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THIS HIKE WAS SUBMITTED BY JON B. |
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| 123 |    Photos Map |
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| Last Updated: August 23, 2007 | ||
| Note from the Webmaster: technically this is too far away from Anchorage (greater than a 4 hour car ride) to grant inclusion on this site but since many visitors to my site would be interested, it seemed appropriate to publish and have available. However, it is not included in the database. | ||
Difficulty |
Somewhat difficult as there's a pretty significant elevation gain (3,800ft). The trail gets progressively steeper as you get higher; the last 1/4 mile or so is very steep scree. | |
Connects
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None | |
Miles
One
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4.5 | |
Miles
from
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320; in the Kennicott Mine/McCarthy area. | |
General Vicinity |
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park | |
Season |
June through September | |
Description |
This is a great hike up into the mountains
above Kennicott. It combines amazing views, including views of the
Kennicott and Root Glaciers, with the opportunity to see some of the
mining history of the area. The hike starts in downtown Kennicott. It follows an old mining road the whole way up to the mine. Perhaps the one downside to the hike is that it takes a bit longer to get above tree line than the typical Alaska hike; probably somewhere between mile 2 and 3. Below tree line there are occasional views of the valley; once you get above, the views get pretty impressive. There are lots of old mine-related structures near the trail and nestled in the surrounding hills. Most interesting are the remains of a tram system that carried the ore down to Kennicott from the mines. Bonanza mine itself is a very cool, partially collapsed structure perched just below the ridge. Relics of the early twentieth century are strewn all over. The ridge just above the mine has some great views to the north that are not otherwise visible on the trail. Just be prepared for less than a 360 degree view: the actual summit of Bonanza Ridge towers another 1,000 feet or so above the ridge that the mine is perched on. It doesn't look possible to get to the true summit without climbing gear. |
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Important Information |
The trail is generally well marked, but
there are two intersections without signs. Near the beginning of the
trail there is an intersection where you can go straight or take a
switchback up the hill. Take the switchback. Going straight leads to the
top of the big mining building in Kennicott (worth a look). The second
intersection could be confusing on the way down. About halfway up,
you'll pass a plausible-looking trail leading right. Although it clearly
doesn't go up the mountain, it could lead to confusion on the way down.
Make a mental note.
The mosquitoes were really bad below tree line. Bring bug spray. Judging from the amount of bear scat we saw, bears like this trail almost as much as people. The thick brush on either side of the trail for the first couple miles would make it very easy to surprise a bear. Definitely a good idea to make noise. There is no water for the first 2/3rds of the hike. |
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Etc. |
Kennicott and McCarthy are both worth
checking out spending some time in.
The hike to Jumbo mine (branching off fro
***** m the Bonanza Mine trail a couple miles up) is supposed to be great as well. It's a bit longer (5 miles) with slightly less elevation gain. You can't actually drive to the trailhead. You have to park at the end of the McCarthy Road and either walk, bike, or take the $5/each way shuttle bus to Kennicott. On a personal note, I moved to Alaska about a year ago and have found this website to be an absolutely invaluable reference for planning my outdoor adventures. So thanks for all the great work! Webmaster Note: thanks to people like you who take the time to contribute!! |
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