Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve
4.7(936)google
4.0(5)yelp
National MonumentGlacierMountainHikingCampingWildlife Watching
Overview
As the largest national park in the United States, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve is a sprawling wilderness of monumental proportions. It contains nine of the 16 highest peaks in the country, alongside massive fields of glacial ice and active volcanoes. Travelers venture here for unparalleled backcountry hiking, river rafting, and historic exploration of the abandoned Kennecott copper mines, offering an authentic and rugged Alaskan frontier adventure.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration2-4 days
Best TimeMid-June to mid-August is highly recommended. As America's largest national park, summer ensures mountain trails are snow-free, the historic Kennecott Copper Mine ruins are fully open for tours, and clear afternoons offer majestic glacial flightseeing over massive icefields.
Getting ThereUnlike other remote parks, it can be reached via a road trip. Drive east from Anchorage along the Glenn and Richardson Highways for 4-5 hours to Chitina, where you must drive carefully on the unpaved, historic 60-mile McCarthy Road to the pedestrian footbridge.
Travel Tips
- McCarthy Road is a rough, unpaved gravel route prone to punctures; most rental car contracts explicitly void all insurance coverage here.
- Crampons are mandatory for hiking Root Glacier; walking on slick, crevassed glacial ice without professional ice cleats causes fatal slips.
- Cell coverage is non-existent; towing fees exceed a thousand dollars, making two full-sized spare tires and heavy-duty jacks non-negotiable.
Reviews
Positive
- The park is massive, offering unparalleled visual impact from glaciers and snow peaks, alongside the immense historical value of the Kennecott copper mine ruins.
- The glacier hiking trails are clearly marked, and the experience on Root Glacier is incredibly engaging and unforgettable.
- The visitor center is spacious with rich exhibits, and the staff are extremely helpful in planning off-the-beaten-path self-drive routes.
- Due to its vast area, tourist density is extremely low, allowing visitors to immersively enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of raw wilderness.
Heads up
- The McCarthy Road leading to the core area is in terrible condition with unpaved gravel, and many car rental companies strictly prohibit driving on it.
- The restrooms and rest areas within the core scenic zones are spaced too far apart, and the maintenance of supporting facilities seems lagging.
- While park entry is technically free, secondary expenses for decent experiences inside (like mine tours or shuttle buses) are quite high.
- Because rainy and foggy weather is common, mountains are often shrouded in mist, leading to situations where you travel far but see no views at all.