• Wrangell Mountain Range

    Wrangell - St Elias

    National Park & Preserve Alaska

There are park alerts in effect.
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  • Shamrock Mining Plan of Operations and Environmental Assessment Released for Public Review/Comment

    The Park has released for public review the Shamrock Mining Plan of Operations and Environmental Assessment. The EA is available for public review and comment for one month. All comments must be submitted by July 3, 2013. More »

  • Chisana River Fire Grows, Impacts the Copper River Valley

    Smoke from the Chisana River Fire impacted the Copper River basin on the evening of July 18. Because the fire continues to grow anticipate varying levels of smoke impacting the area. The fire grew from 7,718 acres on June 17 to 25,566 acres. More »

Park Access

Snowmachining near McCarthy
 

OFF ROAD VEHICLES (ATV/ORV)

Nabesna Road ORV Trail Closures

Recreation:
Permit required; Not allowed in wilderness; Must stay on established trails; [43 CFR 36.11(g)].
The established trails are: Black Mountain, Boomerang Lake, Caribou Creek, Copper Lake, Kotsina Road, Lost Creek, Nugget Creek, Reeve Field, Soda Creek, Suslota Lake, Tanada Lake, and Trail Creek.

No established trails in Yakutat District.

Nabesna Road ATV Trails

Subsistence:
Permit recommended; Allowed in park and preserve regardless of wilderness designation; Recommend staying on established trails and dry creek beds; [36 CFR 13.46].

SNOWMACHINES

Recreation:
No Permit Required; may operate anywhere in park and preserve when there is adequate snow cover (~12") and frozen ground.

Subsistence:
No Permit Required; may operate anywhere in park and preserve when there is adequate snow cover (~12") and frozen ground.

AIRPLANES

Recreation:
No permit required; May land anywhere in the park and preserve regardless of wilderness designation; [43 CFR 36.11(f)].

Subsistence:
Not permitted in park lands; Airplane access for subsistence hunting in the preserve lands is allowed without permit; wilderness designation is irrelevant; [36 CFR 13.45].

Aircraft access to the Malaspina Forelands for subsistence uses is allowed for residents of Yakutat; A permit is required.

HELICOPTERS

For All Uses:
Permit is required; Uses typically authorized include; bona-fide research where helicopter is essential and/or the removal of downed aircraft; For Search and Rescue and other emergencies, permits are not required; [43 CFR 36.11(f)(4)].

MOTORBOATS

Recreation:
No permit required; Allowed in both park and preserve, regardless of wilderness designation; [43 CFR 36.11(d).

Subsistence:
No permit required; Allowed in both park and preserve, regardless of wilderness designation; [36 CFR 13.46].

Airboats are considered motorboats; Hovercraft are not permitted.

  • Backcountry Airstrips Backcountry Airstrips

    Poster highlighting park airstrips and cabins Read More

  • Restrictions for Recreational ORV Permits Restrictions for Recreational ORV Permits

    Effective May, 2007. Some ORV trails closed to recreational use Read More

Did You Know?

Glacier

More than just a National Park, Wrangell-St. Elias, along with Glacier Bay, Kluane National Park, and Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park make up a 24 million acre World Heritage Site, one of the largest protected areas on earth.