Most interesting are the remains of a tram system that carried the ore down to Kennicott from the mines. (Moffit, 1918 with annotation by Kaas) (Right) Kennecott Copper acquired the Mother Lode Mine in 1919. 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 … Visitors can take a step back in time as they tour the huge mill building, bunkhouses, train depot, workers’ cottages and the power plant. Click here for information about driving to Kennicott All visitors must park their vehicles at the Kennicott River footbridge. October 2017 by Jack Geck. We decided to do a 3 day trip to McCarthy and the Kennecott Mine. 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. Ride along with us into the scenic Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. How Do I Get to Kennecott? McCarthy is the main jumping … The Lodge shuttle provides complimentary transportation for arriving Guests from the Footbridge to Kennicott until 8pm. Exploring Kennecott Mine was so fun! There is no vehicle access to Kennecott Mill town, which is located 5 miles away from McCarthy. It departs Glennallen at 7am, stops in Chitina at 8:30 am, and arrives in McCarthy at 11:00am. 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. 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. For those unable to visit Kennecott, the Mining History Association website has a “virtual walking tour” of the town and the huge Kennecott Mill. Finding a strange spot in Alaska is hardly difficult. Here are a couple of tips for driving on the road. 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. If we can help with your travel plans in any way, please call or email us. You can go to McCarthy or straight to the Kennecott copper mine. The McCarthy Kennicott Historical Museum Otherwise, you need to bike, walk, or hire a taxi to get you to and from the mine. 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. The samples they collected from Bonanza Peak’s magnificent green cliffs of exposed copper revealed up to 70% of pure chalcocite. It’s nothing like the riotous scene 100 years ago when the mining enterprise was going on 24 hours a day. However, the road is still narrow in some places, so you should to watch out for other traffic. The McCarthy Road The road to McCarthy from Chitina is 60 miles long and gravel. 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. 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. Explore things to do in McCarthy & Kennicott. Some buildings were demolished but most of Kennecott was left as it was. (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. McCarthy, Alaska. The train rolled right up to the mine, picked up the ore and took it back down to Cordova along the Copper River. The town had housing, saloons, a newspaper, stores, hotels, restaurants and a red-light district. The following rental car companies allow select “gravel ready” vehicles to drive on the McCarthy road. Use the local alaska number: 1 907 563-5050 to get approval for the McCarthy Road. Copper was extremely […] 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. The Kennicott area today is quiet and peaceful. Kennicott Glacier Lodge © 2020 All Rights Reserved. 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. 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." 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. With the creation of the Kennecott Mines Company six years later, the town quickly grew to over 500 people. The cities began around 1900 when copper ore was discovered in the area. The McCarthy Road is a narrow, gravel road that is 59 miles long. 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. Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark is located in Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve. There is a tire repair shop at the end of the road during the summer months if you do have a problem. It is an open-pit mining excavation and the world’s largest man-made excavation on the planet. After checking my bike one last time to make sure that my tires are pumped, my pockets are filled with gels, […] Tags: Alaska remote lodge , Kennecott mine , kennicott alaska , McCarthy , mcCarthy Alaska , … To learn more about this incredible piece of history, check out the National Park Service’s website on Kennecott Mine here. Our tour of Kennecott Mine was one not soon to be forgotten and we've been in Alaska most of our lives. Getting to this mine is a truly Alaskan adventure! Phone 907-258-2350 | Toll free in USA: 1-800-582-5128 The easiest way to get there is by driving or taking a guided day trip from Utah’s capital. Founded in 1906 and originally the debaucherous sister to the Kennecott Copper Mine town located just 5 miles up the road. 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. On the flight to McCarthy they fly along the flanks of 16,000’ Mt. 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 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. The tour itself lasted about two hours with Ryan of St. Elias Alpine Guides as our navigator. If you stay under the speed limit, the risk of a flat tire or car damage is minimal. In the afternoon we took the mill tour and ended the day with a … Photo: Dave Sears. 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. The Lodge shuttle provides complimentary transportation for arriving Guests from the footbridge to … The bus stop is on the left when you cross the bridge. During the summer, there is a private shuttle that transports visitors between McCarthy and Kennecott for a fee. The mine produced a total of around 4.6 million tons of ore, valued at over $200 million (~$3 billion in 2011 dollars). I would just like to say thank you for our wonderful experience at your lodge. 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. Many of our guests choose to drive to Kennicott in order to enjoy the scenic countryside along the way. Doughty locals made some use of the abandoned materials but by the 1980s the … Since the McCarthy Road is a gravel road, most rental car companies do not allow their cars on this road. (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 town Kennicott in Alaska was once flourishing, full of workers who came to the town in search of wealth and work in the mines. (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) A-1 Car Rental in Anchorage - 1-800-546-6065 or 1-907-929-1222. Hike on Root Glacier and experience the vast Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. [email protected], Wrangell-St. Elias National Park McCarthy Road. The town was founded around 1900 when copper ore was discovered in the area. In 1906 Kennecott Mines Company was formed, which later became Kennecott Copper Corporation. Our tour of Kennecott Mine was one not soon to be forgotten and we've been in Alaska most of our lives. Enjoy the beautiful Copper River Valley in the comfort of a Kennicott Shuttle. The McCarthy Road is NOT owned by the National Park Service. Photo courtesy State of Alaska Tourism / Matt Hage. Explore Kennecott Mine Five miles up the road from McCarthy sits Kennecott Mine in the old town of Kennicott. Midnight Sun Car Rentals: 907-243-8806 or 888-877-3585. Roundtrip shuttle costs 15 USD per person. 