Fishwheel in Chitina near the Copper River Bridge,
the only bridge that's accessible over the Copper River from the Alaska Road System. 

What Can You See & Do In Chitina?       

1. See The Fishwheels in Chitina

Chitina is known throughout Alaska for its fishwheels. These are homemade wooden devices that operate something like a mill wheel. The fishwheel floats in the river and is attached by ropes or cable and a small boardwalk to the shore. Paddles are turned by the flow of the river water. Salmon that are going upstream are scooped up into the paddles, and dumped into a holding tank. Fishwheels can only be used by Alaskans. They were introduced in this region in the mid-1900's.

2. See Chitina's Ghost Town


There are only a few places in Alaska where old-time log cabins still exist, right where they were built. Chitina was a railroad town, which was tied by rail tracks at the beginning of the 20th century to the great Kennicott copper mines. The trains turned around in Chitina, going back and forth from Kennicott to the sea port of Cordova, where the ore was shipped to the West Coast. Once far more populated than today, Chitina was an exciting place, full of shops, traders, and outfitters. The historic log cabins and buildings tell the story of this historic ghost town. 
The abandoned tracks have been torn up. There is no route today to Chitina. The tracks to McCarthy have been replaced by the McCarthy Road. 

3. Check Out Chitina's Railroad-Worthy Cars

Back in the tall weeds, as you enter Chitina, you'll see what are left of some "auto railers." When the Copper River & Northwestern Railway closed down in the 1930's, local people fitted regular cars with special wheels that could ride the rails. Some of these old vehicles are parked beside the road on a hill as you enter the little town. 

4. See The Great Copper River 

The Copper River drains the Wrangell Mountains. A large number of tributaries flow into the Copper, which is 290 miles long, and the tenth largest river in the United States. Hugely muddy, the Copper drops an average of 12 feet every mile, and runs along at 7 miles per hour. The river flows through the Copper Valley, to the Gulf of Alaska near Cordova. It is a dangerous river, but full of Copper River salmon. Drive through town, past the steep rock cut in the road, and on down to the beginning of the McCarthy Road to see the Copper River up close and personal. 

6. Go To Liberty Falls

On your way into Chitina from the north, you'll pass by Liberty Falls. This scenic roadside glade has a small bridge for easier viewing of the waterfall.

7. Take The McCarthy Road From Chitina To McCarthy & Kennecott

The 60-mile long McCarthy Road starts in Chitina, and travels to a footbridge that leads across the river to McCarthy & Kennecott. The McCarthy Road is highly scenic, and follows the old Copper River & Northwestern Railway track that brought copper from the Kennicott Mines to Chitina, and then on to Cordova by rail. 

8. Stop At The National Park Chitina Visitor Cabin To Ask About Road Conditions On The McCarthy Road

During the summer, there are often national park rangers who can help you learn about Chitina, nearby Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, and the lengthy McCarthy Road. You'll find rangers at this log cabin, built in 1910, for the famous Orr Stage Line, which took travelers north into the Copper Valley over rugged trails. The 60-mile long McCarthy Road is unpaved and still somewhat difficult, and you'll have to go slow. Check your car rental policy to see if you are allowed to take a rented vehicle on this road. If not, there are local bus vans who will take you into Wrangell-St. Elias Park. 

9. Watch The Salmon Dipnetters At Chitina

You can view people using dipnets to catch fish in the Copper River while you're visiting Chitina. Dipnetters use aluminum and nylon web nets to scoop fish out of the water. Dipnetting is restricted to Alaskans. Chitina is one of the few places in the state where you can see this form of fishing. The original form of dipnet was  made by local Native Ahtna people - out of woven willow and spruce roots. 

10. See Mt. Blackburn From The Copper River  Bridge In Chitina 

As you travel through the Copper Valley, the roads follow the Copper River. The Wrangell Mountains seem to shift as you head south. By the time you get to Chitina, Mt. Blackburn is the most prominent of the four big mountains on the eastern border of the Copper River Valley.

Photos: Copper River, Chitina Dipnetter and Mt. Blackburn, Neil Hannan. Liberty Falls, BLM. All others, Northcountry Communications, Inc. 

Bearfoot Travel Magazines: An Alaska-made tourism publication company that's dedicated to presenting an authentic view of Roadside Alaska.

Call us at: 907 320-1145.