Editing McCarthy, Alaska (section)

== Geography and location ==
[[File:Alaska - McCarthy through Kodiak - NARA - 23939741.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial image from the 1930s]]
[[File:Landing Fields - Alaska - Manley Hot Springs through McCarthy - NARA - 68158888 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|McCarthy in 1939]]
McCarthy is {{convert|120|mi|km|abbr=on}} northeast of [[Cordova, Alaska|Cordova]] at the foot of the [[Wrangell Mountains]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP of McCarthy has a total area of {{convert|148.3|sqmi|km2}}. None of the area is covered with water. It is connected to the outside world via the [[McCarthy Road]] spur of the [[Edgerton Highway]] from [[Chitina, Alaska|Chitina]], and must be passed through to reach [[Kennecott, Alaska|Kennecott]], which is also within the McCarthy CDP. Historically, from the end of the road one had to cross the [[Kennecott River]] and then a smaller stream using manually propelled [[aerial lift|ropeways]], but a footbridge was built in 1997. Visitors can walk to McCarthy in about 15&nbsp;minutes, although shuttle vans and buses are available during the tourist season from the bridge to both McCarthy and Kennecott.<ref>{{cite book|author=Staff|year=2007|chapter= McCarthy Road|title=The Milepost|edition=59th|location=Augusta, Georgia|publisher=Morris Communications|page=487|isbn=978-1-892154-21-7|title-link=The Milepost}}</ref> A private service bridge for vehicle traffic was constructed in 2004 downstream from the footbridge, but use is only available to residents, businesses, and the National Park Service for an annual fee.<ref name="Kennicott River Service Bridge">{{cite web |last1=Rowland |first1=Laurie |title=Kennicott River Bridge |url=http://vlrc.org/articles/40.html |website=vlrc.org |access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref>