I was approached by Wanderus Living to publish a guest post about a small-town in Alaska. Small town. Alaska. Obscure. My interest was piqued. Maddie and James at Wanderus Living bring us the McCarthy Alaska Travel Guide and things to do in Wrangell St. Elias National Park. They travel around North America with their dog Hazel, in their Jeep and trailer full-time, focusing on unpopular and overlooked destinations. Wanderus Living is all about exploring new off the beaten path destinations while sharing tips, guides and travel stories along the way.

Even though many of our travel plans are on hold right now, we will continue to share stories that we hope will offer inspiration for future adventures.

Note: Some of these links are affiliate links, meaning that if you book through my link, I will make a small commission (at no extra cost to you).

The state of Alaska is one of the most remote destinations left to visit in the United States and McCarthy is no exception. There are endless small towns, fishing villages and remote wilderness for everyone to get their own slice of heaven.  When road tripping Alaska some of the most popular destinations are Denali, Talkeetna, Ketchikan, Sitka, Homer and plenty of others. One of the most overlooked and unknown destinations in Alaska is McCarthy and Kennicott located in Wrangell St. Elias National Park. This McCarthy Alaska travel guide will showcase all that McCarthy has to offer to people that want to try something different.

The towns of McCarthy and Kennicott are located directly next to each other, 60 miles away from any other towns. They are old copper mining towns that are located deep in Wrangell St. Elias National Park with only one dirt road leading in and out. The road is full of potholes, so be prepared to rent a 4wd car with good suspension for the bumpy hour and a half ride each way.

Things to do in Wrangell St. Elias National Park – McCarthy & Kennicott

Kennicott is an abandoned copper mining town with a huge 14-story mill that offers tours to visitors. You will have the chance to explore the huge mill and understand how the entire process worked from start to finish. In 1986, it was declared a National Historic Landmark which saved it from being torn down. No one currently lives in the town of Kennicott as it is only used for tour companies in the summer and mining operations in the past.

The town of McCarthy is the town next to Kennicott and is where all the small hotels, restaurants, bars, general store and locals are located. In 2010, the population was listed at only 28 people because during the winter all the local tour companies shutdown and the guides go back home. The town of McCarthy is only accessible for tourists by walking across a bridge and then catching a Van ride with the hotel or hostel that you previously booked at the other end of the bridge.

How to Get to McCarthy Alaska – McCarthy Road

The town of McCarthy is one of the most remote locations in Alaska that is accessible by driving. The easiest way to get to McCarthy/Kennicott is to hop on Route 10 and head towards to Chitina, which is the last town before you hop on the 60-mile dirt road to Wrangell St. Elias National Park. Wrangell St. Elias is the largest National Park in the United States, yet it is widely unknown to the general public and only has one access road.

The other way to reach McCarthy which is faster and smoother is to catch a plane ride from the town of Chitina. It is a fairly short plane ride but can cost upwards of $300 per person round trip. When you take a plane ride, you are not only catching a “taxi” but you will get the opportunity to see the entirety of Wrangell St. Elias and the untouched wilderness and wildlife.

Renting a Car in Anchorage Alaska – Alaska 4×4 Rentals

Most tourists will be flying into the Anchorage airport and will need to rent a car that is allowed on McCarthy Road. A lot of rental agencies will not allow you to take the average car on McCarthy Road and will add additional charges if you do. We found that Alaska 4×4 Rentals was our best option when renting a 4×4 vehicle in Alaska. They had some of the cheapest rates and allow all of their vehicles on any road in Alaska. They are located directly outside of the airport, which makes it easy to rent when arriving in Anchorage.

Where to Stay Recommended by the McCarthy Alaska Travel Guide – McCarthy Lodge

Wrangell St. Elias is known for its incredible hikes, glaciers, backcountry skiing, copper mines, ice climbing, and multi-day backcountry adventures. Most hotels and hostels here are old fashioned and not geared at all towards luxury travelers. There are only a few places to stay because McCarthy is small, so make sure you book your stay in advance.

We stayed at the beautiful McCarthy Lodge (now Ma Johnson’s Historical Hotel) which includes breakfast and will help you book tours and make all of your arrangements.

The McCarthy Lodge is comprised of both the Ma Johnson’s Hotel and the Lancaster’s Hotel. The Ma Johnson is geared tower higher-end travelers who want more comfort and quiet. The Lancaster is dubbed as the backpacker hotel for people on a smaller budget.

McCarthy Alaska Travel Guide – Things to do in McCarthy Alaska

The reason everyone wants to visit McCarthy and Kennicott is to have a true experience of the Alaskan wilderness and old way of life.

Individuals are allowed to ski, pack raft and hike the backcountry by themselves but it is highly recommended you join a tour unless you have experience. The extreme wilderness of Wrangell St. Elias is unforgiving and has very few visitors, so if you get injured or lost things could end badly. This is why every visitor is recommended to join a tour to experience this National Park.

Best tour company recommended by the McCarthy Alaska Travel Guide – St. Elias Alpine Guides

• Kennicott Copper Mine Tour
• Ice Climbing Day Tour
• Local foods and saloon
• Backcountry Skiing Adventure
• Packrafting Multi-day adventure
• Alaskan Mountaineering Course
• Glacier Hike and Kayaking
• Blackburn Expedition
• Bona Expedition

Kennicott Copper Mine Tour – $28

The main reason that so many visitors come to the towns of Kennicott and McCarthy is because of the abandoned Kennicott copper mine. The mine closed in 1938 and didn’t start to attract tourists until the 1980s. There are two tour companies operating in Kennicott which offers tours of the mine that take around two hours.

Ice Climbing in Wrangell St. Elias – $75-$1500

Depending on what type of ice climbing experience you want to take part in, it can become expensive. A half-day tour will start at $75 while a multi-day glacier hike and kayak adventure can be upwards of $1500.

Ice climbing in Wrangell St. Elias is one of the coolest experiences in the world. Having the ability to climb 90-foot ice walls, 40-foot inverted walls and walk across frozen glaciers with beautiful blue lagoons is an amazing experience.

The Golden Saloon & Potato – Best Restaurants in McCarthy Alaska

The town of McCarthy and Kennecott is only home to a few restaurants, and that’s an understatement. The town is home to less than 30 people year-round which means there isn’t a need for restaurants when the tourist season ends. The best eatery in all of McCarthy is the Golden Saloon, which feels like an old western saloon. The best part about the place is that there are multiple dogs just lying on the floor and walking around while you eat dinner. The food and atmosphere of the Golden Saloon is what made our group of friends go back every night we were in McCarthy (and because it’s the only restaurant open late). The other restaurant which is great for lunch and unique food is the Potato, which of course, has amazing french fries. They have two locations in Alaska with McCarthy being the original location. They have espresso in the morning and beer, wine, and cider at night.

Packrafting in Wrangell St Elias – Multi-Day Adventure

One of a few amazing multi-day adventures you can enjoy while in Kennicott and McCarthy. Packrafting has become more and more popular with adventure travelers who want to hike into the wilderness and then pack raft out on a river. St. Elias Guides will provide you with everything you need such as a tent, pack raft, food, and other gear. The trip will be approximately two weeks long and will be one of the most memorable adventures of your lifetime.

The Famous Mount Blackburn Expedition

Mount Blackburn is the highest peak in Wrangell St. Elias National Park, and the fifth-highest peak in the United States. Mount Blackburn is also the largest active volcano in the world and on a a clear day is visible from the town of McCarthy. Mount Blackburn is a world-famous hiking destination and is rated at an Alaska Grade 2 Hike, which is categorized as a moderate non-technical multi-day hike or difficult one day climb.  A local tour guide will take you on this amazing world-class hike/climb and the peak will leave you breathless with the views. Make sure to ask your guide about the old tails of miners hiking Mount Blackburn.

Alaskan Mountaineering Course – Wrangell St. Elias

A great way to take control of your own adventures and create your own is to learn all the skills needed from an expert. This six-day mountaineering course will teach you the skills to explore heavily glaciated terrain with proper technique, snow and ice climbing skills, crevasse rescue, hazard assessment and more. At that very end of the course, you will be climbing the the backside of Mount Blackburn to test your new skills and knowledge.

Backcountry Skiing in Wrangell St. Elias National Park

Backcountry skiing is one of the most exhilarating and rewarding sports there is. You get the opportunity to hike to the top of a mountain over a couple of hours and then ski back down in only a few minutes. There are so many different mountains, slopes and backcountry trails to take advantage of. Whether you are vastly experienced or a beginner you will find something for you in McCarthy. There are two different companies that you can join in doing a single day trip or up to two weeks.

Why the McCarthy, Alaska is a Must-see Destination

Alaska is home to 8 national parks and four of the five largest in the entire United States. Alaska is seen as a destination for people to get outside, into nature, get away from cities and people and to see wildlife. McCarthy has everything that people want in Alaska and more! McCarthy is one of the friendliest, cleanest, and most remote towns in all of Alaska and its nestled inside the country’s largest National Park. The people are amazing, food’s delicious and the untouched wilderness surrounding the town is something you will never forget.

All pictures for the McCarthy Alaska Travel Guide were provided by Maddie and James of Wanderus Living.