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Transportation to Wrangell Saint Elias National Park
 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park: How to Get Here
McCarthy/Kennicott Day Trips
Fly-Drive Glacier Tour
This is a full day tour to McCarthy and Kennicott from Chitina.
Meet your pilot at the Chitina Airstrip (the end of the paved-road) at 8:30 am for a stunning flight- seeing trip above glaciers of the Wrangells. After your arrival at the McCarthy airstrip, you'll enjoy custom tour service in McCarthy and Kennicott as you travel through town, stop at the historical museum, and journey to the Kennicott National Historic Landmark. From Main Street in Kennicott, walk two miles on an easy trail to the white ice of the Root Glacier.
Strap on crampons (metal spikes for your shoes) and traverse the Root Glacier with an experienced guide. See and photograph the glacier's mysterious ice formations, cascading waterfalls, unusal blue water pools, and other fascinating features. You'll even have a picnic lunch on the trip. No experience is neccessary!
After the glacier tour, you'll be transferred to Root Glacier Base Camp at the end of the McCarthy Road for a shuttle on the McCarthy Road to Chitina.
Departs
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Arrives
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Chitina
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8:30am
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McCarthy
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9:00am
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McCarthy
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2:00 pm
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Chitina
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4:00 pm
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The Chitina Fly-Drive Glacier Tour is approximately 7.5 hours and includes:
 30-minute flightseeing tour to McCarthy from Chitina
 tour service at McCarthy and the Kennicott National Historic Landmark
 4 to 5 hour guided glacier hike
 sack lunch
 van service from McCarthy to Chitina on the McCarthy Road
$225 per person (3 person minimum)
McCarthy-Kennicott Drive/Fly Day Tour
A full day tour to McCarthy and Kennicott from Glennallen or Copper Center
Start your adventure with a drive to the McCarthy footbridge with stops at the Kuskalana Bridge and the Gilahina Trestle. Upon arrival, a van will take you to McCarthy to enjoy your catered box lunch and to explore the town.
Your next destination will be the historic Kennicott Copper Mine where you will participate in a 2.5 hour guided tour. A short ride to the airport will deliver you to your Alaskan bush plane. Your experienced pilot will provide a spectacular narrated flightseeing tour back to Copper Center. The flightseeing tour will include views of mountain peaks, glaciers, waterfalls, and wildlife - all of which are located in the magnificent Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.
Itinerary
7:30 am: Departure from Princess Lodge
Enrote: Stops at Kuskalana Bridge, Gilahina Trestle
12:00 pm: Arrival at the footbridge to the McCarthy Kennicott area
12:00-1:00 pm: Explore the town of McCarthy
1:00-1:30 pm: Van to Kennicott
1:30-4:00 pm: Mine Tour with St. Elias Guides
4:00-4:15 pm: Van to McCarthy Airport
4:30-5:15 pm: Bush plane ride to Copper Center airstrip
5:15pm: Princess van to lodge
Note: All times are approximate.
 4 person minimum/ 8 passenger maximum.
 $295.00 per person
Air Transportation to McCarthy/Kennicott
Flights to McCarthy / Kennicott from Chitina
We can schedule an impressive 30-minute flightseeing trip from Chitina to McCarthy for your visit into Wrangell St. Elias National Park. See some of Alaska's most impressive glaciers and mountains, plus enjoy a unique opportunity to spot wildlife from the air. Our Chitina flights have a 3 person minimum. Please call or email for additional information on flightseeing to McCarthy from Chitina.
Daily Van Service to McCarthy
Backcountry Connection provides daily van service to McCarthy and the Kennicott Mines, with pick-up service from many area lodges, B&Bs, restaurants and RV parks.
From Glennallen, Backcountry Connection will take you on a memorable 125 mile ride. You will travel through historic Copper Center and the farming community of Kenny Lake. From Chitina, you will see the Copper River bridge, home of the famous Copper River Red Salmon, and fishwheels turning.
Backcountry Connection picks up at hotels, campgrounds, and RV parks throughout the Copper River Valley.
Daily Schedule (mid-May to September)
Glennallen - McCarthy McCarthy - Glennallen
Depart Glennallen 7:00 AM
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Depart McCarthy 4:30 PM
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Depart Kenny Lake 8:00 AM
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Arrive Chitina 6:30 PM
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Depart Chitina 8:30 AM
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Arrive Kenny Lake 7:30 PM
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Arrive McCarthy 11:00 AM
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Arrive Glennallen 8:30 PM
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Rates
Round-trip same day... $99 per person
Round-trip different day... $109 per person
One-way ... $79 per person
Chitina Fly/Drive
You can experience the famous McCarthy Road and see spectacular Wrangell-St. Elias mountains and glaciers from the air when you choose the Fly/Drive option for your visit to McCarthy in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
Park your vehicle in Chitina (the end of the paved road). Combine a one-way van shuttle (3 hours) between Chitina and McCarthy with a one-way flight (30 minutes). Choose between morning and afternoon departures.
Fly/Drive Combo ... $195 per person
Shuttles to Chitina and McCarthy from Valdez or Anchorage
May 17 to September 16, 2008
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Wrangell-St. Elias Tours provides direct shuttle service between
Anchorage and McCarthy, private transfers, and daily tours to McCarthy
and Kennicott from Chitina.
Anchorage - Glennallen - Chitina - McCarthy
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On Tuesdays & Saturdays
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On Mondays & Fridays
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Departs
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Anchorage
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8:00 am
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Departs
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McCarthy
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8:00 am
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Departs
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Glennallen
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1:00 pm
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Departs
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Chitina
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11:30 am
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Departs
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Chitina
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2:30 pm
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Departs
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Glennallen
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1:00 pm
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Arrives
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McCarthy
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5:00 pm
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Arrives
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Anchorage
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5:00 pm
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$165 per person one way $315 per person round-trip
Rental Cars on the McCarthy Road
Most rental car companies in Alaska still prohibit driving cars on unmaintained gravel roads such as the McCarthy Road, the Nabesna Road, the Denali, and the Dalton Highways, due to the severe pot-holes and washboarding that are often encountered. However, the McCarthy Road was upgraded in 2006 and more car rental companies are now allowing some of their four-wheel drive vehicles on the McCarthy Road. Travelers will still need to come very well prepared - there are no vehicle repair services available. For more information, contact
Levi Car Rental 907-563-2279
Budget Rent-A-Car 907-243-6750
High Country Car Rental 888-685-1155
The McCarthy Road ends at a footbridge over the Kennicott River. Designated parking at the footbridge is $5.00 per day
Approximate Driving Times
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Anchorage to McCarthy
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(314 miles)
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8 hours
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Anchorage to Glennallen
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(189 miles)
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4 hours
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Glennallen to Chitina
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(65 miles)
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1.5 hours
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Valdez to Chitina
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(100 miles)
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2.5 hours
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Fairbanks to McCarthy
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(374 miles)
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9.5 hours
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Denali N. P. to McCarthy
(via the Denali Highway)
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(359 miles)
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11 hours
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Chitina to McCarthy
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(60 miles)
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3 hours
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For reservations, please complete the following:
© 2008 Wrangell-St. Elias Lodging & Tours P.O. Box 205, Copper Center, AK 99573
phone (907) 822 5978
email: info@alaskayukontravel.com www.alaskayukontravel.com
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