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Wrangell St. Elias National Park & Preserve

Edgerton Highway & McCarthy

The Edgerton Highway starts at the junction with the Richardson Highway and is paved to Chitina (34 miles). If McCarthy or Kennicott is your destination, plan another three hours for the 60-mile drive to Kennicott. The road is rough and not recommended for large RVs or RVs towing trailers. At the Kennicott River, visitors must leave their vehicle in a parking area and walk or cycle across a footbridge to reach McCarthy. For a small fee, a shuttle van can take you the final 6 miles to the Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark. Park Rangers and local guide services take visitors on building tours, or you can explore the area on your own. If you’re interested in mining history and stories of Alaska pioneers, this is a worthwhile adventure.

Nabesna Road 

This is a gravel road into the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve that is 42 miles one way. Check conditions at the ranger station at the beginning of the road. If you don’t have a 4×4, you may not be able to cross a creek that flows over the road about half way in.