The McCarthy Road boasts spectacular scenery, views of the Copper and Chitina Rivers, wildlife viewing, and historic structures.
- No gasoline or fuel is available in McCarthy or along the McCarthy Road. Towns to get fuel are Glennallen, Tazlina, Copper Center, Kenny Lake or Chitina.
- There is private property located along the McCarthy Road and within Kennecott. Please take care not to camp or hike on private property.
- Copper River Campground, Mile Post 1.6. This is a private (non-NPS) primitive campground located just after crossing the Copper River Bridge on the right (south) side. This area has 12 sites, picnic tables, fire pits, and vault toilets.
- There are private businesses that offer camping along the McCarthy Road and near the Kennicott River Bridge.
Jumbo Creek Campground: 1.4 miles north by trail past Kennecott mill town (6.4 miles from McCarthy or 7 miles from the Kennicott River footbridge). This primitive NPS camping area has no amenities and can be reached by foot travel on the trail only. Water is available from nearby streams (sterilize before drinking by boiling, microbial filter or water treatment tablets) and there are bear boxes for storing food to protect you and the wildlife.
Donoho Basin Group Camping: 3-6 miles north by trail past Kennecott mill town. This primitive NPS camping area has no amenities and can be reached by foot travel on the trail 3 miles to the east lakes or 6 miles to the west lakes. If you and your group (of more than 8 people, maximum 12) are going to camp in the Donoho Basin area of the park, your group is required to register with the park at one of the visitor centers, ranger stations or by email at wrst_backcountry@nps.gov.
Other Camping Options
There may be options for camping on other lands surrounding the McCarthy Road area of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve. Here are some land management agencies that own land near this part of the park:
Ahtna Native Corporation
P.O. Box 649, Glennallen, AK 99588
(907) 822-3476
Map of Local Public Campgrounds (pdf format, 2 MB): This is a highly detailed 22 x 17 inch map which depicts public campgrounds in Southcentral Alaska.
For more information about camping in the area, visit the Copper Valley Chamber of Commerce website.
