Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve

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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
Copper Center Visitor Center
Slana Ranger Station
Slana Ranger Station
Chitina Ranger Station
Chitina Ranger Station
Kennecott Visitor Center in the historic Blackburn School
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.

Plan a Visit

NPS DesignationNational Park & Preserve
Park State / Territory MembershipAlaska
Current Alerts0
Visitor Centers5
Campgrounds1
Things To Do10

Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.

Weather & Conditions

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

NPS Reference Location

Park state / territory membership: Alaska. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.

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) 823-7250 and Kennecott (907) 205-7106. CLOSED Mid-September through April.

Friday9:00AM - 5:00PM
Monday9:00AM - 5:00PM
Saturday9:00AM - 5:00PM
Sunday9:00AM - 5:00PM
Thursday9:00AM - 5:00PM
Tuesday9:00AM - 5:00PM
Wednesday9:00AM - 5:00PM

Activities

Arts and CultureAuto and ATVATV Off-RoadingAuto Off-RoadingScenic DrivingBikingMountain BikingBoatingCampingBackcountry CampingCanoe or Kayak CampingCar or Front Country CampingGroup CampingRV CampingCanyoneeringClimbing

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

The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.

NPS-Listed AddressWrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Mile 106.8 Richardson Highway, Copper Center, AK, 99573
Phone9078225234
Emailwrst_info@nps.gov

Topics & Themes

ArcheologyArtsPhotographyAviationExplorers and ExpeditionsIndustryMiningNative American HeritageAnimalsBirdsBisonCats (wild)FishWolvesArcticTundra

Things To Do

Fishing at Wrangell-St. Elias

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…

Ghost Towns

Ghost Towns

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

Front country Hiking Trails

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

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…