It’s nothing like the riotous scene 100 years ago when the mining enterprise was going on 24 hours a day. Fortunately for us, the job was never finished. The cities began around 1900 when copper ore was discovered in the area. The Kennecott Mill is an impressive and imposing figure offering a glimpse into history through immeasurable eye candy to any photographer. Founded in 1906 and originally the debaucherous sister to the Kennecott Copper Mine town located just 5 miles up the road. Photographs are collections of lines and the mill offers infinite potential for compositions. ! If you stay under the speed limit, the risk of a flat tire or car damage is minimal. Photo Spot Details. The cities began around 1900 when copper ore was discovered in the area. If you would like to leave the driving to someone else, you can take a shuttle from Glennallen or Chitina to McCarthy. If you’re looking to venture out to see the old ghost mines, getting out to the abandoned track will not be easy, as most any other place in Alaska. The easiest way to get there is by driving or taking a guided day trip from Utah’s capital. Getting to this mine is a truly Alaskan adventure! It departs Glennallen at 7am, stops in Chitina at 8:30 am, and arrives in McCarthy at 11:00am. For those who crave excitement as well as for those who appreciate the quiet and unique landscapes of Alaska’s wilderness, the journey to get to Wrangell-St. Elias is worth every mile. Midnight Sun Car Rentals: 907-243-8806 or 888-877-3585. (The mining company was supposed to take the name of the glacier which was named after Robert Kennicott, an early Alaskan explorer, but the company name was misspelled. Located in the heart of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, McCarthy and Kennicott have a colorful past. The McCarthy Road is NOT owned by the National Park Service. However you decide to get to Kennicott, you’ll have the opportunity to see some of the best scenery in Alaska. How Do I Get to Kennecott? Now tourist traffic is drawn to the largest national park in the country, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, where Kennecott Mine reconstruction also pumps money into the community. Kennecott or Kennicott (also known as Kennecott Mines) is a former mining camp, now completely abandoned, situated in the Valdez-Cordova Cenzus Area in Alaska, United States of America. Kennecott Copper is a business that still exists today, thanks to profit of $100 million earned from copper mining at the Kennecott Copper Mine in Alaska, now part of Wrangell St. Elias National Park.I spent a day in the McCarthy and Kennecott area, enjoying a Kennecott Copper Mill … PO Box 439 In 1906 Kennecott Mines Company was formed, which later became Kennecott Copper Corporation. One incredible historical landmark combines all three; the Kennecott Mine, an abandoned copper mine in Alaska outside of McCarthy, and inside the gorgeous Wrangell-St. … The hike starts in Kennicott and goes along same trial we use to hike on the Root Glacier. You can find out more about the McCarthy Road and rental car options on the Driving Park Roads page. Photo: Dave Sears. The town of McCarthy is located at the end of the McCarthy Road. Some items were returned and the area has since turned into an interesting destination for those hearty enough to travel the 90-mile dead-end McCarthy road into McCarthy, Alaska. The mine is owned by Rio-Tinto a British-Australian multinational corporation. McCarthy and Kennecott residents are praising the park’s “light touch” approach. The Kennicott area today is quiet and peaceful. Hike on Root Glacier and experience the vast Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The McCarthy Road is technically open during the winter but it is not maintained regularly. There are two companies that provide a daily shuttle to Kennecott/McCarthy during the summer and air taxis provide daily flights during the summer. However, their stories of discovery, perseverance, and ingenuity live on! The cost is around $130 per person roundtrip. Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark is located approximately 8 hours (by car) from Anchorage. After the mine shut down, both towns dwindled, but a few hearty souls have continued to live in McCarthy. The town had housing, saloons, a newspaper, stores, hotels, restaurants and a red-light district. The Kennecott Copper Mine, for a time the largest copper mine in the world, operated from 1911 to 1938 in what is now Wrangell St. Elias National Park. (Moffit, 1918 with annotation by Kaas) (Right) Kennecott Copper acquired the Mother Lode Mine in 1919. Entering the historic site of Kennecott, where the copper giant was conceived and born into the world. Mile 106.8 Richardson Highway Entering the historic site of Kennecott, where the copper giant was conceived and born into the world. A flyby of Kennicott and McCarthy before we land will orient you to the area you are about to explore. It is owned and operated by the State of Alaska. When the Kennecott Copper Corporation abruptly abandoned the town in 1938 they left behind their equipment, their