Alaska Travel Guide - Visit McCarthy and Kennicott

McCarthy & Kennicott, Alaska
 

Located 314 miles from Anchorage, McCarthy (Population 54) is about 1 mile by road from the end of the McCarthy Road; Kennicott is about 5 miles by road from McCarthy. McCarthy and Kennicott both originated with the establishment of the Kennecott Mines Company in 1906. (A misspelling made the mining company Kennecott, while the glacier, river and town are Kennicott). The mining town of Kennicott, perched on the side of Bonanza Ridge above the wide and rocky Kennicott Glacier moraine, housed the mine offices, homes, a hospital, school and a movie theatre. Today, the 14-story Kennecott Mine mill and concentrator building is a favorite photo subject for tourists.

The National Park Service purchased the mill and several other historic structures, which are included in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. McCarthy, almost 5 miles away, sprang up to provide the miners with more housing, saloons, a newspaper, stores, hotels, restaurants and a red-light district. A number of these pioneer structures have been restored or rebuilt and now house a variety of businesses. Accommodations and dining in McCarthy at the McCarthy Lodge/Ma Johnson’s Hotel and Golden Saloon. Camping at end of McCarthy Road. Accommodations and dining in Kennicott at Kennicott Glacier Lodge.

Guided mine hikes, narrated tours of the Kennicott mine buildings, glacier flightseeing tours within the Wrangell St. Elias National Park, trekking, rafting trips, glacier day hikes, ice climbing and mountaineering. Enjoy slide presentations and other programs are presented by the National Park Service in summer. Inquire at the park visitor center in the Kennicott Train Depot. Hike the Root Glacier Trail. McCarthy Museum, located in the old railway depot, has historical artifacts and photos from the early mining days. McCarthy Museum, located in the old railway depot, has historical artifacts and photos from the early mining days. >> More Information