Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the largest national park in the U.S., offers unparalleled wilderness exploration with its vast glaciers, towering mountains, and diverse wildlife.

13,175,799
Acres Protected
100+
Miles of Trails
70,000
Annual Visitors
1980
Year Established

About Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

 

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve spans over 13 million acres in southeastern Alaska, making it the largest national park in the United States. It features a diverse landscape of glaciers, volcanoes, and expansive wilderness. The park is home to nine of the 16 highest peaks in the U.S., including Mount St. Elias, which stands at 18,008 feet. Historically, the area is significant for its indigenous cultures and its history in copper mining, evident in the Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark. Visitors can engage in activities such as hiking, ice climbing, rafting, and wildlife viewing. The park’s remote nature ensures an authentic backcountry experience, offering solitude and the chance to observe wildlife like brown bears, caribou, and mountain goats. Its vastness and variety of ecosystems draw adventurers and researchers alike, offering insight into geological and ecological processes.

Highlights

Highlight

Mount St. Elias, the park's second highest peak and the fourth highest in North America.

Highlight

The Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark, a relic of early 20th-century copper mining history.

Highlight

Root Glacier Trail, offering stunning views of the glacier and opportunities for guided ice hiking.

Highlight

Nabesna Road, a scenic route providing access to remote areas and wildlife sightings.

Notable Natural Features

Mount Wrangell

One of the largest active volcanoes in Alaska, still covered in ice and snow.

Root Glacier

A glacier accessible by trail offering stunning views and opportunities for guided hikes on ice.

Kennecott Mines

A historic site where you can explore the well-preserved buildings from the boomtown era of the early 1900s.