McCarthy Creek Trail

The McCarthy Creek Trail follows the path of an old wagon road along the creek drainage from the historic town of McCarthy toward the interior of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, North America's largest national park at over 13 million acres. McCarthy itself is one of Alaska's most isolated communities—accessible only via a 60-mile gravel road from Chitina—and retains the character of its boomtown origins as a supply center for the Kennecott copper mines. The trail along McCarthy Creek traverses classic Interior Alaska riparian habitat dominated by white spruce, black cottonwood, and willows arching over the gravel bars. McCarthy Creek is a productive salmon stream, and sockeye and chinook salmon can be observed in the creek during their summer spawning runs. Traditional fish wheels—rotating paddle-and-basket devices that have been used in Alaska for salmon harvest for over a century—were historically operated along the creek, and the trail passes sites where structures associated with this practice remain. Dall sheep are frequently spotted on the rocky cliffs above the creek drainage. The trail is informal and unsigned beyond the first few miles; the Wrangell Mountains rise dramatically above the valley to provide constant orientation. Brown bears are common in the drainage and bear spray is strongly recommended.