Overview
McCarthy is a historic town in the center of Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
2 sights · 5 places to eat · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about McCarthy
The Root Glacier
This is one of Alaska's most accessible glaciers. You can walk on the white ice of the glacier after hiking just two miles from Kennicott. There are guide services in Kennicott to assist you.
Historic Kennicott
The Kennecott mines and mill town formed in the early 1900s after copper was discovered near Kennicott. Today, these buildings and the history they contain remain one of Alaska's most treasured artifacts.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Aug. Summer highs reach about 71°F; winter lows dip to about -9°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Aug and Sep.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- GKN Gulkana Airport, Gulkana — 97 mi away. Directions
- CDV Merle K (Mudhole) Smith Airport, Cordova — 108 mi away. Directions
- ANC Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage — 235 mi away (major hub). Directions
McCarthy can be reached by driving the highly scenic McCarthy Road, a 60-mile long gravel road beginning at the Copper River near Chitina. The road is built on part of the original rail bed for the Copper River Northwestern Railway, which ran copper ore from Kennicott to Cordova until 1938.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning The Root Glacier
- Lunch The Potato
- Afternoon Historic Kennicott
- Dinner The Golden Saloon
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
There are very few places to eat in the McCarthy/Kennicott area, but they all offer good food in an extremely remote area. In McCarthy there are 3 places to eat:
In Kennicott there are 2 places to get a warm meal:
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Understand
Climate
Get in
By car
McCarthy can be reached by driving the highly scenic McCarthy Road, a 60-mile long gravel road beginning at the Copper River near Chitina. The road is built on part of the original rail bed for the Copper River Northwestern Railway, which ran copper ore from Kennicott to Cordova until 1938.
Although usually suitable for passenger vehicles, road is notorious for potholes, washouts, railroad spikes and flat tires. Drivers should check current road conditions at Park Headquarters, (907) 822-5234.
By bus
Many visitors choose to leave their car at Chitina and take a shuttle into the park on the McCarthy Road.
- Backcountry Connections +1 907-822-5292 makes daily runs from Glennallen to McCarthy in the summer months.
- Wrangell-St. Elias Tours +1 907-822-5978 provides tours to McCarthy and Kennicott from Chitina (May-Sept). They also offer shuttles and package tours to McCarthy from Anchorage.
By plane
- Ellis Air (the Mail Plane) has scheduled flights on Wednesdays and Fridays from Gulkana Airport near Glennallen. Call +1 907-822-3368 or +1 800-478-3368 for prices and flight times.
Get around
Visitors to McCarthy should come prepared with good walking shoes, rain or wind jacket, hat, gloves, sunglasses and sunscreen. If you are seeking outdoor recreation you will find ample opportunity. You'll be walking and exploring historic sites, maybe even trekking on a glacier, or climbing a mountain!
The McCarthy Road ends at a footbridge across the Kennicott River. From here it is about 0.5 miles to the town of McCarthy, and 5 miles uphill to Kennicott. You can walk, ride a bike, or take a shuttle.
See
See The Root Glacier
This is one of Alaska's most accessible glaciers. You can walk on the white ice of the glacier after hiking just two miles from Kennicott. There are guide services in Kennicott to assist you.
See Historic Kennicott
The Kennecott mines and mill town formed in the early 1900s after copper was discovered near Kennicott. Today, these buildings and the history they contain remain one of Alaska's most treasured artifacts.
Eat
There are very few places to eat in the McCarthy/Kennicott area, but they all offer good food in an extremely remote area. In McCarthy there are 3 places to eat:
In Kennicott there are 2 places to get a warm meal:
Sleep
Stay Kennicott River Lodge & Hostel
The main lodge building provides a commons area for all guests to enjoy. There is a lounge upstairs and a kitchen on the lower level. There are also upper and lower viewing decks for spectacular views of the glaciers and mountains. Next to the main lodge is a sauna and out front a fire pit for nighttime bonfires.
Nearby
My experience
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