The Edgerton Hwy (#10)


The paved portion of the Edgerton Highway begins by Tonisina at mile 82 Richardson Hwy (#4) and ends in downtown Chitina. From Chitina to Cordova #10 is called the Copper River Highway and it is mostly impassable today.

The Edgerton is built on an old trail that connected the Copper River to other parts of the Alaska territory.

The original cuttoff from the Richardson to Chitina was called the "Valdez, Chitina, Fairbanks Military Road." It was constructed and maintained by the Alaska Road Commission (ARC) in the early 1900s. The road follows a pack trail used by ancient Alaskans. At the beginning of the 20th century it was a busy road used to haul goods, mail and even tourists (in wagons and sleds) from Chitina to Valdez and Fairbanks.

The first Roadhouse in Kenny Lake was an ARC supply outpost for trade between the three towns. The road was later named for U.S. Army Major Glenn Edgerton, chief engineer from 1910 to 1915 (later appointed Governor of the Panama Canal Zone . The State of Alaska began plans to build a road from Chitina to McCarthy and Kennicott Mine on the old railroad bed in 1960. (Today it's a 60 mile stretch of maintained gravel road called McCarthy Road.) Over the next decade major upgrades were also made to the Edgerton Highway. The new Edgerton Hwy was completed in 1964. It was paved in 1971 as far as the Lower Tonsina River. In 1991 the Edgerton Highway was paved all the way to Chitina.

The Edgerton is built on an old trail that connected the Copper River to other parts of the Alaska territory. The original cutoff from the Richardson to Chitina was called the "Valdez, Chitina, Fairbanks Military Road." It was "constructed and maintained by the Alaska Road Commission" (ARC) in the early 1900s. The road follows a pack trail used by ancient Alaskans. At the beginning of the 20th century it was a busy road used to haul goods, mail and even tourists (in wagons and sleds) from Chitina to Valdez and Fairbanks.

The first Roadhouse in Kenny Lake was an ARC supply outpost for trade between the three towns. The road was later named for U.S. Army Major Glenn Edgerton, chief engineer from 1910 to 1915 (later appointed Governor of the Panama Canal Zone). The State of Alaska began plans to build a road from Chitina to McCarthy and Kennicott Mine on the old railroad bed in 1960. (Today it's a 60 mile stretch of maintained gravel road called McCarthy Road.) Over the next decade major upgrades were also made to the Edgerton Highway. The new Edgerton Hwy was completed in 1964. It was paved in 1971 as far as the Lower Tonsina River. In 1991 the Edgerton Highway was paved all the way to Chitina.

Miles from downtown Kenny Lake to local restaurants/bars

Golden Spruce Espresso: 2.5
Tonsina River Lodge: 10
Grizzly Pizza: 15
Tazlina River Lodge: (?)
Copper Center: 24
Chitina: 25
Glennallen: 41
McCarthy: 85

Miles from Kenny Lake to major airports:

Anchorage: 222
Valdez: 94
Fairbanks: 280

Attractions by mile:

Pippin Lake is at the 82 mile Richardson Highway turnoff onto the Edgerton.
For Richardson Hwy businesses serving Kenny Lake, click HERE.

0 mile

Pippin Lake Gifts
Pippin Lake Bed & Breakfast, 82.2 mile Richardson



4 mile



Copper Moose Bed & Breakfast

4.5 mile

Alpine's Way
Kenny Lake Volunteer Fire Department
Community Well

5 mile

Kenny Lake School
Kenny Lake Public Library

5.5 mile

Wellwood Bed & Breakfast

7.2 mile

Kenny Lake Mercantile, Groceries, Gas, Hotel, RV Park, Diner, Laundry & More
Downtown Kenny Lake at the junction of the Old Edgerton Hwy (maintained gravel road) and the New Edgerton Highway.



7.5 mile

Camp Redington

7.75 mile

Kenny Lake Community Hall
Kenny Lake Fairgrounds & Community Center




9.5 mile




10 mile

Wengers Country Store - Groceries, feed- 822-5802

13 mile

Tonsina Arts & Crafts - Alaska Native Crafts
Home of the famous trapper/author Dean Wilson Sr.

Regal Sawmill


Lower Tonsina Roadhouse (not in operation)

19 mile


19 mile lookout

Once you cross the Lower Tonisina River you'll feel the shift in geography as you begin to wind up and down and around into the lush and fertile Copper River Canyon. Watch for lynx and both black and brown bears on the road.

Liberty Falls State Park (damaged during the 2006 floods) .

Five miles before the end of the Edgerton is the Chitina Native Council's Medical Center, an RV Park, backroads to fishwheels on the Copper River, and a small airport.

Three lakes stocked with fresh water trout help you count off the last three miles leading into the quaint little historical town of Chitina.

The Edgerton ends at 33 mile.


Downtown Chitina, Alaska

Chitina Cabins & Teepees
B&Bs and RV Parking
Wayne's Liquor Store
Post Office
Uncle Tom's Bar
Gilpatrick's Hotel Chitina
Spirit Mountain Artworks
The Park Service has a cabin over by the creek behind the Emporium.

The Chitina Native Village is up on the hill above the One Stop Grocery. If you visit the Village, please be very aware of the children playing and people walking on the road. The Tribe's meeting hall has DSL internet and PC's available to the public (if not in use by the villagers).

Services:
There is no RV dump station in Chitina. The only public garbage dumpsters are in the Wayside and the State Park (on the right hand side after you cross over the Copper River. The Chitina Wayside has public outhouses, a pull-out parking area and a Burger Bus. The State Park has about 20 free camping spots.

The McCarthy Road begins after you cross over the Copper River Bridge.

The Copper River Highway (closed in 2006 after slides) can be accessed from Obrien Creek Road. The end of O'Brien Creek Road is where the dipnet charter captains and the Tribal fishermen camp for most of the summer. O'Brien Creek access is limited.


Sam McCallister's Copper River Charters

Visit the old Alaska...

Contact our office and make reservations today!

We accept all major credit cards.


phone: (907) 822-3313

email: kennylake@cvalaska.net