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. Go North Alaska Travel Center in Anchorage and Fairbanks offers 4 … Kennecott Copper Mine, Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve: Address, Phone Number, Kennecott Copper Mine Reviews: 4.5/5 United States Alaska (AK) 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. The Kennecott Mill is an impressive and imposing figure offering a glimpse into history through immeasurable eye candy to any photographer. The State did extensive work on the road during the summer of 2012 and it is now in better shape than ever before. Abandoned in 1938 the Kennecott Mines are now a National Historic Landmark with it's abundance of historic buildings. 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. With the creation of the Kennecott Mines Company six years later, the town quickly grew to over 500 people. See the story here. The Lodge shuttle provides complimentary transportation for arriving Guests from the footbridge to Kennicott on the hour from 12pm to 8pm. 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. Below tree line there are occasional views of the valley; once you get above, the views get pretty impressive. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve Call 907-822-5292 for details. For more information, you can visit the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park McCarthy Road  website. Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark is just one of the many highlights you can arrange to see using our , online itinerary creator Edition. Founded in 1906 and originally the debaucherous sister to the Kennecott Copper Mine town located just 5 miles up the road. When the Kennecott Copper Corporation abruptly abandoned the town in 1938 they left behind their equipment, their buildings, and their personal belongings. 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. Copper Center, AK If you would like to leave the driving to someone else, you can take a shuttle from Glennallen or Chitina to McCarthy. Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark is located approximately 8 hours (by car) from Anchorage. 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. It is owned and operated by the State of 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. From McCarthy, it is 4.5 miles to Kennicott. Kennecott, Alaska is a ghost town frozen in time. 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.. The cities began around 1900 when copper ore was discovered in the area. Fortunately for us, the job was never finished. During the winter, the only access to Kennecott is by hiking or skiing the 5 miles from the end of the McCarthy Road. From the Richardson Highway, Alaska, take the turn off to Chitna, follow the signs to McCarthy. Located in the heart of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, McCarthy and Kennicott have a colorful past. The shuttle does not operate during the winter. Kennecott Historic Mill. After the mine shut down, both towns dwindled, but a few hearty souls have continued to live in McCarthy. Kennecott, Alaska is a ghost town frozen in time. Kennecott was a copper mine … The McCarthy Road ends at the Footbridge that crosses the Kennicott River, approximately 5 miles from the town of Kennicott. When the Kennecott Copper Corporation abruptly abandoned the town in 1938 they left behind their equipment, their buildings, and their personal belongings. McCarthy, Alaska. Kennecott Mine, McCarthy Alaska. The site was center of activity of 5 copper mines. 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. If you don't want to drive, there are other options. Kennecott Copper Mine, Kennecott, Alaska. A shuttle van transports visitors to the ghost town to discover all the history of a once-booming copper mine. The camper does have one slide out, so there is a little extra room. With 4 adults and a dog in a Eagle Cap cab over camper. A hospital, store, grade school, dental office, dairy, and recreation hall were built. #15 Kennicott Millsite, Kennicott AK 99588 To get to Kennecott copper mine, you must park your car, walk across the bridge with your bags. 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. 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 mine is owned by Rio-Tinto a British-Australian multinational corporation. Very low rates and some larger vehicles too. 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. 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 site was center of activity of 5 copper mines. The town was founded around 1900 when copper ore was discovered in the area. 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 Sit back, relax and leave the driving to Kennicott Shuttle's professional drivers. A flyby of Kennicott and McCarthy before we land will orient you to the area you are about to explore. This is a gravel road, and many Alaska car rental companies don’t allow their vehicles on … Please note that dinner at Kennicott Glacier Lodge is served one seating at 7pm. McCarthy and Kennecott residents are praising the park’s “light touch” approach. In 1906 Kennecott Mines Company was formed, which later became Kennecott Copper Corporation. PO Box 439 4 miles from Kennicott is where we leave the trail to start our climb. However, their stories of discovery, perseverance, and ingenuity live on! From there you need to park the car and make you way up the old mine road, past McCarthy town. However, their stories of discovery, perseverance, and ingenuity live on! A few days later, Arthur Coe Spencer, U.S. Geological Survey geologist independently found chalcocite at the same location. Alaska has a fascinating history with the gold rush, railroads, and settlers coming in to explore this beautiful state. There are lots of old mine-related structures near the trail and nestled in the surrounding hills. 