• Winter in the Wrangells

    Wrangell - St Elias

    National Park & Preserve Alaska

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  • Delayed Opening of Kennecott

    Due to lingering snow and frozen water lines, the park has delayed the opening of Kennecott NHL visitor center until June 1. The rest of Kennecott/McCarthy is open. Most NPS buildings will not be open until June 1. More »

Things To Do

Schedule of Events

What's Happening?
Schedule of Events

 

You've come a long way to get here, and have finally arrived at your destination: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve. But now what? How do you spend your time? This area offers endless opportunities to explore and discover. Here are some suggestions to consider:

One Day
Begin your park adventure by heading to the Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center. This facility is located along the Richardson Highway at mile 106.8 (15 miles south of Glennallen). View the park movie in the theater, enjoy the exhibits, stroll the short nature trail to view of the Wrangell Mountains, check out the bookstore, and get oriented with the large 3-D interactive map display. Park rangers are on duty to help you discover the park and surrounding area.

 
Stop by the main park visitor center to begin your discovery of Wrangell-St. Elias
Stop by the main park visitor center, located near Copper Center, to begin your discovery of Wrangell-St. Elias.
 

For spectacular views, drive the Edgerton Highway to the historic town of Chitina (55 miles). Along the way, stretch your legs on the Liberty Falls Trail and enjoy the park's high peaks. After exploring Chitina, drive over the bridge to the Copper River where in summer you can watch busy Alaskans harvesting salmon with fishwheels and dipnets.

 
Enjoying roadside views of the park
 

Three Days
With more time to spend, you can explore the major roads more thoroughly and still have time for some hiking. The Nabesna Road will take you to remote corners of the park with great camping, hiking, and wildlife viewing. The McCarthy Road allows for leisurely explorations of a rural Alaskan town, and the Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark. An easy hike on the Root Glacier Trail brings you right to a river of ice. Hikes that are more strenuous lead to the mountainside Bonanza and Jumbo Mines. Join a local guide/outfitter service for glacier hikes, walking tours, float trips, and flightseeing excursions.

 
View of the Kennicott Glacier, Root Glacier, and High Wrangell Mountains
G. Herben
 

One Week
With a week or more to spend, the whole park is open to you. You will have time to enjoy all of the above, but also to visit more remote locations. The backcountry of Wrangell-St. Elias offers excellent wilderness experiences. A flight on an air taxi from Glennallen, Chitina, Nabesna, or McCarthy can transport you into the heart of the park. Hiking and camping possibilities are virtually endless. Stop by any park visitor center to discuss potential trips with a park ranger.

Did You Know?

Mount Wrangell (Neil Hannan Photo)

Steaming Mt. Wrangell, an active volcano, and nine of the 16 highest peaks in the U.S. form the backdrop for the vigorous story of plate tectonics and volcanism still unfolding here.