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
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.
Activities
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 DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Topics & Themes
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…
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
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…
Webcams
Webcam views from the Visitor Center at Park Headquarters in Copper Center, Kennecott Mill and Mt. Blackburn and Kennicott Glacier…
Virtual Tours
Explore with geologists and their helicopter pilot around Kennicott Glacier on an interactive website virtual tour to learn how National…
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
McCarthy Road -- Drive, Hike, Bike, View Wildlife, Picnic & Scenic Vistas.
Drive, Hike, Bike, View Wildlife, Picnic & Scenic Vistas on McCarthy Road.
Nabesna Road -- Drive, Hike, Bike, View Wildlife, Picnic & Scenic Vistas.
Drive, Hike, View Wildlife, Picnic & Scenic Vistas on Nabesna Road
Crown of the Continent - Park Film
Soar above mountains that make their own weather and glacier-carved valleys still emerging from the Ice Age, as you return with producer…
Flight Seeing
One of the best ways to experience the beauty and tremendous size of this park is from above! Fly past massive peaks,…
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…
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…
Kennecott Visitor Center
Located in the "Blackburn School," the Kennecott Visitor Center has exhibits and Rangers available to help with your trip planning.
Slana Ranger Station
Get the latest Nabesna Road conditions and information about its recreational opportunities.
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…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
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