Crystalline Hills Trail

If you’ve never been to the park, Wrangell is 13.2 million acres, the largest national park in the United States, roughly the size of Switzerland. Access is limited. There is only one main road into the center of the park, which dead ends in the town of Kennecott, a historic copper mining area. I have marked on the map as far as you are allowed to take your personal vehicle.In order to get to t...

Starting in the town of Kennicott you'll hike on the trail leading north outside of the town for a mile and a half.The trail will end at the edge of the glacier and this is where you put on your crampons. I would also suggest putting on your crampons at the edge of the glacier and not while on it to avoid possibly slipping on the ice!If you have not used crampons before I would suggest you get ...

This journey begins at the northern terminus of the historic Kennecott Mines, following the Root Glacier trail to the north. Follow this trail between 1-2 miles until you reach a split in the trail. Follow the split to the southeast and continue along this trail until you reach another split. If you continue to follow the trail south from the split it will take you to the top precipice of the K...

Disclaimer: We do not recommend entering the caves as the ice can become unstable, especially in the warmer months.If you are in Kennicott and have the physical ability to get to these caves, make this the top of your priority list.You'll walk down the path heading north out of the town towards the root glacier. The path is a mile and a half long but to get to the ice caves you'll jump off the ...

Traversing the glacier can be a whole day experience in and of itself. Make sure to set aside enough time to explore. I'd plan on at least 3-4 hours total travel time round trip on the glacier alone. The Donoho Lakes are a series of lakes that exist on a narrow strip of flat land between two glaciers that is a blast to explore. Make sure that you go with at least one companion as the trail is b...

This 9 mile strenuous hike will reward the intrepid hiker with a serene setting and in-tact mining ruins for any and all to explore at will. Literally at will as there will be no park personnel telling you where you can and cannot go - it is really at your own risk! The mining ruins are halfway in tact, with some parts of the various buildings partially collapsed. Many of the old tools and tram...