Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve

  • The Copper River and a Mountain Backdrop
  • Views of the Chitina River
  • Bridge with a Mountain Backdrop
  • Swans and a Mountain Setting
  • A Glimpse of Gilahina Trestle through the Trees
  • Wildflowers and Trees near the Gilahina Trestle
  • Looking up under a Bridge
  • Seeing Crystal Lake through an Opening in the Trees
  • Footbridge to McCarthy
  • A First View of the Kennicott Copper Mines
  • Rustic Building on a Hillside
  • Inside an Old Power Plant (Kennicott Copper Mines)
  • Kennicott Copper Mines and a Mountain View
  • Kennicott Copper Mines and a Mountain View
  • The Road to McCarthy
  • An Old Wagon Wheel
  • An Old Wagon
  • Looking at a Hillside View to the Sun and Trees
  • Looking back to the Kennicott Copper Mines
  • An HDR Photo of a Glacier and Mountain
  • Mount Blackburn
  • The Ant People
  • Glacier Ice Caves (Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve)
  • Double Mountain Reflection
  • A Morning View of Mountains and a Lake
  • Discoveries Driving a Different Way
  • Kuskulana Bridge Crossing
  • Mountains and the Chitina River

Pictures courtesy of the -Mark Stevens: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, located in the heart of the Alaskan wilderness,  stands as a testament to the untamed beauty and grandeur of the Last Frontier. Spanning over 13 million acres, it is the largest national park in the United States, encompassing towering mountain ranges, sprawling glaciers, and pristine wilderness. With a rich cultural heritage and diverse ecosystems, this park offers unparalleled opportunities for exploration, adventure, and discovery amidst some of the most remote and awe-inspiring landscapes on Earth.

Website:

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
   

Map:

Park Map

Visitor Centers:

Copper Center Visitor Center: Serving as the main visitor center for Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, the Copper Center Visitor Center provides essential information on park activities, safety, and regulations. Visitors can learn about the park’s natural and cultural history through interpretive exhibits, ranger-led programs, and orientation films. 

Kennecott Visitor Center: Located in the historic mining town of Kennecott, this visitor center offers a unique glimpse into the park’s industrial past and the legacy of the Kennecott Copper Mine. Visitors can explore exhibits on mining history, geology, and local wildlife, as well as take guided tours of the historic mill and mine buildings. The Kennecott Visitor Center serves as a gateway to the park’s backcountry, with hiking trails and scenic overlooks nearby.

How to get There:

From Anchorage: Travel east on the Glenn Highway (Highway 1) towards Glennallen. At Glennallen, take the Richardson Highway (Highway 4) south towards Valdez. Follow the Richardson Highway to the town of Chitina, where you can access the McCarthy Road, a gravel road that leads to the park’s main visitor center at Copper Center and the historic town of Kennecott.

From Fairbanks: Head south on the Richardson Highway (Highway 4) towards Delta Junction. Continue on the Richardson Highway through Glennallen to Chitina, where you can access the McCarthy Road to reach the park’s visitor centers and backcountry areas.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve

Nestled within the rugged wilderness of Alaska’s interior, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve is a land of superlatives, boasting the largest concentration of glaciers in North America, towering mountain peaks, and vast expanses of pristine wilderness. Established in 1980, the park encompasses an area larger than Switzerland, providing a haven for diverse wildlife and offering endless opportunities for outdoor adventure. Visitors to Wrangell-St. Elias can explore a landscape shaped by geological forces over millions of years, from the towering peaks of the Wrangell and St. Elias mountain ranges to the vast ice fields and deep river valleys that define this remote wilderness.

One of the highlights of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve is the historic mining town of Kennecott, nestled within the park’s boundaries. Once a bustling copper mining community, Kennecott is now a ghost town preserved as a National Historic Landmark. Visitors can explore the town’s well-preserved buildings, including the iconic Kennecott Mill and other remnants of its industrial past. Guided tours offer insight into the town’s history and the challenges faced by early miners in this rugged frontier.

Beyond Kennecott, Wrangell-St. Elias offers a wealth of outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy, from hiking and backpacking to wildlife viewing and photography. With over 13 million acres to explore, the park features countless trails that wind through alpine meadows, dense forests, and along glacier-fed rivers. Adventurous visitors can embark on multi-day backcountry trips, traversing remote wilderness areas and camping beneath star-filled skies. Whether exploring the park’s vast expanses by foot, kayak, or scenic flight, Wrangell-St. Elias offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience the raw beauty and untamed wilderness of Alaska’s interior.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve is not only a sanctuary for wilderness enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers but also a living laboratory for scientific research and conservation. Its vast size and diverse ecosystems provide a unique opportunity to study natural processes and the impacts of climate change on high-latitude environments. The park is home to a rich array of plant and animal species, including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, and Dall sheep, making it a critical habitat for wildlife conservation. Additionally, Wrangell-St. Elias preserves the cultural heritage of Alaska Native peoples and early pioneers, whose lives have been intertwined with this rugged landscape for thousands of years. Through education, recreation, and conservation efforts, the park strives to inspire future generations to appreciate and protect the natural and cultural treasures of this remote wilderness.

Points of Interest:

Kennecott Mines: Explore the historic copper mining town of Kennecott, a National Historic Landmark within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve. Wander through well-preserved buildings and learn about the town’s industrial past on guided tours, offering insight into Alaska’s mining heritage amidst breathtaking mountain scenery.
Root Glacier: Embark on an unforgettable adventure to Root Glacier, one of the park’s most iconic features. Hike across the glacier’s icy expanse, marveling at shimmering blue ice formations and listening to the crackling sounds of glacial movement. Guided glacier trekking tours provide an exhilarating experience for visitors of all skill levels, offering a unique opportunity to explore the dynamic landscape of Wrangell-St. Elias
McCarthy Road: Take a scenic drive along the rugged McCarthy Road, winding through remote wilderness and historic mining sites. Enjoy stunning views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers as you traverse this gravel road, which leads to the town of McCarthy and the park’s visitor centers. Keep an eye out for wildlife along the way, including moose, bears, and eagles.
Flightseeing Tours: Experience Wrangell-St. Elias from a bird’s-eye view on a thrilling flightseeing tour. Soar above vast expanses of wilderness, towering peaks, and sprawling glaciers, gaining a unique perspective on the park’s immense scale and natural beauty. 
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