Email: info@alaskayukontravel.com

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Travel to McCarthy-Kennicott

Wrangell-St. Elias Charters, LLC provides summer van tours and transportation services to McCarthy-Kennicott, in Alaska’s Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, taking you far into areas of stunning scenic beauty, and astounding history.

Daily summer shuttles and tours on the McCarthy Road originate in the Copper River Valley, in the small communities of Chitina and Kenny Lake, where you can stay at the historic Chitina Hotel, or a campground, cabin, or bed and breakfast.

Whether you are going to McCarthy-Kennicott on a one-day trip, overnight, or planning to spend a week or more backpacking in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, our shuttles offer dependable and cost-effective transportation on the McCarthy Road.

We have direct summer shuttle service between Anchorage and McCarthy four days a week!

Shuttles between Anchorage and McCarthy include a stop at the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Visitor Information Center near Copper Center. Travelers have an opportunity to see exhibits, explore trails, and learn more about Wrangell-St Elias geology, wildlife, and the native culture and history in this part of Alaska.

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WHY TRAVEL THE MCCARTHY ROAD?

The McCarthy Road is a narrow gravel road through true Alaskan wilderness. Built on the old railbed of the Copper River & Northwestern Railroad, the McCarthy Road features original historic train bridges, sweeping views of glacial river valleys, and some of the highest peaks in Alaska (on clear days!)

Dense willow and alder forests — ideal bear-habitat — occasionally give way to beautiful reflective ponds where busy beavers are actively changing the landscape (and the road!)

See dip-netters catching salmon in the Copper River at Chitina. Stop to smell the wild sage, wild berries, spruce, and alder. Feel the wind on your face as you immerse yourself in the solitude of the Alaska wilderness. You’ll get some fantastic photos of the scenic vistas and historic train relics, and have a great story to tell about the experience. Every trip on the McCarthy Road is an adventure.

Throughout the seasons, wildflowers, wild mushrooms, and wild berries adorn the McCarthy Road. Trumpeter swans, Northern Hawk Owls, Great Grey Owls, and eagles are often seen on our trips. Bears, fox, lynx, moose, porcupines, and even Copper River buffalo have been seen on the McCarthy Road. Sunny summer days reveal the far-off glacial peaks of distant Wrangell volcanoes. And we believe that fall reflections on the McCarthy Road offer some of the prettiest photo opportunities in Alaska.

WHY TRAVEL WITH US?

Road conditions on the McCarthy Road can range from “great” to “grueling” depending on weather, traffic, and time of year. There are dangerous permafrost heaves and dips on seemingly “paved” sections of the road, giant potholes, sharp rocks, mudslides, rockslides, and loose railroad spikes from the historic railroad that can catch any vehicle by surprise.

Our drivers know the hazards and conditions of the road, so you don’t have to worry about it. We have been providing reliable van service to McCarthy-Kennicott since 2006. We have a unique schedule that saves you time, worry, and money when traveling to the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park from Anchorage or the Copper River Valley.

Our drivers are knowledgeable local residents with great stories and capable skills. Our goal is to provide you a safe, fun, and informative trip in the Alaska wilderness.

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TEN TOP REASONS TO VISIT MCCARTHY, ALASKA

TAKE A HIKE

Walk to town. Walk on a glacier. Climb to old mines above treeline. Fly out to secluded lakes and valleys for remote wilderness hiking and backpacking.

EXPERT GUIDE SERVICES

Learn to ice climb, camp out on a glacier, or ascend a peak! Highly qualified guides in McCarthy and Kennicott provide equipment and instruction for adventurers of all skill-levels.

AWESOME RIVER RAFTING

Watch for wildlife as you float a glacial river through untamed Alaska wilderness.

TOUR HISTORIC KENNECOTT

Discover the amazing history of the Kennecott Copper Mine.

SWEET FLIGHTSEEING

See and photograph glaciers and some of the worlds largest icefields.

GREAT FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

Fast-food, family-style, gourmet, outdoors — there’s an impressive selection of restaurant options — with beer, wine, music, and even a full service bar in McCarthy providing local entertainment.

UNIQUE ALASKAN ACCOMMODATIONS

Sleep in a hand-made log cabin. Enjoy authentic amenities at a historic hotel. Make local friends at a comfortable B & B. Wherever you stay, you’re set for a memorable trip.

SMALL TOWN CHARM

Most of the dogs really do run loose, and they all get along fine. And it’s okay to say “hi” to everyone you meet — it’s fun, and it’s kind of expected.

UNPLUG (A LITTLE)

No TVs in this off-the-grid community means watching the sunrise, sunset, or campfire is an acceptable alternative. But yes, there is internet, and your (Verizon) cell phone will still work here.

DIRECT SHUTTLES FROM ANCHORAGE AND THE COPPER RIVER VALLEY

You don’t have to abuse your own vehicle on the McCarthy Road. Direct van service from Anchorage eliminates many cost barriers associated with accessing the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

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Let’s get started planning your trip!

CONTACT US

Wrangell-St. Elias Charters, LLC

Jonathan Bryant – 1-907-390-0369 – email info@alaskayukontravel.com

Traveling to McCarthy, AK?

