Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Parks and Outdoors Travel Guide

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Parks and Outdoors Travel Guide

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Panoramic of mountains in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska
Mountain reflections at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska (Charles Westerlage/courtesy, National Park Service)
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Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Parks and Outdoors Travel Tips

By Jeremy Pataky
  • Roughly 25 percent larger than Switzerland, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve is the largest and wildest national park in America, with unprecedented opportunities for camping and backpacking in the front- or backcountry.
  • Some of the world’s best bush pilots fly in the Wrangell-St. Elias. Hire Wrangell Mountain Air in McCarthy to drop you off at Iceberg Lake in the Chugach Range for wilderness camping and hiking among dramatic glaciers and mountains.
  • Find hot showers and fresh water at the Glacier View Campground, mile 59 of the McCarthy Road, and enjoy the scenic views and camaraderie with other campers.
  • The prime time of year for visiting Wrangell-St. Elias is from June 20 to August 20, but don't think that there won't be any backcountry hardship. Wrangell-St. Elias is a mountain wilderness unlike any other. It is almost entirely roadless, there are no maintained trails in the park, and access is only by unpaved road, boat, or plane.
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Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Overview

Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is at the top of more than one list of superlatives. At 13.2 million acres, Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest U.S. national park and preserve. When combined with Glacier Bay National Park and Canada's Kluane National Park and Tatshenshini-Alsek Park, it is the biggest piece of the largest internationally protected area in the world: 24 million acres—larger than the state of Indiana. This World Heritage Site provides a crucial refuge for grizzly bear, caribou, and Dall sheep. Nine of the 16 highest peaks in the United States, and some of the largest mountains (by volume) in the world, are located here. The largest concentration of Dall sheep in North America live here. Enough copper and gold were found here early in the 20th century to make it one of the area's richest deposits. Read More

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Hotels

McCarthy Lodge and The Ma Johnsons Hotel

101 Kennicott Avenue
McCarthy, AK 99588 Map

Distance: 68.4 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 2 class stars

expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
4.0

Kennicott Glacier Lodge

Kennicott Wrangell-St. Elias N.P.
Kennicott, AK 99588 Map

Distance: 69.8 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 3 class stars
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
5.0

Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge

Mile 102 Richardson Highway
Copper Center, AK 99573 Map

Distance: 171.1 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 3 class stars

Expert Rated & Recommended
3.0
4.0
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Attractions

Bonanza Mine Trail

expert favorite attraction
Kennecott, Alaska

Distance: 70.7 mi. (from destination center)

Description: The Bonanza Mine Trail is a strenuous, eight-mile climb starting at the turnoff near Kennecott.... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Root Glacier

expert favorite attraction
Kennicott


Distance: 70.7 mi. (from destination center)

Description: No where else in Alaska can you so easily access an immense alpine glacier. Numerous glacial... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Kennecott Copper Mill Building

expert favorite attraction
Edgerton Highway to McCarthy Rd.


Distance: 70.7 mi. (from destination center)

Description: A historic landmark and one-time town center, Kennecott Copper Mill helped establish Kennecott as a... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0
All Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Attractions »

Airports

Major Airports near Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Distance (mi.)
Anchorage International Airport 295.3 map

Other Smaller Airports near Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Distance (mi.)
Chisana Field 87.8 map
Cordova Mudhole Smith Airport 148.2 map
Valdez Municipal Airport 170.1 map

Feature Articles

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