National park · United States
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Entry is free and the park never closes; drive the McCarthy Road only if you have 2+ hours each way and a spare tyre, or fly in from Chitina in about 30 minutes. Go late May to mid-September for the Kennecott mill and Root Glacier; the backcountry window is roughly 20 June to 20 August.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
53,421 km² (20,626 sq mi)20,626 sq mi (53,421 km²)
approximate
Established
1980
Best months
Jun–Jul
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 53,421 km² (20,626 sq mi)20,626 sq mi (53,421 km²)
- About 13.2 million acres (53,000 km²) of park and preserve; the largest unit in the US national park system (check exact acreage against NPS figures).
- Established
- 1980
- Best months
- Jun–Jul
- Permits
- For some areas
Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest US national park, over 13 million acres of the Wrangell, St. Elias, Chugach and Alaska ranges, with more high peaks and more glacier ice than Denali. It has no entrance gate, no fee booth and no maintained trail network: access is by two gravel roads, the McCarthy Road and the Nabesna Road, or by bush plane. Most visitors go to one place, the Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark and the Root Glacier, and treat the rest as fly-in wilderness. It shares UNESCO World Heritage status with Glacier Bay, Kluane and Tatshenshini-Alsek.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 1979Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek, extended in 1992 and 1994.
Size and age
53,421 km² (20,626 sq mi)20,626 sq mi (53,421 km²) · national park since 1980
About 13.2 million acres (53,000 km²) of park and preserve; the largest unit in the US national park system (check exact acreage against NPS figures).
Why go
- Kennecott: a 1911 copper mill town still standing under the Bonanza Ridge mines, with NPS ranger tours in summer.
- Walk onto the Root Glacier from Kennecott in a few hours, with crampons and a guide or on your own with the right gear.
- Mount St. Elias at 5,489 m and Mount Wrangell at 4,317 m, an active volcano, in the same park.
- Fly-in wilderness with no permits, no zones and no quotas: the bush plane is the gate.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprCaution
- MayGo
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugGo
- SepGo
- OctCaution
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanDeep cold; McCarthy Road unplowed; access by air only
- FebCold and dark; aurora, but no services
- MarStill winter; some spring skiing
- AprThaw and mud; roads may not be open
- MayRoads open late in the month; Kennecott services start
- JunLong days; mosquitoes peak; backcountry season opens about 20 June
- JulWarmest and busiest; bugs at their worst
- AugRain increases; willows turn colour mid-month
- SepClear, mosquito-free, first snows; many services close after Labor Day
- OctShoulder season; snow and closed lodges
- NovWinter access by air only
- DecShort daylight; no visitor services
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown and black bearsMay–Sep · Everywhere; carry a canister and make noise on blind corners. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Caribou, in small groupsJun–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Dall sheep on the high slopesJun–Aug | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Mosquitoes and black fliesJun–Jul · Peak in June and July; a head net is worth packing. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
| Salmon runs in coastal streamsJul–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Anchorage
Drive the Glenn Highway to Glennallen, then the Richardson Highway to Copper Center or Chitina.
3.5–4.5 h
Open the page →
From Glennallen
Park headquarters and visitor centre at Mile 106 Richardson Highway, near Copper Center; the hub for road conditions.
20–30 min
From Chitina
McCarthy Road, 60 miles of gravel to the footbridge; no rental-car coverage on this road, check your policy.
2–3 h
From Slana
Nabesna Road, 42 miles of gravel to Nabesna; Kendesnii Campground at Mile 27.8.
1.5–2 h
From Chitina by air
Scheduled air taxi to McCarthy airstrip; the fast option when the road is rough or washed out.
30–40 min
From Southcentral Alaska
Region hub for Anchorage, the Kenai and Denali connections.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Copper Center and the Richardson Highway | Park headquarters, visitor centre, film, exhibits and a short nature trail with Wrangell Mountains views. | Open year-round weekdays; daily in summer. |
| McCarthy Road corridor | The old railroad bed from Chitina to McCarthy, with the footbridge and the road information station at Mile 59. | Open to cars in summer; check conditions after rain. |
| Kennecott and the Root Glacier | The historic mill town, Bonanza Ridge mines and the glacier walk from town. | Open; ranger tours and guided glacier trips in summer. |
| Nabesna Road and the north side | Slana ranger station, Kendesnii Campground, the old Nabesna Mine road and the Mentasta mountains. | Open; gravel, some creek crossings. |
| Yakutat and Dry Bay | Coastal rainforest, the Malaspina Glacier and the St. Elias range from the Gulf of Alaska. | Air or boat only; ranger station at Yakutat. |
| Fly-in backcountry | Everything else: Chitistone Pass, the Goat Trail, the Bagley Icefield approaches. | Bush plane from McCarthy, Chitina, Glennallen, Valdez, Cordova or Yakutat. |
Sketch map
- 1Copper Center visitor centre · Headquarters≈62.065, -145.489Map ↗
- 2Chitina · Town≈61.516, -144.440Map ↗
- 3McCarthy Road information station · Ranger station≈61.435, -142.956Map ↗
- 4McCarthy · Town≈61.434, -142.924Map ↗
- 5Kennecott mill town · Village≈61.484, -142.890Map ↗
- 6Root Glacier · Trail≈61.475, -142.880Map ↗
- 7Slana ranger station · Gate≈62.710, -143.984Map ↗
- 8Kendesnii Campground · Sleep≈62.530, -143.259Map ↗
- 9Malaspina Glacier · Viewpoint≈59.932, -140.584Map ↗
- 10Dry Bay ranger station · Ranger station≈59.171, -138.485Map ↗
Take the points offline
10 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions for orientation only; the park spans roughly 61°N 142°W at McCarthy to the Gulf of Alaska coast.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entrance | Free | person | No entrance station and no fee; the park never closes. |
| Kennecott mill town ranger tour | Free | person | NPS tours are free; some historic buildings charge a small separate admission (check). |
| Root Glacier guided day | US$150–250 | person | 2026 estimate; includes crampons and a guide from McCarthy or Kennecott. |
| McCarthy Road shuttle, footbridge to Kennecott | US$10–20 | person | 2026 estimate, one way; no private vehicles past the footbridge. |
| Bush plane, Chitina to McCarthy | US$200–350 | person | 2026 estimate, one way; flightseeing runs about US$5 per minute. |
| Kendesnii Campground (Nabesna Road) | Free | site | Free, 10 sites, first-come first-served, no reservations. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Backcountry camping no permit
ATV use permit or guide
Subsistence hunting and fishing permit or guide
Commercial filming and drones permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- US$150–250
- US$10–20
- US$200–350
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on NPS — Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve before you go.
