Kennicott Copper Mine, Alaska, with Mt. Blackburn (16,390feet above sea level) in the background. Pilots: During its active years, copper that was mined here was taken by train down the Copper River to the coast, near Cordova.  The railway is abandoned and so is the valley through which it travelled, making it a scenic and unspoiled trip in an airplane.  We found that the McCarthy/ Kennicott trip followed by an excursion down the Copper River was one of our favourites of the whole Alaska trip.