Summary
$0
Entrance fee
None
Live cameras
Historic Crowd Data
Avg. monthly visitors, 2015–2024 · National Park Service
Light
Moderate
Busy
Very Busy
Peak season is July–August, when around 60% of annual visitors arrive. For lighter crowds, aim for October–May.
Plan Your Visit
Remoteness & SafetySelf-rescue required▾
McCarthy Road & KennecottFee-free park▾
Root Glacier & KennecottHistoric mine + glacier▾
Root Glaciercontext▾
Access
A 1.5-mile walk from Kennecott onto the glacier (4 mi round trip)
Guided tours
Private operators — St. Elias Alpine Guides and Kennicott Wilderness Guides — offer glacier hikes and ice climbing; not NPS-operated
Kennecott Mines NHLcontext▾
Designated
National Historic Landmark, June 23, 1986
Spelling note
"Kennecott" (mine/mill town, NHL) vs. "Kennicott" (glacier, river) — a documented historic misspelling that stuck
Things to Do7 categories▾
Day Hiking6 trails▾
Root Glacier / Erie Mine TrailEasy–Mod.
Easy/Moderate trail along Root Glacier with a spur onto the ice — the park's best glacier-viewing hike
Wagon Road to the Toe of the Kennecott GlacierEasy
Easy walk from Kennecott to the glacier's toe and Kennecott Mill Town
Bonanza Mine TrailStrenuous
Strenuous climb to panoramic views and the remains of the Bonanza Mine bunkhouse
Crystalline Hills Trail2.5 mi loop · 2–3 hrs
Loop trailhead on the north side of McCarthy Road at Mile 34.8
Caribou Creek TrailModerate
Moderate day hike with sweeping views, accessible from Nabesna Road
Skookum Volcano TrailMod.–Strenuous
Moderately strenuous hike through volcanic geology, accessible from Nabesna Road
Glacier Hiking & Ice ClimbingRoot Glacier▾
Root Glacier On-Ice WalkModerate
walk from Kennecott onto the glacier surface; crampons strongly recommended once on the ice
1.5 mi one-way
Guided Ice ClimbingFull day
Full-day introductory trips on Root Glacier via private operators; no experience necessary, all gear provided
Guided Glacier HikesPrivate tours
Half- and full-day glacier walks with private guide services (St. Elias Alpine Guides, Kennicott Wilderness Guides); not NPS-operated
Kennecott Mines Historic Landmark2 ways▾
Self-Guided ExhibitsMem. Day–Labor Day · 9 AM–5 PM
Interpretive displays at the General Store & Post Office, North Sacking Shed, and General Manager's Office
Ranger ProgramsLate May–mid-Sept
History talks and nature walks based out of the Kennecott Visitor Center
Backcountry Hiking3 facts▾
Off-Trail Wilderness TravelNo permit required
No maintained trail system anywhere in the park; NPS calls for map, compass, and route-finding skill
Backcountry Itinerary FormRecommended
Voluntary route/return-date form at contact stations; a search begins only once a contact reports someone overdue
Terrain HazardsSelf-sufficiency
NPS cites river crossings, glacier travel, dense brush, rockfall, and bears as key hazards; self-rescue is expected
Mountaineering3 facts▾
Mount St. Elias18,008 ft
2nd-highest peak in both the US and Canada; heavily glaciated, technical expedition terrain
Mount Blackburn16,390 ft
Highest peak in the Wrangell Range; first ascended in 1912 via the Kennicott Glacier
Guides & PermitsNo permit (US side)
NPS recommends a guide "unless you have extensive mountaineering experience"; no NPS permit needed unless crossing into Kluane National Park, Canada
River Floating & Packrafting4 facts▾
Lakina RiverPortage required
Popular packrafting run; a 0.4-mi section requires portaging since a September 2024 landslide
Nizina RiverGuide recommended
Run past the scenic Mile High Cliffs
Copper RiverGuide recommended
Canyon stretches popular with rafters
River HazardsNo permit required
NPS cites cold water, wood (strainers/sweepers), silt, and fast/continuous flow; peak flows hit on warm mid-summer days from glacial melt
CampingNo NPS campground at HQ▾
Landmarks5 stops▾
Key Locations5 stops▾
Mount St. Elias18,008 ft
18,008 ft — 2nd-highest peak in the US and in Canada
Mount Wrangell14,163 ft
14,163 ft active volcano, steam plumes visible, "no signs of erupting any time soon"
Kennecott
Historic copper mill town, National Historic Landmark
McCarthy
Small private town, 0.5 mi past the footbridge
Nabesna Road
North park road, built for the historic Nabesna Gold Mine (1925–1945)
Bird Watching196+ species▾
Golden Eagle
Soars over the park's vast mountain wilderness
Bald Eagle
Fishes the Copper and Chitina river valleys
Willow Ptarmigan
Alaska's state bird, camouflaged year-round
Gyrfalcon
World's largest falcon, hunts over open tundra
Common Raven
Year-round resident near Kennecott and McCarthy
Park Contact Information