Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve
AK
Park Alerts (1)
About Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve
Wrangell-St. Elias is a vast national park that rises from the ocean all the way up to 18,008 ft. At 13.
2 million acres, the park is the same size as Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Switzerland combined! Within this wild landscape, people continue to live off the land as they have done for centuries. This rugged, beautiful land is filled with opportunities for adventure.
Things To Do
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Fishing at Wrangell-St. Elias
Sport fishing in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park offers many opportunities. Arctic grayling, dolly varden, lake trout, steelhead/rainbow trout, whitefish, sockeye salmon, coho salmon, and chinook salmon are widespread. Nothern Pike, cutthroat trout, chum salmon and pink salmon are also available in select areas. Local residents catch burbot, lake trout, rainbow trout, and whitefish through the ice in the winter.
Ghost Towns
Ghost towns were once thriving communities that have dwindled over the decades, often created by the search for gold, copper and other valuable minerals. Some vanished entirely after the boom or were absorbed into newer settlements, but many of these towns still stand today, allowing us a nostalgic glimpse into the past. These places are where people ventured into remote areas to find their mineral fortune and endured the hardships of wilderness, wildlife and weather.
Front country Hiking Trails
Hiking in Wrangell-St. Elias can be spectacular and we encourage you to go, but be prepared! Most of the front country hiking trails are maintained for the first few miles and then become routes into the backcountry, where route finding and navigational skills are highly recommended. There are hiking trails in the Copper Center area, on Nabesna Road and on McCarthy Road.
Backpacking in Wrangell-St Elias
A backpacking trip in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve can be an exciting and rewarding experience if you are prepared for the difficulties of traveling through rugged, undeveloped land.
Webcams
Webcam views from the Visitor Center at Park Headquarters in Copper Center, Kennecott Mill and Mt. Blackburn and Kennicott Glacier and the Chugach Range.
Virtual Tours
Explore with geologists and their helicopter pilot around Kennicott Glacier on an interactive website virtual tour to learn how National Park Service staff monitor changes in the size of the glacier! Check out the Terrestrial LiDAR Scanning Project with 3-D data collected which provides precise measurements needed for the Stabilization Project of the mill structures.
Available Activities
Weather
Varies widely depending on location in park and time of year. Visit https://www.nps.
gov/wrst/planyourvisit/weather.htm for detailed information.
Getting There
The administrative building and main park visitor center are located along the Richardson Highway (Hwy 4), which is a paved state highway that runs through Copper Center, AK. The buildings are 8 miles south of the Glenn Highway and Richardson Highway intersection near Glennallen, Alaska. This is approximately 200 miles east of Anchorage, AK and 250 miles south of Fairbanks, AK.
Plan Your Visit
Let Cairn help you plan the perfect trip to Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve with AI-powered itineraries.
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Headquarters Visitor Center - Copper Center, AK
The park and public lands are always open but visitor facilities have limited seasons: Open in Summer. Call ahead for hours: Copper Center (907) 822-7250, Slana (907) 822-7401, Chitina (907) 823-2205 and Kennecott (907) 205-7106. CLOSED Fall-Winter-Spring - Mid-September through April.
Kennecott Visitor Center - Kennecott, AK
The park and public lands are always open but visitor facilities have limited seasons: Open in Summer. Call ahead for hours: Kennecott (907) 205-7106 and Slana (907) 822-7401, Copper Center (907) 822-7250, and Chitina (907) 823-2205. CLOSED Fall-Winter-Spring - Beginning of September through April.
Slana Ranger Station - Slana, AK
Slana (907) 822-7401, Copper Center (907) 822-7250, Chitina (907) 823-2205 and.