Airport
Glacier Creek Airport (KGZ)
Glacier Creek Airport is a small backcountry airstrip serving the Glacier Creek area in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. It provides air access to nearby McCarthy, Kennecott and the surrounding wilderness, with onward travel by small aircraft or backcountry routes.
Passengers
Luggage
About Glacier Creek Airport
Glacier Creek Airport is a small public gravel airstrip in the Copper River region of Alaska, located within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Activated in January 1952, the airport is owned by the National Park Service and is open to the public for general aviation and backcountry access.
The airstrip has a single gravel runway, 11/29, measuring about 1,400 by 15 feet, and operates without a control tower, terminal, fuel or maintenance services. It is situated in a steep mountain canyon near the Chitistone River, roughly 18 miles east of McCarthy, and is used mainly by small aircraft serving the park's remote cabins, trails and mining-history sites.
There is no road connection directly to the airport. Access is typically by private or chartered small aircraft, while the nearest road gateway is via the McCarthy Road from Chitina for travelers continuing to McCarthy and Kennecott.
Because the airport is unattended and has no passenger facilities, visitors should be self-sufficient and confirm weather, runway conditions and onward transport in advance. The runway can be affected by turbulent winds, and pilots are advised to inspect conditions before landing.
Terminal Overview
Terminals
Glacier Creek Airport is a small unattended gravel airstrip with a single runway (11/29) and no passenger terminal building. It is open to the public for general aviation and backcountry flights.
Ground Transportation Services to and from Glacier Creek Airport
Transfers
Arrange small-aircraft charters or pre-booked backcountry transport from Glacier Creek Airport to McCarthy, Kennecott and other locations in Wrangell-St. Elias.
Hourly Chauffeur
Private driver and chauffeur services are generally arranged from road-accessible communities such as Chitina or Glennallen rather than directly at the unattended airstrip.
Car Rental
There are no car rental desks at Glacier Creek Airport; rental vehicles are usually collected in larger road-accessible towns such as Glennallen or Anchorage.
Bus & Group Transfers
Group travel into Wrangell-St. Elias is typically organized with chartered small aircraft or arranged from the McCarthy Road area, as no scheduled buses serve the airstrip.
Frequently Asked Questions
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