Park rules
- Bear canisters
- Required in practice above treeline; rangers lend them free with a credit card as a deposit.
- Camping
- Allowed almost anywhere in the park and preserve at no charge; no permits and no zones.
- Fires
- Check current fire restrictions before lighting anything; a propane stove is the safe choice.
- Private vehicles in McCarthy
- Cars stop at the footbridge; cross on foot and take the shuttle or walk the 5 miles to Kennecott.
- Rental cars on gravel
- Most rental agreements exclude the McCarthy and Nabesna roads; confirm in writing before you drive them.
- Drones
- Not allowed without park authorisation (check).check
Where to stay
In the park
McCarthy
Small hotels, cabins and a cheaper unheated option; the base for Kennecott.
In the park
Kennecott
Glacier-view lodge and a couple of smaller places, walking distance from the mill.
In the park
Kendesnii Campground
Free NPS campground on the Nabesna Road, 10 sites, first-come first-served.
Near the park
Copper Center and Glennallen
Motels, fuel and groceries on the Richardson Highway, 2–3 hours from McCarthy.
In the park
Backcountry
Camp anywhere; a few first-come first-served NPS cabins can be flown to.
Safety
Bears high
River crossings high
Weather change medium
McCarthy Road conditions medium
Remoteness high
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Copper Center visitor centre, film and nature trail are accessible by car with short, level walks.
- Kennecott has gravel streets and uneven historic buildings; the mill tour route is not step-free.
- Glacier walks, the Bonanza trail and all backcountry routes are unsuitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Pack out everything, including food waste; there is no collection in the backcountry.
- Use established campsites and fire rings where they exist, and keep fires small or use a stove.
- Book air taxis that combine passengers; a full bush plane is a lighter footprint per person.
- Give bears and sheep distance; do not push toward wildlife for a photo.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve?
Nothing. There is no entrance station, no gate and no entrance fee, and the park never closes. You pay for access instead: fuel and a spare tyre for the McCarthy Road, a shuttle from the footbridge to Kennecott (about US$10–20 one way), a bush plane (about US$200–350 one way from Chitina), or a guided glacier trip (about US$150–250).
What are the best hikes in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve?
The Root Glacier walk from Kennecott is the classic day out, 5–7 hours with crampons for the ice. The Bonanza Mine trail climbs steeply to the old mine ruins in 6–8 hours. On the quieter north side, the Nabesna Road gives easy walking and the free Kendesnii campground. Multi-day routes such as Chitistone Pass and the Goat Trail are unmaintained and need a bush plane.
When is the best time to visit Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve?
Late May to mid-September for road access, Kennecott ranger tours and glacier walks. June and July are warmest but buggy; August is wetter; September is often clear and mosquito-free but services close after Labor Day. The backcountry season is roughly 20 June to 20 August because of snow at altitude.
Do I need a permit to camp in the backcountry?
No. There are no permits, zones or quotas, and camping is free almost anywhere in the park and preserve. Rangers lend bear canisters at no charge with a credit card as a deposit. Leave a detailed route plan with someone before you fly or walk in.
Can I drive to Kennecott?
No. The McCarthy Road ends at the footbridge; cars park there and you cross on foot, then walk or take a shuttle about 5 miles to Kennecott. The road is 60 miles of gravel from Chitina and most rental agreements exclude it.
How do I get to the park without a car?
Buses run from Anchorage to Glennallen and Tok, and seasonal services connect Glennallen and Chitina with McCarthy. Air taxis fly from Chitina to McCarthy in about 30–40 minutes, and licensed operators fly into backcountry airstrips from McCarthy, Glennallen, Valdez, Cordova and Yakutat.
Is Wrangell-St. Elias the same as Glacier Bay?
No, but they are linked: Kluane, Wrangell-St. Elias, Glacier Bay and Tatshenshini-Alsek form one UNESCO World Heritage site. Wrangell-St. Elias is the Alaska mainland park reached from the Richardson Highway; Glacier Bay is a separate park reached by boat or plane from Juneau.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- officialNPS — Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
- officialNPS — Camping along the Nabesna Road
- officialNPS — Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark
- officialUNESCO World Heritage Centre — Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek
- secondaryWikivoyage: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, revision 5237382 (CC BY-SA 4.0)