National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve

Donoho Basin

Access: By car via the McCarthy Road, then by foot. 

Located near Kennecott/McCarthy. This route can be 

accessed from Kennecott Mill Town, via the Root Glacier 

Trail.

Distance: 5 miles (8 km) one-way from Kennecott to the first 

lake, 10 miles (16 km) round-trip or more if continuing to the 

second lake.

Time: 2 days or more. 

Maps: McCarthy 1:250,000; McCarthy 1:63,360 (B-6), (C-5), 

(C-6)

Difficulty: Strenuous. Requires route finding and moderate 

trip-planning.

Highlights: Glacier travel, waterfalls, wildlife, fantastic views.

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, veer left. The trail will soon cross 

over Bonanza Creek and then wind its way along the lateral moraines of the Kennicott and Root Glaciers. 

After about a mile, the trail curves sharply to the right and uphill; follow the trail to cross Jumbo Creek on 

the footbridge. After approximately another 1/4 mile (0.4 km), the trail reaches the Root Glacier access trail. 

(Primitive campsites, an outhouse and food lockers are available in this area.) 

You will see a sign for the Root Glacier where the trail forks; turn left at the sign and follow the trail as it 

winds down the moraine to the toe of the glacier. After putting on crampons and carrying an ice axe and/

or trekking poles, set out across the rolling ice for the approximately 1.5 mile (2.4 km) walk west northwest 

across the Root Glacier. You will need to negotiate a medial moraine and various non-technical icy slopes. 

Aim for the low spot (saddle) between Donoho Peak and the 3,100’ hill at the south end of the peninsula . 

Find a route off of the glacier that is easiest given the conditions. Accessing the moraine from the glacier can 

be very muddy with slippery footing. Find a good climbing route up the lateral moraine above you. From 

here, you can access a camping area with bear boxes or access the route across Donoho basin. The camping 

area with bear boxes is located on a flat part of the southern side of the moraine. The rolling hills of the 

moraine can hide the bear boxes. Be prepared to search for them as proper bear food storage is required. 

The GPS coordinate for the bear boxes are on the page 2 map. 

The route across the Donoho basin to the lakes, starts off of the lateral moraine in the low spot described 

before, between Donoho Peak and the 3,100’ hill at the south end of the peninsula. From the campsite 

continue east along the moraine to locate the start of the route. The GPS coordinates for this starting point 

are 61° 31.476’N, 142° 56.903’W. 

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICATM Revised 3/2024
EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICATM

Once on the main route you will climb 

up to and along the north side of a small 

lake. Be prepared to get your feet wet 

near the lakes. You will travel through 

brushy tundra and cross an outlet 

stream to travel along the south side of 

the the second and larger lake.

Past the second lake, the route across 

the basin starts to become less distinct. 

To access the camping area and bear 

boxes on the west side of Donoho basin, 

hikers will travel through low brush and 

dry stream beds. A nice campsite can be 

found in the sandy area near the Kennicott and Gates Glacier junction. 

Hazards: Travel in this area should be 

done only by experienced parties who 

are able to read and follow a map and 

compass. This is a remote area and the 

hiking is strenuous. Help is not readily 

available, you must be prepared to self 

rescue. 

The trail is often difficult to follow with 

dense brush and frequently encounters 

steep slopes to climb and slippery 

scree; use your best judgment regarding 

safety and current conditions. There 

is a glacier crossing - crampons are 

required. Because the glacier changes 

yearly the best access on and off the 

glacier can also change. There is the 

possibility of deep mud and slippery 

footing while getting on and off the 

glacier. Travel with caution near and 

around glacial melt pools and potholes. 

Bears are commonly sighted and encountered in the area. Proper food storage is required. Bear Resistant 

Food Containers (BRFC) are limited and may be available from park visitor centers or rent them in advance 

at private outdoor recreation businesses in Anchorage or Fairbanks. In addition, there are bear boxes for 

foor storage. The GPS coordinates for the bear boxes are on the map.

Notes: Please call the Kennecott Visitor Center at (907) 205-7106 for assistance with trip-planning.

If you have a group between 8-12 people and plan to camp in the Donoho Basin area of the park, your 

group is required to register with the park and obtain a permit. You can register by calling the Kennecott 

Visitor Center or by sending an email to the park at wrst_info@nps.gov.