Wrangell - St. Elias National Park

MAPS: McCarthy 1:250,000; McCarthy 1:63,360 B-5, C-5

TIME: four to five days

From the town of McCarthy, the trail starts across the log foot bridge that crosses McCarthy Creek by the "Shop." This is on the south edge of town and can be found if you walk up the road paralleling McCarthy Creek. After crossing the foot bridge, you will notice a dirt road in the trees ahead of you. If you follow the fork to the right, it will take you to the Nizina River Bridge (an excellent bike ride). The fork to the left is the trail up McCarthy Creek to the Motherlode Mine and Nikoli Pass. The trail has been used by a horsepacker for the past few years and is well traveled. It winds its way along the stream for seven miles to the junction with Nikolai Creek. A campsite can be made here.

The trail up to Nikolai Pass follows the wagon road along the South side of Nikolai Creek. After 2 miles, you can either continue to the Nikolai mine, or hike up Nikolai Creek to the Pass. It is 4.5 miles and an elevation gain of 2,100 feet up to the Pass from the campsite of McCarthy Creek. There are several streams that come from the snow melt in the Pass and offer drinking water.

A high camp up in the pass will offer you a chance to day hike along the ridge and enjoy the view down into the Nizina River valley and the mountains to the East. If it is clear, you may be able to see Mts. Logan and St. Elias to the Southeast. The Green Butte mine and buildings can be seen to the North along the East side of the valley above McCarthy Creek.

The Motherlode mine and arial tram are about three miles North of the Green Butte mine, and are located on the East side of Bonanza Peak (6,983 feet), the highest peak along Bonanza ridge.

Higher in the Nikolai Pass area, keep your eyes open for Dall Sheep. Grizzly Bears and Moose are often sighted in the McCarthy Creek Drainage. The return hike to McCarthy is by backtracking your original route. (A few people have climbed the scree slopes on the East side of Bonanza Ridge and down the National Creek drainage to the town of Kennicott. This is a rigorous route for the adventurous.)