Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is a vast protected area in southeastern Alaska that combines high mountains, extensive glaciers, and historic mining districts. It is the largest national park in the United States and forms part of a transboundary UNESCO World Heritage site.

The landscape includes major icefields and long valley glaciers, rugged peaks that rise directly from coastal-influenced lowlands, and wide river systems. Visitors come for glacier viewing, backcountry hiking, flightseeing, and visits to preserved historic sites such as the Kennecott mining district.

The park was established under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 and has been managed for both wilderness protection and public access; historic mining operations and indigenous use areas remain prominent features within its boundaries. Over time the area has been preserved to protect its geologic, glacial and cultural resources while accommodating limited tourism and scientific study.

Wrangell-St. Elias occupies a remote region of Alaska, stretching inland from the Gulf of Alaska and bordering Canada to the east; small gateway communities such as McCarthy and Chitina lie near park access points, and many destinations inside the park are reached by air.

Size: The park and preserve together cover a vast area exceeding 13 million acres and are the largest unit in the U.S. National Park System.
Access: Many interior areas are reachable only by small aircraft or by long overland routes; vehicle access is limited to a few roads such as the Nabesna Road.

What to See #

Kennecott / McCarthy: Kennecott and McCarthy historic district, a former copper-mining complex with preserved company buildings and a nearby company town.
Nabesna Road: Nabesna Road corridor and trailheads providing vehicle access to eastern parklands and alpine trail systems.
Major glaciers: Glacier systems including the Root Glacier and Kennicott Glacier, accessible by guided hikes and nearby airstrips.
Peaks & alpine areas: High mountain peaks and alpine wilderness that include aviation-accessible backcountry and mountaineering routes.

How to Get to Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve #

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is extremely large and remote; there is no single “entrance.” Access is typically by small aircraft (bush plane) into airstrips or lodges within the park region (services operate from places such as Anchorage, Glennallen, and regional hubs), or by vehicle to communities on the park’s road-access edges (for example the McCarthy/Kennicott area reached via the McCarthy Road off the Richardson/Glennallen area). Travel times and routes vary widely depending on which part of the park you intend to visit; plan on multiple hours of driving from larger Alaskan towns or on chartered flights and prepare for limited services and rugged conditions.

Tips for Visiting Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve #

Plan your visit for mid-June through August when weather, services and road access are most reliable; outside that window many routes and visitor services are limited.
If you want to reach the historic Kennecott/McCarthy area, allocate a full day (or overnight) and expect a long, rough gravel road - consider reserving shuttle services or lodging in advance rather than assuming easy same-day return.
For broad glacier and mountain views, book a flightseeing tour well ahead of time-air access is the quickest way to appreciate the park's scale and is often the only practical option for many classic views.