buildings, and their personal belongings. Along the way your pilot will describe landforms, point out wildlife and fill you in on a bit of the human history of the area. The camper does have one slide out, so there is a little extra room. Hire a shuttle or hike up the four miles to get to Kennecott Mines, located inside Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve. With the creation of the Kennecott Mines Company six years later, the town quickly grew to over 500 people. During the winter, the only access to Kennecott is by hiking or skiing the 5 miles from the end of the McCarthy Road. A hospital, store, grade school, dental office, dairy, and recreation hall were built. The tour itself lasted about two hours with Ryan of St. Elias Alpine Guides as our navigator. Alaska has a fascinating history with the gold rush, railroads, and settlers coming in to explore this beautiful state. A-1 Car Rental in Anchorage - 1-800-546-6065 or 1-907-929-1222. Visiting McCarthy and the Kennecott Mine is a bit of an investment in time, but trust us when we say it’s worth it. The weather is perfect on this August morning as I get ready to leave the parking lot in front of the lonely Ranger Station in Chitna, Alaska, on my way to the Kennecott Mine. Tags: Alaska remote lodge , Kennecott mine , kennicott alaska , McCarthy , mcCarthy Alaska , … The site was center of activity of 5 copper mines. However, their stories of discovery, perseverance, and ingenuity live on! Explore Kennecott Mine Five miles up the road from McCarthy sits Kennecott Mine in the old town of Kennicott. You can go to McCarthy or straight to the Kennecott copper mine. After the mine shut down, both towns dwindled, but a few hearty souls have continued to live in McCarthy. The mine produced a total of around 4.6 million tons of ore, valued at over $200 million (~$3 billion in 2011 dollars). The Kennecott Mill is an impressive and imposing figure offering a glimpse into history through immeasurable eye candy to any photographer. … October 2017 by Jack Geck. From the Richardson Highway, Alaska, take the turn off to Chitna, follow the signs to McCarthy. The town Kennicott in Alaska was once flourishing, full of workers who came to the town in search of wealth and work in the mines. Kennecott Copper Mine, Kennecott, Alaska. Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark is located approximately 8 hours (by car) from Anchorage. At Kennecott itself, there are several stores and a hotel in the "ghost town". (The misspelling in the name goes all the way back to an error on the original paperwork for the development of the mine.) There is a free parking lot for Lodge Guests located next to the Footbridge. The mine produced a total of around 4.6 million tons of ore, valued at over $200 million (~$3 billion in 2011 dollars). With the creation of the Kennecott Mines Company six years later, the town quickly grew to over 500 people. Here are a couple of tips for driving on the road. Our tour of Kennecott Mine was one not soon to be forgotten and we've been in Alaska most of our lives. The Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark includes the land and mining claims that formed the foundation for the Kennecott Copper Corporation, later the Kennecott Minerals Company. Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark & McCarthy, Alaska Based in McCarthy, Wrangell Mountain Air provides three scheduled flights between Chitina and McCarthy on a daily basis. The town was founded around 1900 when copper ore was discovered in the area. There are lots of old mine-related structures near the trail and nestled in the surrounding hills. There is no vehicle access to Kennecott Mill town, which is located 5 miles away from McCarthy. Finding a strange spot in Alaska is hardly difficult. Copper Center, AK From Anchorage, visitors must drive east on the Glenn Highway (Hwy 1), then south on the Richardson Highway (Hwy 4), then east on the Edgerton Highway (Hwy 10), then continue east on the McCarthy Road. (The mining company was supposed to take the name of the glacier which was named after Robert Kennicott, an early Alaskan explorer, but the company name was misspelled. Photo courtesy State of Alaska Tourism / Matt Hage. The tour itself lasted about two hours with Ryan of St. Elias Alpine Guides as our navigator. Kennecott Copper Mine, Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve: Address, Phone Number, Kennecott Copper Mine Reviews: 4.5/5 United States Alaska (AK) There are very few haunted places that have as many spirits deterring resettlement as the abandoned ghost towns and railways of the Kennecott Copper Mines. The site tells the story of the mine’s operation from 1911 to 1938, as well as what the social life of the miners and their families was like. Some buildings were demolished but most of Kennecott was left as it was. A few days later, Arthur Coe Spencer, U.S. Geological Survey geologist independently found chalcocite at the same location. There were businesses, shops, a train connection, and a lot of life. So, if I were you, I'd plan on taking the ATVs all the way back to Kennecott, instead of dropping them off somewhere along the route. The green turned out to be malachite, located with chalcocite (aka "copper glance"), and the location of the Bonanza claim. