Explore Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Kennecott Mines
Chitina, Alaska
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.
Download the Outbound mobile app
Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.
Get the appFeatures
Explore Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Kennecott Mines Reviews
Have you done this adventure? Be the first to leave a review!
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Nearby
Hike the Root Glacier to the Donoho Lakes
Backpack to Stairway Icefall at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Hike to the Bonanza Mine in the Wrangell St-Elias National Park
Mountaineering on the Root Glacier
Summit Bonanza Peak, Wrangell-St. Elias NP
Hike to Kennecott's Ice Caves
Community
© 2024 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy