McCarthy and Kennecott

From Denali Park, we drove across the Denali Hwy to the Richardson Hwy at Paxson. The Denali Hwy is all dirt about 135 miles, it rained the whole way, most of the way hunters were everywhere looking for caribou, so we did not stop except for a couple of geocaches. The Denali Hwy was the only way to get to the park before the paved Parks Hwy was built between Anchorage and Fairbanks. We were headed for McCarthy and the Kennecott Mine nearby and after that on down to Valdez and Prince William Sound.

Al crossing the single lane Kuskulana bridge between Chitina and McCarthy.

Camped at Glacier View Campground near the McCarthy footbride.

A & M crossing the McCarthy footbridge. On the other side you take a shuttle a mile to McCarthy, or an another five miles to the Kennecott Mine. No access to McCarthy side of the bridge for visitors. There is a privately owned vehicle bridge down river for locals and the mine restoration vehicles to cross.

The Kennecott Mine is under restoration. Probably will be a long time effort.

Kennecott power plant.

Worthington Glacier on the way to Valdez.

One of the many waterfalls on the road into Valdez.