Explore Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Kennecott Mines

Chitina, Alaska

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Details

Distance

1 miles

Elevation Gain

100 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Mike Quine

Bordering a harsh and desolate landscape, walk through American ruins that immortalize a nearly lost history of bravery, ingenuity, and the American determination. Within the landscape conserved by Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, there exists the enshrined remnants of a former copper mine behemoth just north of the pioneer town of McCarthy. If you are lucky enough to even get to this historical landmark, your adventure has already started.

If you have already stepped foot into Wrangell-St. Elias, you probably arrived via bush plane or by heroically navigating the relentlessly brutal, pothole smothered McCarthy Road. Once across the Kennecott River footbridge, you must take the shuttle from the river's edge to Kennecott (NB: the shuttle services to Kennecott in the winter). Once dropped off in Kennecott, the Visitor's Center is within walking distance a few to a hundred feet. This is not a bad place to start.

For up to a mile, the northern trending path will take you passed ruins of the Kennecott mine that operated in the early 1900s. The buildings are a hollow reminder of the grandiose will and determination of the American spirit at the turn of the century. The harsh, yet commanding backdrop to the red facades is an untamed Wrangell-St. Elias wilderness, dotted with mountain ranges and accompanying glacial fields.

If you've come this far, why stop now? Continue to explore into the Park's backcountry wilderness and discover more of what the early miner's discovered.

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Explore Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Kennecott Mines Reviews

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Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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