Tucked away in the heart of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve are McCarthy & Kennicott, Alaska. During the summer months these towns attract visitors interested in learning more about Alaska's colorful history. A walk through downtown McCarthy or a visit to the Kennicott mill can actually make you feel as though you've stepped back in time.

McCarthy is 61 miles east of Chitina off the Edgerton Highway & surrounded by the Kennicott, Nizina, and Chitina Rivers, McCarthy Creek and glaciers galore.

We flew from Anchorage with friends in three other small aircraft. We realized very quickly, this is a very rugged area and sparsely populated so traveling together adds a measure of safety.

Approaching Glennallen we saw a huge, long silverish snake and realized it is the Trans Alaska Pipeline carrying crude oil to the refineries in Valdez. Then, a few minutes later, just on the other side of the Copper River, we spotted a large herd of buffalo. Alaska is truly a place of amazing contrasts.

McCarthy Lodge

In the summer visitors from all parts of the world come to experience the Wrangell-St.Elias National Park (the largest national park in the United States) and find McCarthy a great base from which to explore.

These visitors will find lodging, a museum, a general store, gift shop, and guide services for flightseeing, mountain climbing, hiking, ice climbing, glacier walking.

Winter temperatures have been known to dip as low as 58 degrees below zero so winter visitors are few and far between. Life doesn't come easy in McCarthy. The town water supply is drawn by hand from a clear water spring.

Questions? Contact me at info@akwebsites.com

Alaska On The Web
A resource for Alaska travel information including accommodations, outdoor adventures, fishing,
hunting, rafting, kayaking, tours, travel planning and real estate.