The end of the road, and the start of an adventure
The twin towns of McCarthy and Kennecott sit at the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, reachable only by the long gravel McCarthy Road and a footbridge across the Kennicott River. What looks like a remote dead end is actually one of the richest activity hubs in Alaska, packing copper-mining history, glacier adventures, and bush-plane flights into a few square miles. Here is how to fill your days.
Tour the Kennecott mill town
The deep-red Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark is the must-see. Between 1911 and 1938 this was one of the richest copper operations on earth, and the towering 14-story mill building still stands. You can walk the townsite for free, but the inside of the mill is only accessible on a guided tour run by St. Elias Alpine Guides under a Park Service concession. The National Park Service visitor center in the old store offers ranger talks and trail information.
Walk on Root Glacier
The signature hike from Kennecott leads to the Root Glacier, where you can strap on crampons and walk across blue ice past moulins and meltwater streams. It is roughly 4 miles round trip to the ice. Guided treks add ice caves and safe crevasse viewing. See our dedicated trail breakdown for distance, gear, and timing, or fit it into the full Wrangell-St. Elias itinerary.
Take a flightseeing trip
Nothing conveys the scale of the largest national park in the United States like seeing it from the air. Local operators including Wrangell Mountain Air and Copper Valley Air run flightseeing trips over the Stairway Icefall, Mount Blackburn, and the glaciers feeding the valley. Options range from short 35-minute loops to drop-offs deep in the backcountry for backpacking.
More ways to spend your time
- Packrafting the Kennicott River: guided trips run the braided glacial river and class II water below town
- Bonanza Mine Trail: a strenuous all-day hike climbing 3,800 feet to ruins of the original copper claim with massive valley views
- Ice climbing: outfitters set up routes on the glacier ice walls for beginners and experienced climbers
- Old Hardware Store and town walk in McCarthy: a tiny, lively frontier town with a saloon, restaurants, and a quirky museum
- Jumbo Mine and Erie Mine routes: longer backcountry hikes for those wanting solitude above the glacier
Where to eat and stay
For such a small place, McCarthy and Kennecott punch above their weight. The Potato and the Golden Saloon in McCarthy serve hearty meals, while the historic Kennicott Glacier Lodge offers dining with a glacier view. Lodging ranges from the lodge and bed-and-breakfasts to cabins and a campground near the river. Book well ahead in July, the busiest month.
How to get there
From Glennallen, the McCarthy Road runs about 60 miles of gravel and takes 2 to 3 hours to drive carefully. You park at the Kennicott River, cross the footbridge on foot, and either walk or take a shuttle the 4.5 miles up to Kennecott. Some visitors fly in from Chitina to skip the road entirely. Either way, plan to spend at least two nights to do the area justice.
Things to Do in McCarthy and Kennecott, Alaska FAQs
You can walk the Kennecott townsite for free, but entering the historic 14-story mill building requires a guided tour run by the Park Service concessioner, St. Elias Alpine Guides.
Drive the 60-mile gravel McCarthy Road from Chitina to the Kennicott River, then cross the footbridge on foot and walk or shuttle 4.5 miles to Kennecott. You can also fly in from Chitina.
McCarthy is the small living frontier town with restaurants and lodging near the footbridge, while Kennecott is the historic copper-mill town 4.5 miles uphill and the gateway to Root Glacier.
