How to Get There

Overview

Of the 5,000 square miles of glacial ice in Wrangell-St. Elias, the Root Glacier is the most accessible. A moderate 1 ½ mile walk from the historic mining town of Kennecott along the Root Glacier Trail leads you onto the glacier. Be aware that glaciers can be dangerous. It is recommended to wear crampons or ice spikes on your shoes and go with an experienced guide.

Access - Trailhead

Trail departs from Kennecott Mill Town. Kennecott can be accessed from McCarthy by walking the road between McCarthy and Kennecott (an extra 4.5 miles), or by taking the commercial shuttle, or riding a bike.

Highlights

Glacier viewing, mining artifacts, views of Mt. Blackburn, Regal Mountain, and Donaho Peak. Route: From the Kennecott Visitor Center, walk through the Kennecott Mill Town, north towards the Root Glacier. About a half-mile beyond the visitor center, the road will split. Stay straight. (The right hand trail leads to Jumbo and Bonanza Mines.) The trail will soon cross over Bonanza Creek and Jumbo Creek and then wind its way through the lateral moraines of the Kennicott and Root Glaciers. Approximately 1.5 miles after leaving Kennecott, the trail reaches the Root Glacier access trail. (Primitive campsites, along with an outhouse and food lockers, are available in this area.) To access the glacier, turn left at the sign and follow the trail as it winds down the moraine to the toe of the glacier. This trail crosses Amazon Creek, which is a seasonal stream. Depending on recent rainfall or spring melt, you may need to cross this stream.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Valdez, Alaska", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0