Katrina's Copper Basin Regional Guidebook

Katrina
Katrina's Copper Basin Regional Guidebook

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve

The non-company town that served the Kennecott Mine. Photos by Katrina Church-Chmielowski
McCarthy
The non-company town that served the Kennecott Mine. Photos by Katrina Church-Chmielowski
A great historic cultural site. Photo by Katrina Church-Chmielowski
Kennicott
A great historic cultural site. Photo by Katrina Church-Chmielowski
The site of a historic gold mine.
Nabesna
The site of a historic gold mine.
Just 5 minutes from the Guesthouse, a great place to learn about the park. There are a few short hiking trails with great vistas.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve Visitor Center
Richardson Highway
Just 5 minutes from the Guesthouse, a great place to learn about the park. There are a few short hiking trails with great vistas.

Services available

Glennallen is the largest town in the region and home to the main grocery store, post office, gas stations, banks, DMV office, Bureau of Land Management, State Fish & Game, school district offices, library with free Internet, coffee shop, season food vendors, and Visitor’s Center.
The largest town in the region.
Glennallen
The largest town in the region.
Information about activities and services available in the Copper Basin.
Copper River Valley Visitor Information Center
Information about activities and services available in the Copper Basin.
Free wifi
Copper Valley Community Library
Mile 186 Glenn Hwy
Free wifi
Very small but the best local history information.
George I. Ashby Memorial Museum
101.5 Old Richardson Hwy
Very small but the best local history information.
They carry some bulk items.
Wengers Country Store
HC 60
They carry some bulk items.
Best place to purchase local Alaska Native gifts.
Posty's Sinona Creek Trading Post
34.6 Tok Cutoff
Best place to purchase local Alaska Native gifts.
They have a deli, espresso, and grocery store.
Copper Valley IGA Market Fresh
187 Glenn Hwy
They have a deli, espresso, and grocery store.
Groceries and liquor.
Bush Bottle & Grocery
116.5 Richardson Highway
Groceries and liquor.
Next to IGA with an exterior ATM machine.
Wells Fargo Bank
Mile 187.5 Glenn Hwy
Next to IGA with an exterior ATM machine.
Our local DMV with shorter lines.
Glennallen DMV
187.5 Glenn Hwy
Our local DMV with shorter lines.
Located in the IGA building.
First National Bank Alaska Glennallen Branch
187 Glenn Hwy
Located in the IGA building.
Three brick and mortar schools and one homeschool program, creating opportunities for all students in the region.
Copper River School District
Three brick and mortar schools and one homeschool program, creating opportunities for all students in the region.
Federal subsistence hunting permits available. They operate the local BLM campgrounds and monitor the Gulkana Wild & Scenic River, among the land oversight.
US Land Management Bureau
Glenn Highway
Federal subsistence hunting permits available. They operate the local BLM campgrounds and monitor the Gulkana Wild & Scenic River, among the land oversight.
Subsistence fish wheel and dip netting permits available.
Alaska Department of Fish & Game Glennallen Office
186 Glenn Hwy
Subsistence fish wheel and dip netting permits available.
They sell phone accessories if you break yours.
Copper Valley Telecom
188 Glenn Hwy
They sell phone accessories if you break yours.
The laundromat has quite a few machines. They may not all work, but there should be enough for any additional needs that you may have.
Laundromat
The laundromat has quite a few machines. They may not all work, but there should be enough for any additional needs that you may have.
They have a laundromat as well.
Kenny Lake Mercantile
7.1 Mile Edgerton Hwy
They have a laundromat as well.
Recently rebuilt after a devastating fire in 2020, they sell groceries, liquor, feed, fishing supplies, and sundries.
Tazlina River Trading Post
Richardson Highway
Recently rebuilt after a devastating fire in 2020, they sell groceries, liquor, feed, fishing supplies, and sundries.
The largest medical facility in the region, featuring urgent care, behavioral health, dental, and wellness clinics, as well as a pharmacy.
Copper River Native Association - Medical Center
Richardson Highway
The largest medical facility in the region, featuring urgent care, behavioral health, dental, and wellness clinics, as well as a pharmacy.
Urgent care and pharmacy available.
Cross Roads Medical Center Glennallen Ak
187 Glenn Highway
Urgent care and pharmacy available.
The Hub has gas and a decent selection of gifts.
ATM (Hub of Alaska Inc)
Glenn Highway
The Hub has gas and a decent selection of gifts.

Salmon fishing

A great salmon and white water river.
Klutina River
A great salmon and white water river.
A great, relatively river to raft or salmon fish. Locals go swimming and tubing when it's warm. North of Sourdough it is designated as a Wild and Scenic River.
Gulkana River
A great, relatively river to raft or salmon fish. Locals go swimming and tubing when it's warm. North of Sourdough it is designated as a Wild and Scenic River.

