A Day at Kennecott Copper Mine and the Root Glacier

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 Tour and a hike to and walk on the Root Glacier. This post contains affiliate links.  This website earns a small commission for items purchased through these links with no additional cost to you. 

Fun Facts about Wrangell St. Elias National Park

• It’s one of the newest National Parks, only established in 1980
• Has a single glacier bigger than Rhode Island!
• Has 9 of the 16 highest peaks in North America
• Highest coastal mountain range in the world.
• The park land is a mix of private, state of Alaska, native, National reserve, and National Park, due to grandfathering of land
• There is no entry fee or passes required to visit this national park.  There is, however, admission fees for various tours, rafting, and glacier tours in this particular national park. 
• The Copper Mill and other buildings are part of Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark.

Getting to Kennecott

Getting to Kennecott involves traversing a long, dead-end road (much like most roads in Alaska).  The first half of the road is good and paved to the hamlet of Chitina.    The second half is a mostly gravel road to a footbridge just short of McCarthy.  How bad is the road to McCarthy?  It’s many miles of washboard gravel.  Much of the road was built on an old railroad track and it’s said that each time there is maintenance/grating done, old spikes from the railroad surface and it’s possible to get some busted tires.  While I didn’t have any flat tires, I met a couple in a rental car that had a non-repairable flat at the McCarthy footbridge.  I didn’t mind this grated drive so much going in but it got really old on the return drive!

Insider tip:  before setting off on the gravel part, stop into the Ranger’s Station at Chitina.  They have a CD that describes points of interest between Chitina and McCarthy. 

Parking at McCarthy – Wrangell St. Elias National Park

You cannot drive all the way to the village of McCarthy or Kennecott.  If bringing your own vehicle, you must park before a footbridge and either walk or take the shuttle to Kennecott.   The lot closest to the footbridge charges $10 a day, but if you’re willing to walk a quarter mile, there are some lots further up that are free for day use or $5 for overnight. 

Kennecott Shuttle Bus

It costs $15 for the round-trip shuttle bus ride from either the footbridge or McCarthy.  The ride is only 5 miles each way.  I considered the walk, but the trail/road doesn’t seem very scenic and there’s a fair amount of traffic on the dusty road (shuttles + shuttles for the tour companies and hotel at Kennecott).

Kennecott Copper Mill Tour

The Kennecott Copper Mill is one of the largest wooden buildings in the USA.  It’s 14 stories high and at over 100 years old, it’s decaying rapidly, although the parks service is doing what they can to preserve it.   A concessionaire runs the mill tour and it’s $28 for a 2-hour tour to places that are only reachable by the tour.  While some buildings are open to any visitor of the national park, you must take this tour to visit the interior of the mill, the floor of the powerhouse, and the ammonium leaching building.  I figure the mill is deteriorating so fast, it will eventually be inaccessible to the public, so it was worth the visit now. 

Root Glacier

The Root Glacier is a newer glacier, and it’s white/blue ice merges with the larger, dirt covered Kennecott Glacier about 2.5 miles up from the Kennecott Mill area.  The 5-mile round trip hike is pretty easy but I recommend bringing bear spray – there were two fresh piles of bear scat on the trail. 

Can You Walk on Root Glacier Without a Tour?

Yes, you can walk on Root Glacier without a tour!  This is one of only a couple glaciers you can still walk on in the state of Alaska.  Most of the more road-accessible glaciers, like the Worthington Glacier on the road to Valdez, have retreated so much it’s no longer possible to walk on them.   But glaciers are slippery and dangerous, so don’t venture out too far without a guide, and don’t get anywhere near a crevasse or water draining into a hole (someone called this the “blue hole of death” as you will die if you fall in one and they won’t find your body until the glacier melts).  I also recommend you have Hiking Poles and Crampons or micro-spikes on your shoes or boots.   It’s nearly impossible to walk on a glacier without these. Insider tip – bring this gear with you, crampons bought in Alaska will cost 3x what you will pay online. 

Where to Eat in Kennecott

There are a couple places to eat up at Kennecott.  The restaurant in the Kennicott Glacier Lodge is highly recommended.  If you can visit at dinner time, they have a fixed menu.  Lunch is ala carte.  There’s also the Meatza food truck that had some interesting offerings – the special was pan fried mac and cheese with reindeer sausage.

Where to Stay in Kennecott

Due to the length of time to drive out to McCarthy and Kennecott, most people spend 1-2 nights in the area.  Many people camp near the footbridge, or stay in McCarthy (Check Rates and Availability) but it’s possible to stay overnight at one of the inns in Kennecott.

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