Wrangell-St Elias National Park: Practicalities
Half the fun is getting to McCarthy along 58 rugged miles of the McCarthy Road, which follows the trackbed of the long abandoned railroad that once linked the Kennicott mill to the port at Cordova. Take it slow (old rail spikes can still cause punctures) and stop often to admire the scenery and abandoned trestle bridges. At the end of the road you cross the Kennicott River on a footbridge and continue half a mile to McCarthy on foot, from where a shuttle bus runs along the rough five-mile dirt road to Kennicott. Hitching along the McCarthy Road can be a hit-or-miss affair; if you haven't got a vehicle you can take a McCarthy Kennicott Shuttle (mid-May to mid-Sept Mon-Sat; tel 907/822-5292 or 1-800/478-5292) from Glenallen ($105 round-trip).There's free camping (no water) a mile before the road ends and $25 beds in four-bunk cabins nearby at the Kennicott River Lodge and Hostel (tel 907/554-4441, ; $50-75). Showers cost $5; bring a sleeping bag and food to prepare. In McCarthy, try the very pleasant and atmospheric Ma Johnson Hotel/McCarthy Lodge (tel 907/554-4402; $130-160). In Kennicott there's the upscale Kennicott Glacier Lodge (tel 907/554-4477, ; $160-200), which also has the town's one restaurant (reserve for dinner). The park's visitor center is at the Copper Center turnoff at Mile 111 on the Richardson Highway (summer daily 8am-6pm; tel 907/822-7261).
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