How do I get there?
Fly into Anchorage airport. Anchorage is a large city with many options for hotels. You can easily take a taxi from your hotel to the Lake Hood Seaplane Base where the trip begins.
It is necessary to fly in the day before your trip starts. It is customary to schedule your return flight for two days after our trip ends. This allows you extra time in case there is a weather delay in returning to Anchorage from the backcountry.
What dates are available?
Aug 24-30 fully booked
What is your cancellation policy?
A $500 non-refundable deposit is due at booking. The remaining amount is due 120 days in advance of your trip start date.
• If you cancel your trip 91-120 days prior to trip departure, you will receive a 50% refund, excluding the non-refundable deposit, booking platform fee, and credit card processing fee.
• If you cancel your trip 0-90 days prior to trip departure, no refund is given.
• No refund is given for any unused portions of a trip, including due to flight delays from weather
When are trip dates confirmed?
Trip dates are confirmed once three clients have booked. Before that, dates may shift based on float plane availability. We recommend waiting to book non-refundable travel until your trip date is confirmed.
How do I contact you?
I’d be happy to answer your questions!
• Email: LamplightersAdventures@gmail.com
• Phone: (209) 336-3147
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