Copper Basin Communities

Native Village of Kluti-Kaah. Quaint town by the Klutina River. There is a summer Fireweed Festival with local vendors.
Copper Center
Native Village of Kluti-Kaah. Quaint town by the Klutina River. There is a summer Fireweed Festival with local vendors.
The Native Village of Gakona. Also home to the historic Gakona Lodge.
Gakona
The Native Village of Gakona. Also home to the historic Gakona Lodge.
Gulkana Native Village. The public boat launch is on the south west side of the bridge.
Gulkana
Gulkana Native Village. The public boat launch is on the south west side of the bridge.
Native Village of Chistochina (Cheesh'na). Home to Posty's store, the best local supplier of Native gifts.
Chistochina
Native Village of Chistochina (Cheesh'na). Home to Posty's store, the best local supplier of Native gifts.
The last homesteading site in Alaska.
Slana
The last homesteading site in Alaska.
There is a gas station and restaurant, both with limited hours. Do not depend on it being open.
Meiers Lake
There is a gas station and restaurant, both with limited hours. Do not depend on it being open.
At the junction of the Denali and Richardson Highways. Paxson Lake campground has fishing and boating opportunities.
Paxson
At the junction of the Denali and Richardson Highways. Paxson Lake campground has fishing and boating opportunities.
A beautiful lodge with fishing, boating, and water skiing opportunities.
Lake Louise Lodge
25600 South Lake Louise Rd
A beautiful lodge with fishing, boating, and water skiing opportunities.
A long-established lodge with rooms, bar, restaurant, and gas.
Eureka Lodge
128 miles Glenn Hwy
A long-established lodge with rooms, bar, restaurant, and gas.
A local farming area that arose from homesteads.
Kenny Lake
A local farming area that arose from homesteads.
Once one of the largest towns in Alaska during its height as a major stop on the Copper River & Northwestern Railroad. Home to dip netting and fishwheels.
Chitina
Once one of the largest towns in Alaska during its height as a major stop on the Copper River & Northwestern Railroad. Home to dip netting and fishwheels.
In Upper Tonsina, a Russian-American restaurant on the Richardson Highway has a 'haunted' abandoned lodge.
Tonsina
In Upper Tonsina, a Russian-American restaurant on the Richardson Highway has a 'haunted' abandoned lodge.

Food scene

A local favorite.
Old Town Copper Center Inn & Restaurant
Loop Rd
A local favorite.
Good Thai food at the Hub.
Tok Thai
189 Glenn Highway
Good Thai food at the Hub.
Known for good homemade food. A happening bar scene on the weekends.
Lake Louise Lodge
25600 South Lake Louise Rd
Known for good homemade food. A happening bar scene on the weekends.
Located in the Hub parking lot.
Trailside Espresso
189 Glenn Hwy
Located in the Hub parking lot.
A long-established lodge with rooms, bar, restaurant, and gas.
Eureka Lodge
128 miles Glenn Hwy
A long-established lodge with rooms, bar, restaurant, and gas.
A long-time restaurant owner in Valdez and now Glennallen.
Ernesto's Mobile Grill
A long-time restaurant owner in Valdez and now Glennallen.
Espresso and sandwiches, usually very good.
P J's Golden Spruce Cabins
Edgerton Highway
Espresso and sandwiches, usually very good.
Opened in 2021.
Subway
Mile 187 Glenn Highway
Opened in 2021.
Bar, restaurant, and lodge open during the summer months.
Gakona Lodge & Trading Post
Bar, restaurant, and lodge open during the summer months.
Great deck on a nice day.
McCarthy Lodge
101 Kennicott Ave
Great deck on a nice day.
Fabulous fries! You eat them so quickly that there isn’t time for a photo.
Potato
Fabulous fries! You eat them so quickly that there isn’t time for a photo.

Local Churches

Mass or communion services on Sundays at 10:00 am.
Holy Family Catholic Church
186 Glenn Hwy
Mass or communion services on Sundays at 10:00 am.
Glennallen Community Chapel
Alaska 4
Copper Center Community Chapel
Northern Life Church
105 Old Richardson Hwy
Kenny Lake Community Chapel
9.2 Edgerton Hwy
Gulkana Community Chapel
Mt Drum Lutheran Church
Mile 105 Old Richardson Hwy
Old Paths Independent Baptist Church
188 Glenn Highway

Sightseeing

The Kennicott Mill Building tour is well worth it to get a good feel for the magnitude of the mine.
St. Elias Alpine Guides
12 Kennicott Millsite
The Kennicott Mill Building tour is well worth it to get a good feel for the magnitude of the mine.