Leave the driving to us, and avoid the stress of taking your own vehicle on the McCarthy Road. We offer daily van service on the 60-mile gravel road between Chitina and McCarthy, from May 15 to September 15. Travel with a local, watch for wildlife, and enjoy spectacular wilderness and railroad history.

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For RATES and RESERVATIONS

Call us at 1(907)390-0369, email info@alaskayukontravel.com, or reserve online.

AM and PM SHUTTLE DEPARTURES

AM SHUTTLE Departs DAILY

     Kenny Lake: 6:45 am

     Chitina Airstrip/Wrangell View RV Park: 7:15 am

     Chitina Hotel: 7:30 am 

     Arrives at McCarthy Footbridge: 10:00 am

PM SHUTTLE Departs M, W, F, SA

Kenny Lake: 2:00 pm

Chitina Airstrip: 2:45 pm

Chitina Hotel: 3:00 pm

Arrives at McCarthy Footbridge: 6:00 pm

^

PARKING

Free parking is available at the Chitina airstrip (mile 28 Edgerton highway.)

We can pick up/drop off directly at your hotel, lodge, campground, or Bed & Breakfast in Copper Center, Kenny Lake, Tonsina, or Chitina.

CAN YOU FLY TO MCCARTHY AND THEN TAKE THE VAN BACK TO CHITINA?

Yes! The Chitina Airstrip is a great place to leave your car or RV during your day trip or overnight stay. It is also a popular pick-up/drop-off point for shuttle passengers.

You can ride the van from the Chitina Airstrip to McCarthy in the morning, and fly back to the Chitina Airstrip in the evening. Or, take a later flight from Chitina to McCarthy, and ride the shuttle back to your car when you’re ready.

Scenic flights are available between Chitina and McCarthy three times a day in summer. Contact Wrangell Mountain Air at 1-907-554-4411 for flight information. http://www.wrangellmountainair.com

RETURN SHUTTLES: FROM MCCARTHY TO CHITINA, KENNY LAKE, VALDEZ, OR ANCHORAGE

We have 2 departures from the McCarthy Footbridge to Chitina: 10:00 am, and 6:00 pm.

The 10:00 am shuttle departs from McCarthy DAILY and can connect with trips to Valdez (daily) or Anchorage (4 days a week.)

     Departs McCarthy Footbridge: 10:00 am

     Arrives Chitina Hotel: 1:00 pm

     Arrives Chitina Airstrip/Wrangell View RV Park: 1:15 pm   

The 6:00 pm shuttle departs from McCarthy DAILY:

     Departs McCarthy Footbridge: 6:00 pm

     Arrives Chitina Hotel: 8:30 pm

     Arrives Chitina Airstrip/Wrangell View RV Park: 8:45 pm

All shuttle arrival times are approximate and can vary depending on weather, wildlife, passenger load, road conditions, and unscheduled stops. We are not responsible for road closures for any reason.

MCCARTHY TO VALDEZ SHUTTLE

MCCARTHY TO ANCHORAGE SHUTTLE

A NOTE FOR RV TRAVELERS:

The McCarthy Road is narrow, uneven, and brushy in some areas. Railroad spikes from the old Copper River & Northwestern Railroad, which the road is built upon, still surface. Most RV Rental companies prohibit RV travel on this rural, gravel road.

Whether you are going into Wrangell-St. Elias National Park for the day or planning to stay overnight, you can safely leave your RV in Chitina or Kenny Lake, and take the shuttle on the McCarthy Road.

RV Camping with full-hookups is available at the Kenny Lake Mercantile and RV Park, and near the Chitina Airstrip (mile 28 Edgerton Highway) at the Wrangell View RV Park. We can pick you up and drop you off right at your RV.

Other great places to (dry) camp include Squirrel Creek Campground near the Tonsina River, or Liberty Falls, a small campground with a waterfall on the road to Chitina. Arrive early to acquire a site, and let us know where you decide to camp, so we can arrange an easy pick up for your trip.

Please contact us if you have any questions or need help planning your trip. Give us a call at 1(907)390-0369 — or send your email to: info@alaskayukontravel.com. Let’s get started planning your trip to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park today!

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Do you have only one day to visit Wrangell-St Elias National Park?

Our 12.5 hour tour from Chitina gives you eight hours of free time at McCarthy and Kennicott, so you can hike or enjoy additional tours. And our Full-Day Trip with Root Glacier Hike makes it easy to add the popular guided glacier hike to your one-day trip.

The Full-Day Trip gives you eight hours of free time at McCarthy-Kennicott, so there is time to walk to the glacier, visit the museum, and see the exhibits and historic sights around the towns of Kennicott and McCarthy.

Do you have questions? Call us at 1 (907) 390-0369, or email: info@alaskayukontravel.com

If you only have one day to visit Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, you can see the glaciers and historic copper mining town of Kennicott, near the center of the park, on our full day, 12.5 hour tour to McCarthy from Chitina. 

The 12.5 hour tour from Chitina gives you eight hours of free time at McCarthy and Kennicott, so you can hike or enjoy additional tours.

