My Dad and I had the best time doing the Half Day Root Glacier hike this past summer. We were in…read moreMcCarthy/Kennicott in late June (2019) and met our guide Johnny in Kennicott. We were quite surprised that we were the only people on the tour but also enjoyed it very much as we were able to go at a leisurely pace on the two-mile hike to/from Root Glacier. Our guide Johnny was so informative and told us about the history of Kennicott in addition to explaining about glaciers and how they form. Once we got to Root Glacier, we strapped on our crampons (provided by McCarthy River Tours & Outfitters) and as my dad said several times, began "walking on a big ice cube!" Johnny was so patient and attentive to the wants and needs of our small group. My favorite part was walking to the blue pool of water while on the glacier. It was incredible and Johnny was a great sport about taking our photo. We too a leisurely stroll back to Kennicott, filled with more photos and great conversation. I am really hoping to someday return to the McCarthy/Kennicott area and would absolutely love to do a rafting trip with this company. Definitely five stars - look for the Alaska TourSaver book for a possible buy one-get one coupon/discount! Thank you Johnny for providing my Dad and I with an excellent afternoon!

Cannot say enough great things about McCarthy River Tours. Chris (TBone) was very communicative and…read morereassuring they could accommodate our special needs. Booking was quick and easy followed up with a phone call from the owner. Ron and Morgan, our guides were the best; beginning with the safety orientation through outfitting for cold water and preparing us for all that we were about to experience. Ron (3rd season guide) especially was very knowledgeable about local geology, fauna, glacier activity, and history. Morgan (1st season guide) was very enthusiastic and that enthusiasm inspired us. Both of them provided humor with local knowledge and anecdotes. Greatly appreciate their insightfulness. We had booked a two hour rafting experience that included a paddle to the face of the Kennicott and Root Glaciers. This was totally amazing and puts into perspective the power of a moving glacier. From there we entered the headwaters of the Kennicott River and the pace picked up quickly as we sped through several Class II/III rapids. A wee bit of splashing (thank goodness for the provided dry suits). The excitement continued all the way to the end of the trip where we pulled out. After securing the rafts we were transported back to our origination point. We will return to experience their other outdoor adventure packages.

I took an all-day Root Glacier Tour with St. Elias Alpine Guides. Other than the weather being…read morepoor, I had a wonderful experience. Funny. Quick backstory. Last year I visited Wrangell St. Elias National Park and figured I could handle hiking onto Root Glacier all by my lonesome. I was wrong! I admit it! So, unfortunately, last year I messed things up, lol. But, alas, now this year of 2022, I have returned to McCarthy/Kennicott determined to change my past and history! Hehehe. Now being 1 year smarter, I have realized that yep, I needed to be guided, especially since (in my opinion) you absolutely need crampons to hike onto Root Glacier. And a guided tour will provide those vital crampons as part of the package. Plus...glaciers can be dangerous. If you're on your own, hiking, and take a wrong turn, it can be fatal. Okay, so here I was with 2 tour guides and a total of about 10 others with me on my 8-hour Root Glacier Tour. The tour was $145, plus I purchased an $8 optional snack pack that St. Elias Guides provided which included your usual hiking items like nuts, beef jerky, chips, etc... Then with taxes...the grand total was $162. For all my travels throughout Alaska this past summer, $162 for an 8-hour tour was absolutely worth it!! I booked with St. Elias Alpine Guides online. It was simple and they had plenty of available days and times for me to choose from. I was picked up by minivan at the McCarthy Footbridge at 8:30am on a Saturday for the 9am starting hike and departure. The van drove to Kennicott where I checked-in at the front desk counter and was introduced to my tour guides. Normally I don't mention names, but today I will because of how much I genuinely liked my guides. I really felt like I connected with them, and they made the tour memorable for me. So...thank you Kelsey and Victor. You guys were awesome! From Kennicott where the Old Mill and Mine is located, we then ventured about 2 miles all the way to "The Toe" of Root Glacier where we stopped, sat down, and put on our crampons. Interestingly, Kelsey and Victor said it was mandatory to wear gloves while hiking (in case we fell) along with having a backpack for extra gear and clothing. Plus, obviously, plenty of water. So now hiking up and onto Root Glacier...the day was really ours to casually take time and explore. Kelsey and Victor introduced us to all the popular and photogenic spots. I got to learn about blue pools, crevasses and moulins (which are life ending if you fall into one). There was really no rush in terms of exploring. When someone wanted to stop to take photos, we stopped. We learned a lot about the history and factual info on Root Glacier. About midway through the day, say 1pm, the group paused for lunch, which was our responsibility. St. Elias doesn't provide lunches, only the little snack packs. Kelsey and Victor did boil hot water for us to have either a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. That was a nice way to recharge my battery. We walked around Root Glacier till 3pm before turning around and making our way back to be finished by 5pm. Overall, I got about 4 - 4.5 hours' worth of hiking and exploring on Root Glacier. Funny...the time goes by so fast when you're having fun. I wasn't ready to leave, lol. I felt like there was so much more to see. That's how much I was enjoying myself, lol. But ultimately, we still had to hike off Root Glacier and then trek the 2 miles back to Kennicott where the van initially dropped us off. In total, there were 7 - 8 miles worth of hiking throughout the day. Normally, that would be a long for some people, but when there's so much to see and do...it felt like I barely worked hard at all. Lastly, yeah, just, Root Glacier, it was mostly raining during my time out there for the day. And that certainly depressed my pictures somewhat. But I could sense when there's good weather with sun, how beautiful and colorful this glacier can be. In the end, I just had to deal with the conditions. Btw, and when you're hiking, it starts getting warm so although it could have been 40ish degrees outside, I actually took my jacket off while on the glacier. I must say...for all you park enthusiasts, and those interested in visiting Wrangell St. Elias NP...the #1 activity/sight/attraction is without a doubt this...ROOT GLACIER!!! I believe it is imperative when here exploring, you must do a guided tour! It's not often that Alaskan Glaciers are accessible through hiking...most of them are seen and witnessed from tour boats and by hiking trails to "The Toe" sections. But this Root Glacier offers you the best of it all! There's no other feeling like hiking on a glacier, so make sure to take advantage of Root Glacier's accessibility. You will be left with everlasting memories from your time here!

This hike is the reason you come to McCarthy, in my opinion…read more On a clear day, the views are hard to beat. This glacier is moderate enough that you can easily hike up on it with no gear or previous experience. You can see a massive icefall in the distance as well as the towering Wrangle Mountains. To get here simply take a shuttle into Kennecott, then walk through the historic mining town and...keep walking. You'll find yourself on a trail. Eventually, you'll come to a junction that points the way to the Root Glacier. Looks like there is also some pretty good backpacking opportunities in the area. Definitely going to explore the other trails in the network next time I visit.

A cool and rustic peace of history. A visit to Wrangell is not complete without a stop to…read moreKennecott. Shuttle service to and from McCarthy was frequent and accessible for a small fee. We only had a day to explore, but you can see the main points easily. If you want to fit some of the longer hikes, plan on a second day. We explored by ourselves although tours are offered (and it is the only way to visit the inside of the Kennecott Mill). However, doing a self-guided tour around Kennecott was more than enough. It was at the end of the season, so services were limited. I can't speak much about that, but the pit toilets were still pretty well-maintained. Just plan a day to visit.

A quick 10 minute drive from McCarthy, the Kennecott Mines are a great historical site to explore…read morewhen you're visiting McCarthy. It had such a rich history with so much to learn and explore. Unfortunately, we came after much of it was closed for the season, so we didn't get to go inside any of the buildings. But from what we could see from the outside and read on the plaques, this mining town was fascinating! While we didn't do it, they do offer paid tours of the 14-story mill. This sounds like it would be a fascinating tour. We ended our time here with a short hike up to the mill, across the waterfall, and down back to the shuttle stop. It was actually so beautiful and relaxing. A perfect way to end our time here. Hop onto one of the shuttle vans and head on over!

During my first ever visit to Alaska, I stayed here at incredible McCarthy Cabins for 3 evenings…read more It's not often I gush about accommodations and lodging from my travels...but I find it imperative to be writing this review because of how memorable my stay was. Yes...this is McCarthy Cabins and if you're looking to become one with nature out here in McCarthy, Alaska...then I can't recommend this place enough! Let me just back up a few steps... If anyone out there is a National Parks enthusiast and trying to explore all of the parks out there...then you'll have to come here to the McCarthy/Kennicott area and Wrangell St. Elias National Park. Btw, Wrangell St. Elias is actually the biggest NP in our system...lol, just a fun fact. So...Wrangell St. Elias is quite the primitive park. There are two ways of accessing it...either by the 60 mile gravel McCarthy Road (which most tourists don't mind driving) or by Alaskan Bush propeller plane with Wrangell Mountain Air. For those folks who are driving the dirt road...then here it is...McCarthy Cabins! You definitely should stay here! First off...these McCarthy Cabins...and there are only 3 exclusive cabins...are situated right off McCarthy Road and conveniently located just 4.4 miles from the only town in the area known as McCarthy/Kennicott. Each cabin is extremely private with tons of space, your own parking spot, an outdoor shower (lol, like living in the great outdoors), and a well-maintained outhouse. Basically, every morning you can wake up at your own accord and get yourself prepared for a terrific tour and or challenging hike at Wrangell St. Elias. Then...hop in your car for the 4.4 miles, park yourself at the footbridge of McCarthy/Kennicott and take the bus into town among the wondrous Wrangell surroundings. During my time here...I found it so easy and convenient being at McCarthy Cabins knowing I was so close to all the action while at the same time far enough away to feel immersed in nothing but the wilderness. Booking a reservation is simple. I initially put in a request a few months ahead of time to see about availability. The owner of McCarthy Cabins, Denise Jantz, is absolutely a pleasure to speak with! Denise made my stay and accommodations all that much better from her kindness and availability to her recommending all the terrific spots within Wrangell St. Elias to go about and explore. Denise responded to my request immediately. Done! I was booked for 3 evenings back in June over this 2021 summertime. It was $150 per night (which, btw, is the cheapest rate you'll find for lodging within this remote McCarthy/Kennicott area). I paid half up front and the remaining half a few weeks prior to my arrival. What was also amazing about Denise was her providing me with her telephone number in case I had an issue driving rugged McCarthy Road. When I did arrive at my cabin (called the Swift Creek Cabin), she stopped by to introduce herself and offered me any necessities or guidance I may have needed. Denise also has 2 lovely dogs that hang out with her if you're an animal lover (lol, like I am). They are very sweet and good natured. For my Swift Creek Cabin...it was terrific for myself traveling alone but was also ideal for 2 people. It had a great outdoor patio with a bench and rocking chair. A pleasant surprise was having a mosquito net right outside the door to avoid any bugs coming inside. Within my cabin...Denise provided a battery charging station for my electronics, clean drinkable water from the local creek nearby, a gas stove for cooking, a sink and countertop, a dresser draw for my hanging clothes, a dining table with 2 chairs, a lounge chair for relaxation and plenty of windows to look outside. This Swift Creek Cabin was perfect for me. All I can say is it reminded me of the true essence of rustic charm. And for me...I'm a sucker for wooden cabins set out in the heart of nature. Btw, coming in the near future...Denise stated she's currently constructing a glamping section right nearby McCarthy Cabins for those visitors interested in having a true elevated camping experience with a luxurious touch to it all. Inquire about that as well. I can't say enough good things about my time and experience here at McCarthy Cabins within Wrangell St. Elias NP. And...not only was Denise so accommodative and cordial to me, but I left McCarthy with a friend! For all the 1st timers out there needing to check off Wrangell St. Elias...I'm mentioning this hidden gem that is so deserving of much more recognition. Yes, McCarthy Cabins!

I'm slightly hesitant to write a review for Ma Johnson's Hotel because I didn't actually stay at…read morethe hotel. I did, however, stop in to learn about the history and see the artifacts in the hotel lobby because Ma Johnson's is a historical hotel, a museum of sorts! The woman working at the reception desk was so enthusiastic to tell me about the history of McCarthy and the hotel. Ma Johnson's Hotel has since been restored as the town of McCarthy/Kennicott were once Ghost Towns. Stop in to learn more about the history, see the artifacts, and definitely stay a night or two if you can. I also learned the McCarthy Lodge and some of the other nearby restaurants are under the same ownership.

I've been to over 55 national parks and this is by far the worst. Seriously do NOT stay in McCarthy…read moreor Kennicot if you do not have to. I can only speak to the Lancaster Backpackers portion of the property because that's where I stayed. Our room was not serviced one time for 3 nights. The bathrooms were DISGUSTING. Only 2 bathrooms for 12 rooms so you could be sharing with 20-30 people potentially. Not to mention we figured out all the locals were using those toilets. We think they were burning trash right next door. It was so loud at night we hardly slept. It was over $600 for 3 nights. My mistake DON'T EVER stay here this long!! The worst part was we tried to leave early and our shuttle (KENNICOTT SHUTTLE) refused to let us leave so we were trapped in this weird dirty town. It was miserable.

Great place to stay or have a meal if you are visiting Wrangell-St Elias national park. It's right…read morein the heart of the park with beautiful views so the trails are nearby. We had a very comfortable stay. Service and staff were excellent. Meals are delicious especially breakfast and lunch. There is only one time for dinner (7pm) with a fixed 3 course menu (salad, entree, and dessert) so it can be a hit or miss. The salads are always good though.

I had the opportunity to stay at Kennicott Glacier Lodge for two nights towards the end of June,…read more2019. The original plan was to camp in the National Park Service's dispersed camping area but when I came across a buy one night, get one night free for Kennicott Glacier Lodge in the Alaska Tour Saver book, I knew we would be living the luxurious life for a night or two during our five-week trip visiting the eight National Parks in Alaska. We arrived sweaty, dirty, stinky, and tired from a couple of nights in Kenai Fjords National Park and drove to McCarthy/Kennecott via the infamous McCarthy Road. It wasn't quite as bad as I originally thought it might be and despite all my research, I was still amazed the 60-mile dirt roads ends at the footbridge. My Dad and I ran over the bridge and caught the Kennicott Glacier Lodge shuttle to the hotel. We walked in smelly, dirty, stinky, and exhausted, made it up to our room, and felt oh so refreshed shortly thereafter thanks to the hot showers at the lodge. Do note that we were in an area that didn't have a toilet and/or shower in our actual room but we never had a problem using either. The lodge itself was honestly great. I loved all of the old décor and the old ads that were in all the bathrooms and common areas. I thought the place was excellently decorated and I loved all the common spaces. We attended the Ranger Program in the upstairs living room area one night and loved every second of it. My Dad and I ate breakfast both mornings (full buffet) and had one dinner (I believe it was halibut night). The breakfasts were great and the buffet was tasty. Dinners are reservation only and are served family style. If there's something you particularly enjoy, you'll have to fend off the strangers you're dining with to get more... Just sayin'. I'm so thankful for the shuttle service to and from the footbridge and for the great service we received at the lodge. I would definitely stay here again. Some people who are used to staying in National Park lodges and not living the tent life might have complaints but I was so grateful to have a comfortable mattress, pillow, electricity, and running water for a couple nights while staying in this awesome ghost town of Kennecott. Personally, my only complaint is that we couldn't take the shuttle more often (i.e., to check out McCarthy, etc.). All in all, great place with excellent views, good food, and even better service from staff from around the world!

Great host. Great location. INCREDIBLE views just minutes away from McCarthy and Kennicott. You can…read morewalk to McCarthy in about 20 minutes or take a shuttle that picks you up at the first footbridge for $15 round trip all the way into Kennicott.

Stayed in the Mountain Biew cabin being managed this year by the Currant Ridge folks. Mountain View…read moreis a great cabin with great views. We took a tour of Currant Ridge (thanks Torey and Matt). Their cabins are also top notch and they're expanding. There are many good lodging options in McCarthy, but I'd put Currant Ridge at the top.