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve Sit back, relax and leave the driving to Kennicott Shuttle's professional drivers. The Kennecott Mines and mill town are an abandoned copper mine operation and ghost town in Alaska that together, form a National Historic Landmark District. Since the McCarthy Road is a gravel road, most rental car companies do not allow their cars on this road. The Lodge shuttle provides complimentary transportation for arriving Guests from the footbridge to Kennicott on the hour from 12pm to 8pm. Phone 907-258-2350 | Toll free in USA: 1-800-582-5128 So you get a flightsee tour as a bonus and you arrive in McCarthy a bit earlier and fresher. The shuttle does not operate during the winter. Kennecott, Alaska is a ghost town frozen in time. From Anchorage, visitors must drive east on the Glenn Highway (Hwy 1), then south on the Richardson Highway (Hwy 4), then east on the Edgerton Highway (Hwy 10), then continue east on the McCarthy Road. We decided to do a 3 day trip to McCarthy and the Kennecott Mine. The samples they collected from Bonanza Peak’s magnificent green cliffs of exposed copper revealed up to 70% of pure chalcocite. The State did extensive work on the road during the summer of 2012 and it is now in better shape than ever before. Kennecott Historic Mill. A weekend spent deep within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park wowed lifelong Alaskans. Exploring Kennecott Mine was so fun! Please check with your rental company to find out their regulations. In the afternoon we took the mill tour and ended the day with a … There is a tire repair shop at the end of the road during the summer months if you do have a problem. For further information phone 1-800-478-1160, e-mail info@wrangellmountainair.com, or online www.wrangellmountainair.com. McCarthy, Alaska. Copper was extremely […] For those unable to visit Kennecott, the Mining History Association website has a “virtual walking tour” of the town and the huge Kennecott Mill. Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark is just one of the many highlights you can arrange to see using our , online itinerary creator Edition. Try 7 Days Free to get access to 618 million+ pages Try 7 Days Free Kennecott Copper Mine in Alaska placed on National Register of Historic Places View the Full Page The town had housing, saloons, a newspaper, stores, hotels, restaurants and a red-light district. The McCarthy Road is a narrow, gravel road that is 59 miles long. Kennecott or Kennicott (also known as Kennecott Mines) is a former mining camp, now completely abandoned, situated in the Valdez-Cordova Cenzus Area in Alaska, United States of America. After all, we’re talking about a place where colorful lights regularly shimmer and dance in the night sky, a place where the sun doesn’t set for months at a time and people live in eternal daylight during the summer. The road is wide enough for two lanes in most places and the State has brushed most of the road to increase visibility. Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark is located in Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve. However, the road is still narrow in some places, so you should to watch out for other traffic. Copper became an extremely valuable mineral at the turn of the century due to the inventions of electricity, automobiles, and telephones. The speed limit for the McCarthy Road is 35mph. Getting to McCarthy / Kennicott is part of the experience. The McCarthy Road ends at the Footbridge that crosses the Kennicott River, approximately 5 miles from the town of Kennicott. A little way down the highway after Copper Center head out onto the Edgerton Highway to Kenny Lake and Chitina, before making the remainder of the journey on the McCarthy Road that gives access to McCarthy and Kennecott Mine. We grabbed lunch at a food truck there before heading out on what turned out to be a LONG hike. Please note that dinner at Kennicott Glacier Lodge is served one seating at 7pm. Edge of Alaska is one of a number of Discovery Channel shows that are set in the titular state, thrusting the small town of McCarthy, Alaska into the spotlight by showing the day-to-day activities of its forty residents.. Kennecott, Alaska is a ghost town frozen in time. In the summer of 1900, two prospectors, "Tarantula" Jack Smith and Clarence L. Warner, a group of prospectors associated with the McClellan party, spotted "a green patch far above them in an improbable location for a grass-green meadow." If we can help with your travel plans in any way, please call or email us. Kennecott Mine, McCarthy Alaska. I would just like to say thank you for our wonderful experience at your lodge. In 1906 Kennecott Mines Company was formed, which later became Kennecott Copper Corporation. From Anchorage, visitors must drive east on the Glenn Highway (Hwy 1), then south on the Richardson Highway (Hwy 4), then east on the Edgerton