hit the road

Kennecott and McCarthy: A road trip to Alaska’s heart

By Erin Kirkland

Seven hours into a nine-hour drive, I began to realize the guidebooks were right when referring to the drive toward McCarthy and Kennecott as the “ultimate backroads trip.”

It was Labor Day weekend, and our family of three had been in the car since early morning, departing Anchorage for the mountainous glens of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

Settled in 1900 as the Kennecott Copper Corporation to mine and transport copper ore to the town of Cordova between 1911 and 1938, Kennecott netted more than $100 million before closing in 1938, and now serves as a National Historic Landmark.

McCarthy was the left hand to Kennecott’s right. Since life on the actual mine settlement was rather sedate, enterprising business owners hastily constructed the village of McCarthy as a center for relaxation and commerce. Located five miles downhill from Kennecott Mine, McCarthy was the gathering place, and remains so today, with funky storefronts and a resident base of only a few hundred.

Taking children to McCarthy and Kennecott is a decision made with careful consideration. Reaching the communities means a day of hard driving along 60 remote miles of gravel roadway with no services or roadside assistance. Once there, everything must be carted over a small suspension bridge to a pick-up point, since no private vehicles are allowed. But for the independent traveling family, McCarthy and Kennecott offer an opportunity for history and recreation bundled together in this remote corner of Alaska’s wilderness.

While a surprising number of accommodations are available for travelers, ranging from campgrounds to cabins, our family prefers to stay at Kennicott Glacier Lodge, a beautiful property overlooking the valleys, rivers and glacier for which it is named. Lodge manager Christina Kirkwood, a seasonal resident since childhood, says access is key for parents and kids.

“Families can explore the Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark area, just steps away from the lodge,” she says. “We’re also really close to kid-friendly outdoor activities, whether it’s walking on a glacier, hiking around the townsite or floating in a lake, this is a great place for kids to get active in a spectacular natural setting.”

The major draw is the mine’s inner workings, including a school, general store and employee housing. The National Park Service has done an admirable job of keeping historical significance intact, and offers daily tours of the entire property. Youngsters will enjoy the Junior Ranger program and a chance to explore life in the settlement, where families spent every available moment living, working and playing together. The entire tour takes a few hours, and parents should heed several uneven walkways and potentially dangerous bridges for younger children.

Hiking is easily accessible from Kennecott, with 2-mile-long Root Glacier trail serving as the main route to other trails at higher elevations. We also found the historic roadbed trail between McCarthy and Kennecott to be a great mountain bike route for our budding cyclist. The trail leads to the main road into town, where the McCarthy Museum awaits exploration by curious kids.

Both McCarthy and Kennecott are home to a number of guiding companies that offer day trips and overnight excursions into Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, beginning with glacier hikes on Root Glacier. Sporting crampons, kids and parents can safely navigate ice caves, glacial rivers and other unique features of the area under watchful supervision of trained guides.

Our son summed up the weekend best as we reclined on Kennicott Glacier Lodge’s expansive deck our final evening.

“I think this is the most Alaska-ish place in the world,” he said.

Perhaps he is right.

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