Chitina Transportation
Nestled in Wrangell St. Elias National Park, Chitina offers great access to the park and its wonders. After you cross the Copper River Bridge, you’ll encounter McCarthy Road; follow this gravel railroad-bed-turned-road and you’ll reach the town of McCarthy. Or soar through the skies with Wrangell Mountain Air to see North America’s largest collection of glaciers and largest number of peaks above 16,000 feet.
Show Map
Getting Around
If you want to get a true sense of the 13 million acres within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park — which has a mere 100 miles of roadways — start with an aerial view. Since 1992, Wrangell Mountain Air has been offering safe and fascinating tours of this remote kingdom, which boasts North America’s largest assemblage of glaciers as well as its largest collection of peaks above 16,000 feet. Choose from three main tours.
The drive to McCarthy and Kennicott isn’t your run-of-the-mill road trip. It’s 7 – 8 hours from Anchorage, with the last 61 miles-between Chitina and the Kennicott River-on an historic, gravel road. Not all rental vehicles are allowed on the McCarthy road, so check with your rental agency before you travel.
There’s a story about a local pioneer who in the 1950’s walked the entire way to McCarthy from Cordova. Across the Copper River was a steel cable, the current bridge having not been built until 1973.