Dixie Pass landscape

Photo: Photo by Mladen Borisov on Unsplash

Dixie Pass

~3 days · 11.6 mi · moderate · Point-to-point

Quick facts

Distance11.6 mi
Days out3
Elevation gain3,930 ft
Gain / mile339 ft
High point5,180 ft

What the Dixie Pass is known for

Wrangell-St. Elias's classic first backpack: roughly 11.5 miles one-way (shown here as the one-way line, hiked out-and-back for ~23 miles round trip) from the Kotsina Road up creek gravel and alpine tundra to Dixie Pass.

Route map & campsites

Route map of the Dixie Pass on OpenStreetMap terrain Open in Planner →

Route shape from OpenStreetMap geometry. Start · End · Camp

Elevation profile

Elevation ranges from 4,111 ft to 16,995 ft over 11.6 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).

  • Uphill 11.1 mi · 96%
  • Downhill 0.1 mi · 1%
  • Flat 0.4 mi · 3%

Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.

Frequently asked questions

How many days does the Dixie Pass take?

Most backpackers hike the Dixie Pass in about 3 days (2 nights out) over its 11.6 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.

How much elevation gain is on the Dixie Pass?

The Dixie Pass climbs roughly 3,930 ft total — about 339 ft per mile, topping out near 5,180 ft.

Related trails

Sources & attribution

Route geometry and stats derived from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.

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