Have you been thinking about visiting Wrangell-St. Elias National Park? We definitely recommend that you do! So we put together a quick guide to help you decide how you want to plan your trip.
About the Park
The purpose of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is to maintain the natural scenic beauty of the diverse geologic, glacial, and riparian dominated landscapes, and to protect the attendant wildlife populations and their habitats; to ensure continued access for a wide range of wilderness-based recreational opportunities; to provide continued opportunities for subsistence use.
(As stated in the foundation document for the park in the NPS Website)
Park Overview
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is not only one of Alaska’s eight National Parks, but is the largest in the entire National Park Service. Located in south central Alaska, this park covers 20,587 sq. miles and includes the Wrangell Mountains, the majority of the Saint Elias Mountains, Mount St. Elias (the second tallest mountain in the US and Canada at 18,008 ft), Malaspina Glacier (the largest piedmont glacier in North America), Hubbard Glacier (the longest tidewater glacier in Alaska), and Nabesna Glacier (the world’s longest valley glacier). The park also includes Bagley Icefield, which includes 60% of the permanently ice-covered terrain in Alaska, and Kennecott, an old mining town and National Historic Landmark district.
The main distinction between the park (13,004.92 sq. miles) and preserve (7,582.27 sq. miles) is that sport hunting is prohibited in the park but permitted in the preserve. About two-thirds of all of this land is designated as the Wrangell-St. Elias Wilderness, which is the largest single wilderness area in the United States. To really put the sheer mass of this park into perspective- the area designated as just the park alone is larger than the 47 smallest U.S. National Parks combined!
Things to See & Do
Access to the park is year-round, though facilities are only open from May-September due to the winter weather and accessibility. Access to the park via vehicle is limited to just two roads, and the majority of the park can only be accessed by air or water. Flightseeing tours and float trips are a popular way to see the vastness of the park. Backcountry camping is allowed without a permit, there are a few maintained trails for hiking, and limited mountain biking is allowed. Mountain climbing is also possible, but is extremely technical and demanding. In the winter, you can explore on snow machines, by cross country skiing, or by snow shoeing.
The wildlife that calls the park home include timber wolves, grizzly bears, black bears, caribou, mountain goats, Dall sheep, wolverines, beavers, lynx, porcupine, river otters, foxes, snowshoe hares, pikas, migrating whales, porpoises, seals, 21 different species of fish, and 93 species of birds. If plants are more your thing, you can find black spruce, alder, willows, blueberry, white spruce, quaking aspen, and paper birch, just to name a few.
Accessing the Park
As previously mentioned, there are two roads to access the interior of the park via car- The McCarthy Road and the Nabesna Road.
The McCarthy Road is 60 miles of unpaved and narrow, winding roads leading to McCarthy and Kennecott. It is a remote area with little to no services or cell phone coverage. The road, while not impossible, does require attention to avoid potholes and rough conditions. It is highly recommended that you come prepared for quick fixes for your vehicle and anything you may need in case of emergency. NPS recommends allowing at least 2 hours for one way of travel.
Along the way, there are several pull out spots to get great views and take a rest. There is also a lot of private land along this roadway, so please be mindful.
The Nabesna Road is 42 miles of unpaved, rough road conditions – high clearance and 4WD is highly recommended. This road allows travelers the opportunity to explore the northern reaches of this massive park, with chances to find campsites, scenic vistas, hiking routes, and opportunities for wildlife viewing. It is extremely remote with limited cell coverage and services. You will want to fill up your car in Glennallen (76 miles south), Chistochina (28 miles south but not a 24/7 gas station) or Tok (64 miles north). As with the McCarthy road, it is highly recommended that you come prepared for quick fixes for your vehicle and anything you may need in case of emergency. NPS recommends allowing at least 1.5 hours for one way of travel.
Land Acknowledgement
Humans have occupied this land since about 1,000 AD. As noted in the official Wrangell-St. Elias NPS Website, “There are four distinct Alaska Native groups with ties to the lands of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Historically, the Ahtna and Upper Tanana Athabascans resided in the interior of the park. The Eyak and the Tlingit lived in villages on the coast of the Gulf of Alaska.” Indigenous cultural sites can be found throughout the entire park, with the oldest known site, Nataeł Na’, dating to approximately 13,000 years ago. Today, the four aforementioned tribes still call this park home and continue to live from the land and practice traditional subsistence activities.
Wrangell-St. Elias was first established as a National Monument in December 1978 by President Jimmy Carter, then established as the 48th U.S. National Park in December 1980 again by President Jimmy Carter.
Quick Facts
- Private Vehicle Fee: $0.00
- Motorcycle Fee: $0.00
- Per Person (no auto) Fee: $0.00
- Park Hours: 24/7
- Visitor Center: Copper Center – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, mid-May through mid-September
- Pets: if leashed, allowed on trails in the park and backcountry, not in public buildings
- Campgrounds: 1 (Kendesnii)
- This is a very remote park that requires preparation ahead of your visit. Please take the time to understand what to expect when you plan to visit!
- While there is only one NPS campground, there are plenty of private campsites, lodges, and tour groups operating near the park. We stayed at Base Camp Kennicott, a primitive campsite along the river right next to the bridge to McCarthy.