Highway (Hwy 10), then continue east on the McCarthy Road. McCarthy, Alaska. The last 60 miles of road before you reach Kennicott (between Chitina and McCarthy) is a State maintained gravel road that follows the path of the historic Copper River and Northwestern Railroad. It was amazing to stay there. Kennecott Copper is a business that still exists today, thanks to profit of $100 million earned from copper mining at the Kennecott Copper Mine in Alaska, now part of Wrangell St. Elias National Park.I spent a day in the McCarthy and Kennecott area, enjoying a Kennecott Copper Mill … Roundtrip shuttle costs 15 USD per person. The ruins of the 1900-era Kennecott copper mine in Wrangell-St Elias National Park. Explore things to do in McCarthy & Kennicott. There are no services available in McCarthy or Kennecott during the winter. Here you can step back in time and explore the historic copper mining town of Kennicott. To get to Kennicott by car, you must drive to the end of the McCarthy Road, park your car, walk across a footbridge with your bags, and take our shuttle van to Kennicott. You guys really know how to run it right! The drive is approximately 7 hours from Anchorage and 8 hours from Fairbanks, and the final 2 hours are on the scenic, rugged McCarthy Road. Kennecott Copper Mines – I love this place! Very low rates and some larger vehicles too. Kennicott Glacier Lodge © 2020 All Rights Reserved. How Do I Get to Kennecott? Click here for information about driving to Kennicott Edge of Alaska star Neil Darish talks about the fourth and final season of the Discovery show and what's to come for him after the sale of McCarthy, Alaska. Later, stroll through the frontier town of McCarthy and experience life in the Last Frontier. For more information, you can visit the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park McCarthy Road  website. After checking my bike one last time to make sure that my tires are pumped, my pockets are filled with gels, […] This is a gravel road, and many Alaska car rental companies don’t allow their vehicles on … The day started with a quick flight into McCarthy through the mountains and then a rough van ride to the Kennecott Lodge. The road to McCarthy from Chitina is 60 miles long and gravel. In the summer of 1900, prospectors Clarence Warren and Jack Smith were exploring Kennecott Glacier and came across the richest concentration of copper ore ever discovered. Many of our guests choose to drive to Kennicott in order to enjoy the scenic countryside along the way. McCarthy is the main jumping … After all, when you consider that if your goal was to visit Valdez (also on our list), then this is just a bit of a bonus stop! McCarthy and Kennecott residents are praising the park’s “light touch” approach. To learn more about this incredible piece of history, check out the National Park Service’s website on Kennecott Mine here. #15 Kennicott Millsite, Kennicott AK 99588 A hospital, store, grade school, dental office, dairy, and recreation hall were built. To get to Kennicott by car, you must drive to the end of the McCarthy Road, park your car, walk across a footbridge with your bags, and take our shuttle van to Kennicott. Photographs are collections of lines and the mill offers infinite potential for compositions. When the Kennecott Copper Corporation abruptly abandoned the town in 1938 they left behind their equipment, their buildings, and their personal belongings. Please contact them for details on vehicle restrictions, pricing, and availability. Enjoy the beautiful Copper River Valley in the comfort of a Kennicott Shuttle. The Kennecott Copper Mine is located at the edge of the three-quarter-mile-deep (1-kilometer-deep) pit mine, about 28 miles (45 kilometers) southwest of Salt Lake City. Ride along with us into the scenic Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Located in the heart of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, McCarthy and Kennicott have a colorful past. Founded in 1906 and originally the debaucherous sister to the Kennecott Copper Mine town located just 5 miles up the road. A flyby of Kennicott and McCarthy before we land will orient you to the area you are about to explore. The Bingham Canyon Copper Mine, more commonly known as Kennecott Copper Mine among locals, is located about 1.5 hours southwest of Downtown Salt Lake City. There are lots of ways to get here including driving a car, taking a shuttle, or taking a flight from Chitina or Anchorage. Use the local alaska number: 1 907 563-5050 to get approval for the McCarthy Road. The Kennecott Copper Mine, for a time the largest copper mine in the world, operated from 1911 to 1938 in what is now Wrangell St. Elias National Park. For approximately 30 years, the mines produced good ore, some so rich it was simply sent straight to bagging, bypassing milling and loaded directly on the rail cars. It usually takes 2 – 2 ½ hours to drive the McCarthy Road. If you wish to have dinner with us, you must arrive at the Footbridge by 6pm. Kennicott Copper Mine Is One Of The Strangest Places You Can Go In Alaska. The number of flat tires on the