It’s the largest national park in the US, but it’s probably one of the least visited, which made it a very peaceful place. The more popular area of the park is the little town of Kennecott, which has a copper mining past. Other than the abandoned mine, a hike of about 2 mi one-way takes you to Root glacier, where you can walk on ice if you have the right shoes. If you get a guided hike, they will bring cleats for your shoes and go further on the ice.

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Abandoned mine buildings where the copper was extracted from the rock.
Abandoned mine buildings where the copper was extracted from the rock.
Hike to Root glacier.
Hike to Root glacier.
Up close it's steeper than it looks from a distance
Up close it’s steeper than it looks from a distance
Glacier ice
Glacier ice
Root glacier
Root glacier

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Field of fireweed
Field of fireweed

Nebesna road is less traveled than the road leading to Kennecott.

Unpaved but very passable Nebesna road
Unpaved but very passable Nebesna road
One of the numerous lakes along Nebesna road
One of the numerous lakes along Nebesna road
Alaska is full of fireweed flowers. It's called fireweed because it's the first one to pop after a fire.
Alaska is full of fireweed flowers. It’s called fireweed because it’s the first one to pop after a fire.

There is a primitive cabin in the park which can be reserved for free if you want to rough it.

Very basic cabin available for rent from NPS
Very basic cabin available for rent from NPS
Alaska cotton grass
Alaska cotton grass

The weather did not cooperate and we didn’t get to see the mountain peaks during the day. But around 11pm, by the time we got to the B&B, the clouds cleared and the mountains revealed themselves.

The B&B had a nice view
The B&B had a nice view

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July 14, 2015

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