Travel by van on a narrow gravel road, built on the old railway of the Copper River and Northwestern Railroad. Watch for wildlife and observe relics from the historic railroad on the 2.5 hour drive from Chitina to McCarthy. Travel on the McCarthy Road is an adventure into the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

For reservations and more information, give us a call at 1 (907) 390-0369 or send an email to: info@alaskayukontravel.com.

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Book Your Trip

The Anchorage-McCarthy shuttle transports you through 503 km (313 miles) of Alaska wilderness — all the way from your accommodations in Anchorage, to the remote town of McCarthy, near the center of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

On this full-day trip, you can see and photograph many impressive glaciers, mountains, and rivers on the scenic Glenn Highway, plus see the Wrangell volcanoes, unique rural Alaskan towns, and the McCarthy Road.

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     Have Questions? Call us at 1-907-390-0369, or send an email to: info@alaskayukontravel.com

The Anchorage-to-McCarthy shuttle makes plenty of stops for picture-taking, restrooms, and stretching the legs.

A 30-minute break at the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Visitor Center near Copper Center allows time for picnicking and perusing exhibits. 

Trips on the McCarthy road are always an adventure!

This 60-mile gravel road is built on an old railroad bed, and railroad spikes can still be found on its surface. The Copper River & Northwestern Railroad hauled copper from the Kennicott Mines in the early 1900s.

Beautiful historic bridges and other train relics await your discovery.

Arrival time in McCarthy is 6:00 pm. A minimum stay of at least three nights in McCarthy is suggested.

From McCarthy, our shuttle van departs at 10:00 am for Anchorage, the Copper River Valley, and Valdez.

SHUTTLES FROM MCCARTHY TO ANCHORAGE

SHUTTLES FROM MCCARTHY TO VALDEZ

Reserve online or call us at 1-907-390-0369.

Our Anchorage-McCarthy shuttle is ideal for backpackers and solo travelers. Groups of 3 or more traveling on the same reservation receive a 10% discount.

Early reservations are recommended.

Trip Itinerary:*

8:00 – 8:30 am: We pick up at hotels, hostels, and B & Bs in Anchorage. Our vans from Anchorage have a 2 person minimum, and 10 person maximum.

9:00 – 9:30 am: We stop at the Fred Meyer Marketplace in Palmer to pick up lunch items, snacks, drinks, and any last-minute necessities. This is just a 30-minute rest stop.

11:00 am: We stop to view the Matanuska Glacier. Vault toilets available.

12:30 pm: We stop for fuel in Glennallen, AK.

1:00 pm: We take a 30-minute break at the main visitor center for Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, north of Copper Center. Restrooms available. This is the half-way point on the trip. We are not actually in the park yet, but you can see it from here.

2:00 pm: We stop at our place in Kenny Lake! The trip from Anchorage to McCarthy is a long drive, so we split it between two drivers. Here is where your first driver says good-bye, and you meet up with a new driver for the next leg of the trip.

2:45 pm: Sometimes we stop at the Chitina Airstrip. If you want to fly from Chitina to McCarthy, we can have you there in time for the 2:45 pm flight.

3:00 pm: When seats are open, we may also pick up passengers in Chitina. Vault toilets available.

Travel is slow on the McCarthy Road, and there are stops for wildlife, pictures and restrooms.

6:00 pm: The van will arrive at the Kennicott River Footbridge in McCarthy. This is as far as we can go – access across the river is by foot only!

Hotels and accommodations in McCarthy-Kennicott provide transportation from the footbridge, and your driver can assist with transportation arrangements if needed.

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*All shuttle arrival times are approximate and can vary depending on weather, wildlife, passenger load, road conditions, and unscheduled stops.

We are not responsible for road closures for any reason.

Book Anchorage to McCarthy

Book McCarthy to Anchorage

Have questions? Call us at 1-907-390-0369, or send an email to: info@alaskayukontravel.com.

Wrangell-St. Elias Charters, LLC

HC 60, Box 227N, Copper Center, AK 99573

We use a clean, comfortable 10 passenger van to provide private tours and transfers at your own pace. These VIP personal tours are customized to your specific interests and needs. Allow us to pick you up at the accommodations of your choice. We can connect you to back-country flights, guides, fishing, locally-made cabins, and more. Our local drivers make excellent recommendations. You can depart from Anchorage, Valdez, McCarthy, or the Copper River Valley.

Call us at 1 (907) 390-0369, or email info@alaskayukontravel.com. Let’s get started planning your private trip to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park today!

The trip starts at 10:00 am from the footbridge at McCarthy. Travel the 60-mile McCarthy Road to Chitina. There will be a stop in Chitina or Kenny Lake for lunch, and a van transfer in Kenny Lake at 2:00 pm.

On the way to Valdez, you’ll enjoy stops to see the Worthington Glacier, Allison Point, and the Valdez salmon hatchery. This is a great opportunity to see and photograph eagles, sea lions, bears (or at the very least, salmon!)

The shuttle will take you directly to your hotel or other destination in Valdez, Alaska.

McCarthy-to-Valdez service is available daily, with a two person minimum, from May 15 to September 15.

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At this time we do not offer Valdez-to-McCarthy service other than private charter service.