Photo Galleries

A “must stop” is the Wrangell-St.Elias National Park and Preserve Visitor Center at milepost 106.5 on the Richardson Highway, 255.5 south of Fairbanks before turning off on Highway 10 to McCarthy.

This gas station and mini-market in the town of Copper Center just off the Richardson Highway was about 115 miles from the end of the road at McCarthy.

This “ghost gas station” in Chitina, at the end of the Edgerton Highway (Highway 10) couldn’t help you with gas, but two other small stations in town could, the last gas for 59 miles. Chitina is where the pavement ends.

Typical of the road composition and construction on the McCarthy Road, this shows why slow speeds and caution are recommended: twisty and slippery off the hard pan in the loose gravel.

At mile point 28.8 on the McCarthy Road this is a good view of the old Gilahina Trestle, part of the rail line that runs along the road from McCarthy. Use was discontinued in 1938.

A bit of the Swiss Alps shows in the design of this arts and crafts shop on the McCarthy Road, about ½ a world away from Switzerland.

This is a spectacular view of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve at the end of the gravel McCarthy Road. In the background Mount Blackburn (16,390 ft.) towers over the Kennicott Glacier.

The foot bridge across the Kennicott River is closed to cars, the end of their road. It is open to motorcycles though, saving a walk of about a mile to the town of McCarthy.

Noooooo! Don’t try this bridge out of McCarthy unless you are a very talented motorcyclist on a trials bike, definitely not a Gold Wing.

This small hotel in McCarthy has been described as a “living museum,” as is much of the rest of the living town.

This is part of the un-restored town of McCarthy, where some of the ghosts reside.

Main Street in McCarthy. Horse powered motorcycles and horse powered tourists are common in the summer. In the winter it is snow machines only.

The entrance to the Kennecott Mill, now a national historic landmark. Guard house (Information center) for the government watch person is on the right.

Sneaking around the back of the guard house and into the mill is an unidentified motorcyclist.

Higher up behind the mine the motorcyclist was well above the tree line.

A view from the secret spot on the top. Directly below is the Kennecott Mill, and to the left the town of McCarthy. In the background is where the Kennicott River meets the Chitina River, frozen in the winter.

Ridge top riding behind the Kennecott Mill. Under the hill is part of the 70 miles of tunnels reaching out from the main entrance.

The road behind the Kennecott Mill was rutted and steep.

Past the guard house and into the center of the Kennecott Mill.