National Park Service Root Glacier/Erie Mine Trail U.S. Department of the Interior

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve 

Access: Trail departs from Kennecott Mill Town. 

You can access Kennecott from McCarthy - walk the 

road between McCarthy and Kennecott (an extra 

4.5 miles), take the commercial shuttle, or ride a bike. 

This trail does NOT access the Erie Mine. 

Distance: 4 miles round-trip from Kennecott to the 

glacier or 8 miles round-trip to the Erie Mine tram 

cables. 

Time: 2-6 hours (or longer, if desired) 

Maps: USGS Maps, McCarthy 1:250,000, McCarthy 

(B-6), (C-6) 1:63,360 

Difculty: Easy to Moderate. Terrain is relatively 

level with moderate elevation gain and loss. 

Highlights: Glacier viewing, mining artifacts, views of Mt. Blackburn, Regal Mountain, and Donaho Peak. 

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. Stay straight. (The right hand trail 

leads to Jumbo and Bonanza Mines.) The trail will soon cross over Bonanza Creek and Jumbo Creek and 

then wind its way through the lateral moraines of the Kennicott and Root Glaciers. 

Approximately 1.5 miles after leaving Kennecott , the trail reaches the Root Glacier access trail. (Primitive 

campsites, along with an outhouse and food lockers, are available in this area.) To access the glacier, turn 

left at the sign and follow the trail as it winds down the moraine to the toe of the glacier. This trail crosses 

Amazon Creek, which is a seasonal stream. Depending on recent rainfall or spring melt, you may need to 

cross this stream and your feet may get wet. If you decide to walk on the glacier, use extreme caution. The 

ice can be very slippery and dangerous. The use of crampons is strongly recommended. 

The Erie Mine Trail continues past the turn to the Root Glacier, running parallel to the glacier for 

approximately 2.5 more miles. The trail continues in and out of brush and along the top of the moraine, 

above the glacier. Towards the end of this trail, the Erie Mine Bunkhouse building will be visible high above 

on the hillside, to the right of the trail. Near the end of the trail, the Root Glacier is below on the left, and 

the Stairway Icefall is further up valley. Please note that this trail does NOT take you to the Erie Mine. It 

ends approximately 3000 feet below the mine and bunkhouse. 

Hazards: The Root Glacier can be very slippery and dangerous. Crampons are strongly recommended. 

Avoid walking along the edge of Root Glacier as rotting ice and swift, cold water are potentially dangerous. 

Bears are present along the entire route. For maximum safety, travel in groups, be noisy when you are 

walking, and never give any food to a bear. 

Notes: If you are camping at the Jumbo Creek Camping Area or Donaho Basin, please ensure that your 

food is stored in the bear-resistant food boxes. You may also borrow Bear Resistant Food Containers from 

the Kennecott Visitor Center. 

Revised 3/2015 EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICATM 
Root Glacier/Erie Mine Trail 

Bear Resistant 

Food Boxes 

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICATM