McCarthy, Alaska Day Trips: Top 5 Unforgettable Adventures
McCarthy, Alaska, wow, it’s almost like stepping back in time. So, this remote town, way out there in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, arguably offers an experience totally unlike anywhere else. Now, with that in mind, McCarthy’s more than just its setting. Too it’s an adventure hub, honestly filled with opportunities for remarkable day trips. Very ready to explore what this unique destination offers? I mean, let’s jump into the top 5 must-do adventures!
1. Kennecott Mines Tour: History Unearthed
Very visiting Kennecott is easily the most sought-after thing to do in the McCarthy area. So the Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark is literally just a few miles from McCarthy. You know, it has an amazing story. I mean, this abandoned copper-mining town gives you a great peek into Alaska’s past, seriously, it really does. So I’m talking, from around the early 1900s when copper was king, alright. Yet the mines themselves, yeah they operated from 1911 until 1938, and so it became a really major boomtown before eventually becoming, really a ghost town.
Too it’s almost like you can choose between a guided tour, alright, or just going solo to explore, yeah. Either way, make sure to check out the massive 14-story concentration mill. Pretty crazy when you see how that huge structure stands so proudly against the landscape, or basically learn all about the everyday lives, right, of the miners and their families who once called this place home, right?
Now, getting to Kennecott itself, basically that’s another part of the experience. Just to start, McCarthy’s about a five-hour drive from Chitina, which, actually, is where the mostly-paved Edgerton Highway kind of ends. But, it’s after Chitina, and by after Chitina I am talking about along the mostly-gravel McCarthy Road, that the adventure definitely takes off. That Road, seriously, can be a bit rough. Oh and too it’s got two, count em two, one-lane bridges and, arguably, you gotta park your car on the far side of the Kennicott River, like near McCarthy, you know, then walk across a footbridge. Actually after the bridge you can catch a shuttle to Kennecott itself. That said, so this small trek adds a fun touch to your exploration of the area’s history, literally giving you like a tiny sense of what life would have been like back then. Read our full review: Kennecott Mines Tour Full Review and Details.
2. Root Glacier Hike: Walk on Ice
So a Root Glacier hike, yeah, now that’s something that you shouldn’t miss, as a matter of fact, it really showcases the natural power of Alaska, almost, I mean the natural force in general. Yet this experience kind of starts with a pleasant walk through the forest. The forest eventually opens up to reveal this vast ice expanse, basically like something out of a movie.
Honestly for an even better experience, yeah, consider going with a local guiding outfit for, yeah, I would suggest going with one, the hike. I mean, that way, very with the guides, you’ll have all the needed equipment, say like crampons, and, I am telling you, valuable insights, right, into the glacier’s terrain, as a matter of fact as you trudge, they can really point out moulin, streams and other interesting geological formations. Arguably you can even drink the incredibly fresh glacial water. Honestly there’s just really nothing else quite like it, know what I mean?
Now, don’t think you’re going to experience solid, bright-white ice either. A bit of debris sits on top. But basically that’s alright since this dark material arguably keeps the ice below it frozen for way longer, right, during summer. Still, very this activity strikes a good balance of physical activity with, as a matter of fact, educational exploration and of course sightseeing. Root Glacier kind of delivers on that uniquely Alaskan adventure feel. Read our full review: Root Glacier Hike Full Review and Details.
3. Flightseeing Tour: Views from Above
Ok, you are after some seriously mind-blowing perspectives, correct? And too are willing to spend a bit? Right, yeah, then think about a flightseeing tour. In a way, a small plane gives you this amazing aerial view of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Obviously it showcases just how gigantic and wild the place is, clearly a ton of land.
I am talking getting so much closer, anyway to, the Park. Arguably this includes seeing massive glaciers, for instance, rivers winding all throughout, right, and just rugged peaks, seriously rugged. Still it’s tough to comprehend, without being able to do any kind of actual experiencing yourself just how unbelievably enormous this National Park is, is that, compared to all other American National Parks. Seriously, just seeing that, alright, puts things into a brand new, amazing perspective. Honestly I really do encourage you to research and compare your different operators, in fact, do so before setting yourself in stone to really lock in with the correct option. Basically some outfits could potentially focus just on glacier viewing, or mountain peak fly-bys. Oh, and also look out for glacier landings! Actually some vendors sometimes provide trips that literally come with an on-ice landing, pretty fantastic right? This thing seriously gives a, really hands-on component and memorable photo opportunity, seriously awesome. Read our full review: Flightseeing Tour Full Review and Details.
4. McCarthy Walking Tour: Discovering the Town
McCarthy walking tours arguably give this awesome opportunity to really soak up, I mean really get that local vibe. You know, I am talking stories and insights directly. In that case this totally applies when dealing with the area itself. A local guide almost always makes any kind of small town that much richer of an experience. Anyway these tours really deliver a really awesome peek into, actually everything including the founding period clear up to present day life. Anyway this lets the tour be both historically meaningful and quite informative. Still you shouldn’t really expect a very long stroll, though. Instead, just see these more as a way of making some personal connections. Usually connecting, actually helps any area itself really leave an everlasting impression.
Too, keep this option in mind, should budget be a little tight. In fact they’re frequently rather quite affordable or, really just offered up as totally free. Frankly walking tours do make up, honestly, some truly worthwhile exploration activities in this corner of Alaska, literally even without a high expense requirement, and stuff. In fact you just might enjoy McCarthy just a little bit more as a result, and so on. Read our full review: McCarthy Walking Tour Full Review and Details.
5. River Rafting on the Kennicott
Very if you’re seriously hunting for something more adventurous, so a river rafting trip actually provides, at the end of the day, an entirely really wonderful point of view. Still you’re just thinking, I mean I am picturing myself floating gently by. Yeah that is, basically the vibe! But hey, what are ya going to do? Seriously that totally does it.
So as you make it downstream you’ll very slowly come to realize actually just how awe inspiring actually is all that rugged, surrounding wild beauty. Very often a fully guided experience potentially doubles up as really awesome wildlife viewing outing at the same moment too, and stuff. Actually you have this very legitimate potential to obviously just catch something along the river bank! Like your average Moose. Also maybe some curious, majestic eagles are a possibility too! Ultimately I really, really would suggest just wearing waterproof stuff for that. Oh and it really is really essential, very, really essential that, arguably at every stop here in Wrangell-St. Elias and/or McCarthy in totality, always come stocked with really ample mosquito repellant! The mosquito population might prove relentless in Alaska’s backcountry. As a matter of fact come so completely, utterly equipped to just ward them off like an absolute expert and stuff. Anyway that way the mosquitos won’t really hamper any outing. Seriously the rafting itself delivers, more or less, pretty great thrills. In reality it has just an especially really fantastic wilderness connection that a heck of a lot of tourist activities basically just could never truly totally deliver. Read our full review: River Rafting Full Review and Details.
