Getting here.

You can drive, take a van shuttle service to/from Anchorage, or fly on a small plane to McCarthy Airport (MXY).

You’ll take 7-8 hours to drive from Anchorage, 8-9 from Fairbanks, or 5 from Valdez. The final leg of your journey, starting from Chitna, is driving along the historic McCarthy Road. The McCarthy Road isn’t a modern highway, it is built over an old railroad bed. The 59 miles to our place won’t take 59 minutes, more like 2 hours. If you are in your own car, make sure you have a spare tire accessible, and take time to stop for photos and read the signs along the way.

If you fly, you’ll use less time and see for yourself why Alaska is called the land of superlatives!

Van shuttle service providers to/from Anchorage: Overflow Transit, Copper Spike Transport

Flights to/from McCarthy: Wrangell Mountain Air, Copper Valley Air Service

How long should I stay?

Two or three nights stay is most common, but we also offer single nights stay (a rarity in our area). Know the dates you’re considering? Check each cabin’s availability here.

Where’s the nearest…

• Food and drinks: Just across the road from our cabins is an outdoor restaurant and bar offering hot food, snacks, wine, and cold beer. Across the footbridge are several restaurants and bars in McCarthy town as well as a small grocery and hardware store is located in McCarthy town.

• Coffee: A 10-minute wander down the road, halfway to the footbridge.

• Glacier: A short hike directly from our place on the West Kennecott Glacier trail.

• Bear: Wild animals big and small are around our cabins. They especially love to wander along the small creek that runs through our property!

Getting around and activities…

• You can walk, bike, or ride your ATV around the area. You can also use local van shuttle services to explore sites on the other side of the footbridge. You can drive your car to the footbridge and pay to park, and then walk, bike, or take a shuttle from the footbridge.

• Keep a watchful and curious eye out for lynx, fox, moose, black and grizzly bear, and other wildlife as you explore the area.

• You can get out to enjoy the bounty of the area with wilderness outfitters and local guides. They offer glacier hiking, ice climbing, backcountry trips, rafting, flight-seeing, and historic sight tours.

  McCarthy River Tours and Outfitters

  St. Elias Alpine Guides

  Kennicott Wilderness Guides

• Attend or participate in art, music, and science workshops, events, and programming.

  Wrangell Mountain Center

What does off-grid mean for my stay?

Here’s what to expect when it comes to water, power, trash, and connectivity:

• Centrally located shower use is limited to certain hours each day since they require generator power (increases noise pollution, fuel—bummers). Same with our toilets. All other times, we have a pristine clean outhouse with a view of Fireweed Mountain for your use.

• Water for drinking and cooking is always available on-site.

• We are not equipped to charge devices. Cabins do not have power or lights. We do not provide lanterns.

• Coolers, food, and scented items must be stored inside cabins or in your vehicle. We have on-site parking so it’s simple to access your things at mealtimes and when you charge devices in your vehicle. There is hot food and cold beer just across the road from our cabins!

• Pack-in/pack-out is the norm in Alaska. Garbage service literally does not exist—not just for guests—for all people in this area. If you brought it with you to the area, you will need to take it out of the area yourself. Please respect this norm.

• Verizon is the only cell phone provider in our area. If you have service from any other cell phone service provider, your phone will not work in the area. Printing essential information, like directions, is strongly recommended before you travel.

• Looking for wi-fi? McCarthy town is the nearest internet access. Your hotspot will only work if your carrier is Verizon.

How will I check-in and get local advice?

We like guests to arrive late afternoon. As we are family-run and live on the property, we can coordinate a meeting time based on what’s realistic for you. Details specific to your trip will be sent through Airbnb/VRBO. Once you arrive, we will get your cabin opened up, orient you to local landmarks and you will let us know if you would like specific connections to guides or local advice.

What is your Cancellation Policy?

With a short season and remote location, cancellations significantly affect us. The details associated with cancellation timing and fees are noted on the booking site.