Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve

Glaciers loom over the ocean with large snowy mountains rising into blue skies

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park contains a diversity of natural features. Landscapes unique to the North American continent are common here.

Two backpackers sitting in an alpine meadow with snowy mountains in the background

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is a backpacker's paradise. A variety of routes take you into beautiful country, including the Mentasta Mountains.

Historic, large, red buildings with mountains in the background

Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark is found within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. This early 1900's copper mining operation overcame numerous challenges and found success in the heart of the Alaskan wilderness.

A large glacier with stripes of different colored rock nestled in between barren mountain slopes.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park contains the greatest concentration of glaciers in North America. More than 3000 glaciers covering over three million acres of land are found in the park.

Four large snow covered mountains rise above dense forest into blue skies.

The Wrangell Mountains dominate the view of the northern half of the park. This range lies entirely within the park and reaches 16,390 ft (4,996 m) in height.

Copper Center Visitor Center

Slana Ranger Station

Chitina Ranger Station

Kennecott Visitor Center in the historic Blackburn School

Photos: National Park Service

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.

Quick Facts

State Alaska

Designation National Park & Preserve

State Code AK

Weather Varies widely depending on location in park and time of year. Visit https://www.nps.gov/wrst/planyourvisit/weather.htm for detailed information.

Location & Map

Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve is located in Alaska.

Get Directions

Operating Hours

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.

Wednesday Closed

Monday Closed

Thursday Closed

Sunday Closed

Tuesday Closed

Friday Closed

Saturday Closed

Activities

Arts and Culture Auto and ATV ATV Off-Roading Auto Off-Roading Scenic Driving Biking Mountain Biking Boating Camping Backcountry Camping Canoe or Kayak Camping Car or Front Country Camping Group Camping RV Camping Canyoneering Climbing Mountain Climbing Fishing Freshwater Fishing Fly Fishing Saltwater Fishing Flying Fixed Wing Flying Guided Tours Self-Guided Tours - Walking Self-Guided Tours - Auto Hiking Backcountry Hiking Front-Country Hiking Hunting and Gathering Gathering and Foraging Hunting Paddling Junior Ranger Program Snowmobiling Snowshoeing Wildlife Watching Birdwatching Park Film Museum Exhibits Shopping Bookstore and Park Store

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.

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

Address Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Copper Center, AK, 99573

Phone 9078225234

Email wrst_info@nps.gov

Topics & Themes

Archeology Arts Photography Aviation Explorers and Expeditions Industry Mining Native American Heritage Animals Birds Bison Cats (wild) Fish Wolves Arctic Tundra Climate Change Coasts, Islands and Atolls Fire Forests and Woodlands Coniferous Forests Fossils and Paleontology Dinosaur Geology Mineral Deposits Glaciers Lakes Mountains Night Sky Aurora Borealis Trails Volcanoes Watersheds Wilderness

Things To Do

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…

What are the best places to go fishing in and around Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve? There are a…

Ghost Towns

Ghost towns were once thriving communities that have dwindled over the decades, often created by the search for gold, copper…

Three places exist in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve that are ghost towns, even though some residents still call…

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…

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…

For many backpackers, hiring the services of a local guide will make the trip safer and more enjoyable. In general, the areas…

Webcams

Webcam views from the Visitor Center at Park Headquarters in Copper Center, Kennecott Mill and Mt. Blackburn and Kennicott Glacier…

webcam views

Virtual Tours

Explore with geologists and their helicopter pilot around Kennicott Glacier on an interactive website virtual tour to learn how National…

Vitual Tours

Visitor Centers

Chitina Ranger Station

Located in downtown Chitina at mile 33 on the Edgerton Highway. Upon entering Chitina town southbound, turn left at the Chitina Hotel, drive down the…

Hours: Open in summer on Fridays and Saturdays; staffing dependent. Dial-A-Ranger at (907) 823-2205; Closed in Fall-Winter-Spring.

Kennecott Visitor Center

Located in the "Blackburn School," the Kennecott Visitor Center has exhibits and Rangers available to help with your trip planning.

Hours: Daily 9:00am-11:30am, 1:30pm-4:30pm; Crown of the Continent & Kennecott Mill film shown in the General Store/Warehouse; exhibit buildings open; Dial-A-Ranger at (907) 205-7106. Contact the NPS-concessionaire St Elias Alpine Guides for available tours in the Kennecott Mill building.

Slana Ranger Station

Get the latest Nabesna Road conditions and information about its recreational opportunities.

Hours: Open late May - late September; 9:00am–5:00pm; Dial-A-Ranger at (907) 822-7401; Alaska Geographic bookstore sales. Closed in winter.

Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center in Copper Center

Enjoy the exhibits, view the park film, hike nature trails, shop in the bookstore, gather park & area information, conduct backcountry trip planning, and view…

Hours: OPEN Summer season mid-May to mid-September: Daily 9:00am - 5:00pm. Dial-a-Ranger at (907) 822-7250. The parking area for the visitor center and entrance gate at the Copper Center Headquarters closes at 5 pm each day.

Yakutat

Yakutat is located in the southern portion of the park along the coastline in Yakutat Bay at the base of the St. Elias Mountains. Accessible…

Campgrounds

Kendesnii Campground

Located on the Nabesna Road, this free camping area is the only National Park Service campground in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. It has 10 designated…

10 Sites