Page 158 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

JCT. GLENN HWY 1 / TOK CUT OFF TO TOK
& RICHARDSON HWY 4
Glennallen
Location: Junction of the Richardson Highway
4 and Glenn Highway 1/Tok Cutoff, at the
western edge of Wrangell–St. Elias National
Park and Preserve. Visitor Information: The
Copper Valley Visitor Center Greater Copper Valley Chamber of Commerce,
photo by: PO Box 469, Glennallen, AK 99588 or visit the
VC TRAVEL GUIDE log cabin at the junction of Highways 1 and 4,
open 8 AM to 7 PM in summer.

Glennallen lies at the western edge of Wrangell–St.
Elias National Park and Preserve, the gateway to the
beautiful Copper River Basin. The area has a large
Native population and is dotted with many small
farms. Many fly-in lakes are located in the Chugach
Mountains, stocked with grayling, rainbow and coho.
Visitors should be aware that the Native–owned
Ahtna Corporation controls many lands and rivers,
which are closed to the public for hunting and fishing.
The Ahtna Arts and Crafts Fair, a music festival,
raft race, parade and salmon bake are featured at the
Glennallen Fourth of July Festival.
It is a full day’s drive from the Alaska Highway
at Tok to Anchorage on the Glenn Highway; situated
roughly midway between the two points, Glennallen
provides for a refreshing stopover. There are four
main side roads off the Glenn Highway: the Nabesna
Road runs 45 miles from Mile 59.8 to the old mining
community of Nabesna, accessing the northwest
corner of Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and
Preserve. The Lake Louise Road joins at mile 159.8.
The Hatcher Pass Road connects the Glenn Highway
north of Palmer with the George Parks Highway 3.
The Old Glenn Highway is an alternate route between
Palmer and Anchorage. The Richardson Highway 4
runs from Valdez to Delta Junction. It is Alaska’s first
road, formerly known as the Valdez to Eagle trail.
Open all year, it is a wide, paved highway with a good
road surface providing a scenic route through the
Chugach Mountains and Alaska Range.
Departing from Glennallen, Kennicott Shuttle
offers pick-up service from lodges, B&Bs,
campgrounds and RV parks in the Copper River
Valley, for comfortable travel to the historic towns of
Kennicott and McCarthy in Wrangell-St. Elias.

JCT. GLENN HWY 1 / TOK CUT OFF TO TOK
Gakona
Location: Glenn Highway 1/Tok Cut-off,
2.7 miles from Gakona Junction; 200 miles
northeast of Anchorage; 122 miles southwest of
Tok. Population: 215
Gakona is located in the center of Copper Valley
at the confluence of the Copper and Gakona Rivers.
The world-famous Copper River is the fourth largest
in Alaska. When visiting Gakona you can enjoy
fishing the area’s lakes or rivers for trout and super-
sized salmon, see a fishwheel in action or experience
the thrill of river rafting. Groceries, natural foods,
hardware, clothing, sporting goods, propane, ice and
gas are available at Gakona Lodge, one of only two
remaining historic road houses in Alaska. The Lodge
has rooms, cabins and tipis, a restaurant and tavern.
Chistochina
Location: Mile 32.7 on Glenn Highway #1/Tok
Cut-off; 42 miles northeast of Glennallen.
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