Seasonal considerations
What time of year you decide to visit Wrangell-St. Elias National Park will have a huge impact on your experience. The park is not a well-visited one, even in peak season, so you won’t need to deal with the crowds like in more accessible parks. You can visit year-round, but winter has very limited services and no promise of being able to make the trek on the two roadways.
| Avg High Temp (F) | Avg Low Temp (F) | Avg Precipitation (rain & snow, in.) | Avg Visitation (2022-2024) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APRIL | 50 | 38 | 6.90 | 520 |
| MAY | 57 | 44 | 5.00 | 4,816 |
| Avg High Temp (F) | Avg Low Temp (F) | Avg Precipitation (rain & snow, in.) | Avg Visitation (2022-2024) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JUNE | 62 | 49 | 4.70 | 18,285 |
| JULY | 64 | 52 | 5.60 | 25,565 |
| AUGUST | 63 | 52 | 8.10 | 19,042 |
| SEPTEMBER | 57 | 48 | 12.60 | 5,866 |
| Avg High Temp (F) | Avg Low Temp (F) | Avg Precipitation (rain & snow, in.) | Avg Visitation (2022-2024) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OCTOBER | 49 | 42 | 15.20 | 530 |
| Avg High Temp (F) | Avg Low Temp (F) | Avg Precipitation (rain & snow, in.) | Avg Visitation (2022-2024) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOVEMBER | 41 | 34 | 15.70 | 60 |
| DECEMBER | 37 | 30 | 19.30 | 35 |
| JANUARY | 37 | 30 | 21.50 | 25 |
| FEBRUARY | 39 | 31 | 15.40 | 95 |
| MARCH | 43 | 34 | 10.1 | 230 |
top things to do
1. Drive McCarthy Road
Detailed above, the drive on McCarthy road is well worth the trek! It also allows you access to the towns of McCarthy and Kennecott.
2. Root Glacier
This glacier is very accessible from Kennecott; you can opt to freely explore the area or go with a guide to get a more extensive tour of all the features it has to offer- including blue pools, waterfalls, and ice caves. In order to hike onto the glacier, you must wear crampons to ensure you are stable on the icy surface.
3. Kennecott Mines
After taking a 20 minute shuttle ride from McCarthy to Kennecott, you will find yourself in the old mining town. There are a lot of exhibits, including the General Store and Post Office, that you are free to explore and learn more about the history of this area at your leisure. To get an extensive tour of the mill itself, you will need to book a tour through St. Elias Alpine Guides.
4. Explore McCarthy
The small town of McCarthy sits within the boundaries of the park and provides a wonderful place to rest and refuel during your adventures. The town has a population of just over 100 full and part time residents (and their adorable dogs). Here you can find some hotels, a historical museum, some small shops, The New Golden Saloon, McCarthy Center Store (with delicious coffee options), and The Potato.
5. Explore Kennicott River & The Glacier Lake
At the end of McCarthy Road and right before the footbridge, the mighty Kennicott River flows right into Glacier Lake. You can camp here and explore the surrounding area. The morning stillness turned the lake to glass, reflecting the beautiful mountains and Stairway Icefall.
6. Take a Half, Full, or Multi Day Tour with St. Elias Alpine Guides
Whether you want to spend a couple hours learning about the Kennicott Mines, half a day hiking Root Glacier, a full day flying in for a hike and paddle excursion, or several days backpacking in the wild backcountry of the park, St. Elias Alpine Guides has so many options and very knowledgeable guides!
Click here for a full list of the park’s official concessionaires
NOTE: This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the things to do in this park! These are just the things that caught our attention and came up often when researching our trip.
Our Adventures
We visited Wrangell-St. Elias National Park during our weeklong Alaska National Park trip in August 2025. Our itinerary allowed us 3 days and 2 nights in this park, and it wasn’t even close to enough time. We decided that this trip would be our intro- allowing us to do the most accessible things to get a lay of the land. In future trips, we’d love to drive the Nebesna Road, take a flightseeing tour, and plan a multi-day rafting trip.
We spent about 3 days in the park completing this itinerary:
- Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center, Copper Center
- McCarthy Road
- Camping at Basecamp Kennicott & exploring the river front
- Exploring McCarthy (loved coffee at McCarthy Center Store, drinks at The New Golden Saloon, and dinner at The Potato!)
- Root Glacier (12.41 miles, 1,689′ gain)
- Kennecott Mill Town Tour
If you want to read more about our visit to the drivable Alaska Parks check out our An Alaskan Adventure: Wrangell-St. Elias, Denali, and Kenai Fjords post!
Our Tips for visiting
When you’re planning your trip to Wrangell-St. Elias, make sure you really take into consideration what your priorities are for your itinerary and plan your amount of days accordingly. Driving either of the roads to the interior of the park requires planning and preparation- you’ll want to make sure you’ve got a full tank, all the necessities for your trip, and emergency equipment for your vehicle. These are not quick drives either.
This is not a spur of the moment type of park- you will need to know before you make the trek what tours you want to do, any backcountry routes you plan to hike, what provisions you’ll need for the duration of your stay, and where you will be sleeping each night. You’ll want to make sure you have everything necessary booked and prepared before you hit the road!
Come Prepared!
Regardless of what you decide to do, it is so important that you come fully prepared with proper gear and necessities, along with the full understanding that services are extremely limited. It’s always a good idea to also download offline maps; we typically create an offline map on Google Maps for the area we are traveling to as well as download maps on AllTrails for all of the hikes we plan to do. If time allows, making the Visitor Center your last stop before driving the roads is helpful if you are unsure about any road or trail conditions, hiking ability, weather, etc. The rangers are all super kind and are there to help you make the most of your day while keeping everyone safe!
Finally, always follow the Leave No Trace principles to ensure that you recreate responsibly and help to protect these beautiful spaces we love to visit!
resources
