This trail is located on the Copper River Highway at milepost 21.6. The length is 2.4 miles and you can take this trail anytime of the year, the use of the trail is heavy but very easy to hike.

This easy going trail winds its way through a mature spruce-hemlock forest and terminates at the north end of McKinley Lake. A rough trail takes off from this point and accesses the remains of the Luck Strike Mine.

This route provides access to two public use recreation cabins. The first being the McKinley Trail cabin located 100 yards beyond the trail head sign. The second cabin is the McKinley Lake cabin located on the northwest shore of McKinley Lake. Other recreation opportunities in the area include Sockeye salmon, Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout fishing in McKinley Lake. Additional fishing lakes are available via the Pipeline Lakes trail. Both trails provide access to big game hunting in the surrounding mountains

This trail is graveled for approximately 1 mile before hitting the unsurfaced section of trail. Several large bridges aid the hiker in crossing major streams that run into McKinley Lake. Use caution if continuing past McKinley Lake cabin to the Lucky Strike Mine because of old boards, nails and collapsing mine shafts.