Kennecott Mines

The story began in 1900 when prospectors spotted a green stain of copper ore high on a ridge above the glacier, which turned out to be one of the richest concentrations of copper ever found. A railroad was pushed nearly 200 miles through wild country to reach it, and the Kennecott mines poured out a fortune in copper for the next quarter century.

The company built an entire town to run the operation, and it ran day and night. But the highest-grade ore was finite, and in 1938 the last train pulled out and the mines shut down for good, leaving the buildings and much of their machinery behind.

What remains is one of the best-preserved historic mining landscapes in the United States, protected within the national park. The great red mill, the power plant, the general store, the hospital, and the neat company houses still stand, weathered but intact, telling the story of the boom and its people.

Guided tours lead visitors inside the mill and key buildings, explaining how the ore was processed and what life was like in this remote outpost. Walking the streets of Kennecott, with the glacier below and mountains all around, is like stepping straight into the early 20th century.

Reaching Kennecott is part of the adventure. It lies at the end of the long, rough McCarthy Road, and from the footbridge over the Kennicott River near McCarthy it is another five miles to Kennecott by shuttle van or on foot.

That remoteness is exactly why the town survived so intact, and why a visit feels like a real journey. Most people combine Kennecott with the small town of McCarthy and a walk out onto the nearby Root Glacier.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Kennecott Mines is a remarkably preserved copper-mining ghost town and National Historic Landmark in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska. From 1911 to 1938 it was one of the richest copper operations in the world, a self-contained company town at the foot of the Kennicott Glacier, complete with a towering 14-story mill, power plant, hospital, and school. When the high-grade ore ran out, the mines closed almost overnight and the town was abandoned, leaving its weathered red buildings standing against the mountains. Today, protected within the national park, Kennecott offers ranger-led and guided tours that bring its dramatic boom-and-bust history to life.

Getting to Kennecott is a real journey deep into Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Visitors drive the long, rough gravel McCarthy Road to its end near the Kennicott River, cross a footbridge on foot, and then travel the final five miles or so to Kennecott, either by a shuttle van or by walking. There is no direct road all the way into the historic town itself. Because the route is remote and rugged and services are limited, it is important to plan ahead, allow plenty of time, and check current road and shuttle conditions. Many visitors stay in or near McCarthy to make exploring Kennecott and the surrounding area easier.

Yes, but the best and safest way to go inside Kennecott's historic buildings, including the famous mill, is on a guided tour. The National Park Service and authorized guides lead tours that take visitors into key structures and explain how the copper ore was processed and what life was like in the remote company town. Some buildings and areas are off-limits or fragile, and independent entry into certain structures is restricted for safety and preservation. Walking the townsite on your own is possible, but a guided tour is the way to see the interiors and to understand the remarkable story of the place. Always follow posted signs and guidance.

Kennecott was abandoned because its copper ran out, or more precisely, because the richest, most profitable ore was finally mined out. The deposits at Kennecott were extraordinarily rich, and for about a quarter century the mines produced a fortune in copper. But such high-grade ore is finite, and by the late 1930s it no longer made economic sense to keep operating in such a remote and costly location. In 1938 the mines closed and the last train left, and the workers and their families departed, many leaving belongings behind. The town was simply left as it was, which is why so much of it survives today as a preserved ghost town.

Kennecott pairs naturally with two other highlights of this corner of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Just a short trail away is the Root Glacier, one of the few glaciers you can actually walk out onto, where guided trips fit you with crampons to explore the ice, its blue pools, and crevasses. About five miles down the road is the tiny frontier town of McCarthy, historically the off-hours playground for the mine workers, with a handful of historic buildings, lodges, and cafes and a genuine end-of-the-road feel. Together, Kennecott, the Root Glacier, and McCarthy make for a rich few days deep in the park.