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KENNECOTT MILL
TOWN TOUR

Day Trip

Alaskan History, Frozen in Time

Kennecott, Alaska is a ghost town frozen in time. When the Kennecott Copper Corporation abruptly abandoned the town in 1938, they left behind their equipment, buildings, and personal belongings; yet, their stories of discovery, perseverance, and ingenuity live on!

St. Elias Alpine Guides holds the exclusive concession with the National Park Service, and access to the 14-story Concentration Mill is only possible through this tour. Come see what it was like to live and work in this remote wilderness as you tour the town site with one of our knowledgeable guides. Listen to tales of lucky fortunes, tenacious frontiersmen, and tragic endings. Gain exclusive access to explore inside the 14-story mill building and several other historic buildings when you join our tour! Our 2-hour historic Mill Town Tour is a must-do for anyone visiting Kennecott, Alaska!

Have a full day in Kennecott and looking for more adventure? You can do the 9 am Half-Day Glacier Hike  and 3:30 pm Kennecott Mill Town Tour in the same day! Combine our 2 most popular activities and get the most out of your time in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve!

ADVANCED RESERVATIONS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED!

Tour Details

Price
Adult(13+) $34
Child(12-) $17

Mileage
1 Mile

Terrain
Flat gravel trail, steep switch-back gravel trail, steep stairs and ladders, uneven flooring

Tour Length – Day Trip
2 Hours

Dates Offered
May 25th – September 8th, 2024

Tour Start Times
9:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm Additional 11:30am start time from July 1st – August 15th

Age Limit
All ages welcome, but it can be challenging for 3-5 year olds. Hands-free carrier required for those 2 and under.

Group Size
15 guests to 1 guide, multiple tours can go out at each time slot. Private options available upon request! Tours requiring a translator must be booked as a private tour.

DETAILS

Trip Highlights

  • Tour inside the 14-story concentration mill
  • Learn the fascinating history of one of the richest copper strikes in history
  • Listen to amazing stories of the people who lived and worked here in this remote, mountain wilderness
  • See buildings, mining equipment, and personal artifacts left as they were in the early 1900s

What’s Included?

  • Knowledgeable guide
  • Exclusive access to historic buildings
  • Hard Hat

What’s Not Included?

  • Gratuity
  • Transportation to/from Kennecott

Equipment List

Come prepared with the following:
  • Closed-toed footwear
  • Rain Gear (just in case)
  • Camera/phone for pictures!

Pro Tip

There are many buildings open to the public that our tour does not enter. Take some extra time before or after the tour to explore these buildings. Public buildings are open 9am to 5pm. Check in with our office for additional information.

FAQ

Yes, it’s one of our most popular Day Trip options! Our Half-Day Glacier Hike starts at 9 am and usually ends between 2-3 pm, just in time to catch the 3:30 pm Kennecott Mill Town Tour.

Regardless of how you arrive in McCarthy, be advised that no outside vehicles are permitted within the town, so don’t plan on being able to drive yourself around. Uber and taxi services are a laughable concept out here in the bush…you’ll see!

Within the towns of Kennecott and McCarthy, all local businesses and points of attraction are within walking distance.

To get between Kennecott and McCarthy most people ride the local Copper Town Shuttle (pricing and schedule change seasonally), however, you can also walk or bike the 4.5mi between the two towns.

The Footbridge at the end of the McCarthy Road is about a 20min walk from McCarthy. The Copper Town Shuttle also offers service to the Footbridge on a regular schedule.

Most local lodging hosts will provide transportation for check-in and check-out so you should be able to get to your accommodations from either the Footbridge if you’re driving in or from the airstrip if you’re flying in – check with your host for more details.

If you’re doing an activity with us, chances are we provide transportation! Check with us if you are unsure if transportation is provided for your activity.

We are located in the heart of Wrangell – St. Elias National Park. There is a 60mi dirt road that connects us to the highway system and there is also an airstrip in town!
There are several options for getting to McCarthy-Kennecott – driving, riding in a van shuttle, taking a scheduled or chartered flight, or some combination of these options. Please visit our Transportation+Lodging page for more detailed information.

Meet the incredible guides that are the heart of our trips!

Who are the guides that make up the St. Elias Alpine Guides team? They are a diverse and competent group of people from all across the country. Their extensive outdoor experience, wilderness medical training, and great personalities make them stand out from the crowd. We put them through a thorough training program unique to our area – glaciology lessons, backcountry navigation, and training trips on the slopes of the Wrangell Mountains add to our guides’ abilities to adapt and dominate in the diverse terrain of WSENP. From a glacier hike to an 8-day expedition, they’ll be sure to make it a trip of a lifetime!


Because our schedule is as dynamic as the environment we live in, we usually assign guides the night before for our Day Trips. And while we can’t guarantee who your guide will be – we love and trust every one of them and we know you will too!

Cancellation Policy

Your payment is fully refundable up to 48 hours prior to the start of the trip. If anything comes up prior to that time, call or email us to cancel your reservation for a full refund. Within 48 hours, there is no refund for cancellations. No-shows will be charged the full price. Our trips go out rain or shine! In the rare event that we to cancel a trip due to dangerous conditions, you will be notified and receive a full refund.

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