WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE ARE
Prospectors first found gold in Dan Creek in 1899, but the amount at that time seemed too small to justify development. In 1901, however, Dan Kain and Clarence Warner consolidated the mining property; the claims were patented by the Dan Creek Mining Company in 1910 and 1923, and one company or another has mined there ever since.
In 1975 the Dan Creek Partners bought the 700-plus-acre patented mining property with above-and below-ground rights, and for a number of years had a successful gold operation. In 1993 the partners subdivided the lower half of the property into 60 one-acre lots, which would allow a small community to remain active in Wrangell St. Elias National Park.
Looking up the Dan Creek airstrip which is about 2300' long, 5 percent downgrade to the west and maintained by the owners. Williams Peak at right and Nicholai Butte just left of center.
Looking up and across Dan Creek airstrip, Boulder Mountain left, Nicholai Butte just left of center. Dan Creek mining camp at the top of strip. Mixed cottonwood , willow and second-growth spruce typical ground cover on all the lots.
HOW TO GET THERE
Dan Creek is located at mile 29 on the Dan Creek, McCarthy Road. In the early days the road was maintained and you could drive between McCarthy and Dan Creek, however since the 1960's the road has been deteriorating and the only drivable portion (with four-wheel-drive rigs) is across Sourdough Hill from McCarthy to the Nizina River. The overland trail continues up the Nizina River past the "green point" and on into Dan Creek. This part of the trail is only passable in the spring and fall due to high water on the river and it is suggested only four-wheel-drive, lifted trucks be used as there are many water crossings.
Snowmachine access during the winter is generally good, though "good" is a relative term and the access depends on river overflow conditions and how well the river has frozen up.