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. The mine produced a total of around 4.6 million tons of ore, valued at over $200 million (~$3 billion in 2011 dollars). It was amazing to stay there. There are lots of ways to get here including driving a car, taking a shuttle, or taking a flight from Chitina or Anchorage. The town of McCarthy is located at the end of the McCarthy Road. 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. Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark is located approximately 8 hours (by car) from Anchorage. We grabbed lunch at a food truck there before heading out on what turned out to be a LONG hike. The day started with a quick flight into McCarthy through the mountains and then a rough van ride to the Kennecott Lodge. How Do I Get to Kennecott? A weekend spent deep within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park wowed lifelong Alaskans. 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. Here you can step back in time and explore the historic copper mining town of Kennicott. There are two companies that provide a daily shuttle to Kennecott/McCarthy during the summer and air taxis provide daily flights during the summer. 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. A hospital, store, grade school, dental office, dairy, and recreation hall were built. Mile 106.8 Richardson Highway Entering the historic site of Kennecott, where the copper giant was conceived and born into the world. We skipped the long drive from Anchorage and flew out with Reeve Air, enjoying all of Saturday and Sunday during Labor Day weekend. At Kennecott itself, there are several stores and a hotel in the "ghost town". Entering the historic site of Kennecott, where the copper giant was conceived and born into the world. Photo Spot Details. A shuttle van transports visitors the five miles up the road to the historic mining ruins at Kennicott. Kennicott Copper Mine Is One Of The Strangest Places You Can Go In Alaska. You guys really know how to run it right! Photo courtesy State of Alaska Tourism / Matt Hage. The speed limit for the McCarthy Road is 35mph. A flyby of Kennicott and McCarthy before we land will orient you to the area you are about to explore. 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. 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. Photographs are collections of lines and the mill offers infinite potential for compositions. You can find out more about the McCarthy Road and rental car options on the Driving Park Roads page. The road is wide enough for two lanes in most places and the State has brushed most of the road to increase visibility. The tour itself lasted about two hours with Ryan of St. Elias Alpine Guides as our navigator. There were businesses, shops, a train connection, and a lot of life. The Kennicott Shuttle: This scheduled shuttle runs seven days per week. It usually takes 2 – 2 ½ hours to drive the McCarthy Road. Hire a shuttle or hike up the four miles to get to Kennecott Mines, located inside Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve. Later, stroll through the frontier town of McCarthy and experience life in the Last Frontier. 99573, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark. ! Please contact them for details on vehicle restrictions, pricing, and availability. So you get a flightsee tour as a bonus and you arrive in McCarthy a bit earlier and fresher. The ruins of the 1900-era Kennecott copper mine in Wrangell-St Elias National Park. … Getting to McCarthy / Kennicott is part of the experience. Kennicott is located at the center of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, one of the few easily accessible National Parks in Alaska. It departs McCarthy at 4:30pm, gets to Chitina at 6:30pm, and arrives in Glennallen at 8:00pm. Blackburn and over the Kennicott and Root Glaciers, past the Erie Mine and view the awe inspiring Stairway Icefall. There are no services available in McCarthy or Kennecott during the winter. 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 drive is approximately 7 hours from Anchorage and 8 hours from Fairbanks, and the final 2 hours are on the scenic, rugged McCarthy Road. The Kennecott Mill is an impressive and imposing figure offering a glimpse into history through immeasurable eye candy to any photographer. 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. Transportation after 8pm is only available by prior arrangement for a $50 fee. 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. The green turned out to be malachite, located with chalcocite (aka "copper glance"), and the location of the Bonanza claim. Copper became an extremely valuable mineral at the turn of the century due to the inventions of electricity, automobiles, and telephones. The hike starts in Kennicott and goes along same trial we use to hike on the Root Glacier. We do not provide transportation after 9pm. The McCarthy Road is technically open during the winter but it is not maintained regularly. 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 … If you wish to have dinner with us, you must arrive at the Footbridge by 6pm. However you decide to get to Kennicott, you’ll have the opportunity to see some of the best scenery in Alaska. There is a free parking lot for Lodge Guests located next to the Footbridge. The cost is around $130 per person roundtrip. Photographs are collections of lines and the mill offers infinite potential for compositions. For further information phone 1-800-478-1160, e-mail info@wrangellmountainair.com, or online www.wrangellmountainair.com. The town had housing, saloons, a newspaper, stores, hotels, restaurants and a red-light district. Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark is located approximately 8 hours (by car) from Anchorage. McCarthy and Kennecott residents are praising the park’s “light touch” approach. Located in the heart of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, McCarthy and Kennicott have a colorful past. (The misspelling in the name goes all the way back to an error on the original paperwork for the development of the mine.) Please check with your rental company to find out their regulations. Kennecott Copper Mines – I love this place! After the mine shut down, both towns dwindled, but a few hearty souls have continued to live in McCarthy. Yet Alaska is Alaska and far away from the eyes of the money, as it were. You can take a shuttle bus. 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! The Historic copper mining town of McCarthy is located 5 miles from the town was founded around when! 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