McCarthy road has decreased drastically in the last few years, but it is still a good idea to carry a good spare tire. Call 907-822-5292 for details. The Lodge shuttle provides complimentary transportation for arriving Guests from the footbridge to … Abandoned in 1938 the Kennecott Mines are now a National Historic Landmark with it's abundance of historic buildings. The McCarthy Kennicott Historical Museum Visitors can take a step back in time as they tour the huge mill building, bunkhouses, train depot, workers’ cottages and the power plant. (Adapted from “ MINERALS COME FROM MINES: Profile of the Kennecott Mine in Alaska” by L. Michael Kaas, Northern Virginia Gem and Mineral Club Newsletter, 2017) Otherwise, you need to bike, walk, or hire a taxi to get you to and from the mine. [email protected], Wrangell-St. Elias National Park McCarthy Road. It departs McCarthy at 4:30pm, gets to Chitina at 6:30pm, and arrives in Glennallen at 8:00pm. Photo courtesy State of Alaska Tourism / Matt Hage. Kennicott is located at the center of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, one of the few easily accessible National Parks in Alaska. Each link in the historical chain connects to another until we realize that this remote Alaska mining venture was intricately connected to the world around it. Most interesting are the remains of a tram system that carried the ore down to Kennicott from the mines. During the summer, there is a private shuttle that transports visitors between McCarthy and Kennecott for a fee. (Adapted from “ MINERALS COME FROM MINES: Profile of the Kennecott Mine in Alaska” by L. Michael Kaas, Northern Virginia Gem and Mineral Club Newsletter, 2017) (Above) The routes of the tramways are shown is red on this geologic map. The McCarthy Road Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark is located approximately 8 hours (by car) from Anchorage. From McCarthy, it is 4.5 miles to Kennicott. Transportation after 8pm is only available by prior arrangement for a $50 fee. Doughty locals made some use of the abandoned materials but by the 1980s the … With 4 adults and a dog in a Eagle Cap cab over camper. We skipped the long drive from Anchorage and flew out with Reeve Air, enjoying all of Saturday and Sunday during Labor Day weekend. The town was founded around 1900 when copper ore was discovered in the area. The following rental car companies allow select “gravel ready” vehicles to drive on the McCarthy road. Blackburn and over the Kennicott and Root Glaciers, past the Erie Mine and view the awe inspiring Stairway Icefall. Below tree line there are occasional views of the valley; once you get above, the views get pretty impressive. The train rolled right up to the mine, picked up the ore and took it back down to Cordova along the Copper River. 99573, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark. The Lodge shuttle provides complimentary transportation for arriving Guests from the Footbridge to Kennicott until 8pm. From there you need to park the car and make you way up the old mine road, past McCarthy town. We do not provide transportation after 9pm. 4 miles from Kennicott is where we leave the trail to start our climb. The bus stop is on the left when you cross the bridge. The site was center of activity of 5 copper mines. All visitors must park their vehicles at the Kennicott River footbridge. Kennecott was a copper mine … The Kennicott Shuttle: This scheduled shuttle runs seven days per week. In recent years, the National Park Service has restored most of the mine buildings, and tours of the huge mill building, bunkhouses, a train depot, worker's cottages and the power plant are available. If you don't want to drive, there are other options. We skipped the long drive from Anchorage and flew out with Reeve Air, enjoying all of Saturday and Sunday during Labor Day weekend. The ruins of the 1900-era Kennecott copper mine in Wrangell-St Elias National Park. A shuttle van transports visitors to the ghost town to discover all the history of a once-booming copper mine. Go North Alaska Travel Center in Anchorage and Fairbanks offers 4 … Located in Eastern Alaska, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is the largest national park in the United States.Its 13.2 million acres form an area larger than Rhode Island and Vermont combined. It is an open-pit mining excavation and the world’s largest man-made excavation on the planet. On the flight to McCarthy they fly along the flanks of 16,000’ Mt. To get to Kennecott copper mine, you must park your car, walk across the bridge with your bags. Yet Alaska is Alaska and far away from the eyes of the money, as it were. Located in Eastern Alaska, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is the largest national park in the United States.Its 13.2 million acres form an area larger than Rhode Island and Vermont combined. See the story here. Our tour of Kennecott Mine was one not soon to be forgotten and we've been in Alaska most of our lives. A shuttle van transports visitors the five miles up the road to the historic mining ruins at Kennicott. You can take a shuttle bus.