Alaska National Parks
Our Backwoods Home

Alaska National Parks are quite spacious and consist of every imaginable type of terrain. From glaciers to hot springs, from steep, rugged mountains to long, rolling plains. From thick forests with magnificent rivers to bogs and swamps - Alaska's parks are an endless variety of landscapes. So they provide for an endless variety of outdoor activities.



NOTE: Any detailed information not provided on these pages is available in maps, brochures and other information sources in the ranger stations or park headquarters of the Alaska National Parks in those areas.

Denali Park - home of Mount McKinley, easily accessed by road and more developed than any other Alaska National Park.

Kenai Fjords National Park - covers a good portion of the South-eastern half of the Kenai Peninsula and has lots of glaciers.

WRANGELL - ST. ELIAS NATIONAL PARK - With over 13 million acres, it is THE largest of Alaska National Parks and of all National Parks in the United States. It is also the least developed. That means few services, few restrictions, lots of space and places for many kinds of activities.

There are some commercial services along both roads into the park. However, if you are going into the park on the north side, fill up your vehicles at Mentasta Lake Lodge on the Tok Cutoff, as there are no gas stations at the entrance or on the Nabesna Road. For the McCarthy Road on the south side, fill up in Chitina.

Features:

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park has four mountain ranges, with the St. Elias range being the largest coastal range in the world. It has the second tallest mountain in Alaska and several others in the 16,000 to 18,000 foot height. The general elevation of the park land is 2000 feet or more above sea level.

It has the largest group of glaciers in North America. One ice field is 127 miles long and about 3000 feet deep. Nabesna Glacier is a 75 mile-long valley glacier and Hubbard Glacier is a 76 mile-long tidewater glacier. That's a LOT of ice! And there's more...

It also has a number of volcanoes but the only active one is Mt. Wrangell. You can see plumes coming out of it occasionally, but its last eruption was in 1900.

There are many beautiful streams and rivers that come from melting glacier water. They are extremely cold, quite swift and usually clear, until you get to the larger rivers. The Copper River is a main drainage river, 290 miles long, and goes through the Chugach Mountain Range, emptying into the ocean. This river is very muddy looking but also has great harvests of salmon and other fish.

How to Get There:

This Alaska National Park is easily accessible from two major Alaska highways. The Tok Cutoff Highway borders the western edge of the Park for about 22 miles, starting just a short ways past Slana, so you could stop at many places along that highway.

Or, from Slana, you can travel into the park, along the 42 mile gravel Nabesna Road. Though there are no gas stations on Nabesna Road, there is an RV park, a few lodges and a few picnic areas.

From the Richardson Highway, you can take the 34 mile Edgerton Highway Cutoff to Chitina and then the 60 mile gravel McCarthy Road. It is a total of 93 miles from the Richardson Highway to McCarthy.

Though the main highways are paved, the roads into the park are not. There can be sharp rocks, soft spots and other hazards. And there are streams to drive through on the Nabesna Road. Bring spare tires and a jack. And an extra can of gasoline wouldn't hurt.

Fees and Information:

This is one of the Alaska National Parks that has no entrance stations and NO required fees. However, you should stop in at one of the ranger stations or the visitor center on your way into the park. They will give you any information you need and you can pick up brochures, bear resistant food containers and guidelines for park use.

Lodging and Camping in the Park:

There are no campsite areas provided by the Park, so camps may be set up anywhere on Alaska National Park land, including along either side of the entrance roads. Please check in at the Park Headquarters or Ranger Stations to find out what the rules are, before camping. There are no fees but there are rules for food storage, sanitation and building campfires.

There are 13 rustic cabins scattered throughout the Park that can be used by the public at any time, but most of them are quite remote. Only one is along Nabesna Road.

In the summer, there are a number of commercial facilities open along the Tok Highway Cutoff, the Richardson Highway and some as far as Chitina. Use this detailed brochure for what's available along the Nabesna Road on the north side of the Park. And along the McCarthy Road for the south side of the Park.

Hiking, Backpacking:

Leave a copy of your hiking plans at a Ranger Station or Park Headquarters, before going on any long trips. I am suggesting VERY strongly that you do this because Wrangell-St. Elias, as with all Alaska National Parks, is a vast, wild land. Any signs of civilization are few and far between. So play it safe and let somebody know what your plans are.

There are a number of trails in the Park, but most are not well-marked or maintained. You'll be totally on your own and will need to be prepared for any situation, once you leave the road. Take some topographical Alaska USGS maps and a means of finding your way back without any help. Cell phone service is not available away from the larger towns.

If you hike very far, you may need to cross creeks, streams or rivers. Alaska's streams are cold enough to make your spine ache when you put your hand in the water and the clear creeks have very slippery rocks on the bottom. You have to walk slow to keep your footing. Also their water volume can change, depending on the time of day. So it can be difficult or even dangerous to cross them. Learn how to safely cross them.

Off Road Vehicles and All Terrain Vehicles:

These vehicles are allowed but you must get a permit from a ranger station or headquarters and find out what the rules are. They are only allowed on certain routes.

Rafting, Canoeing, Kayaking:

There are several great rivers. All float trips either start or end in a remote location. So you will need to hire an a href="http://www.tips-for-backwoods-alaska-vacations.com/alaska-air-taxi.html">Alaska air taxi service to reach. They are available in Chitina, McCarthy, Valdez and Cordova. Cordova is the only city not connected to any road system - you have to take a plane or boat to arrive or leave there.

Our Alaska National Park service has good descriptions, pictures and other information on several possible float trips:

The Copper River Float - from Chitina to the Million Dollar Bridge on the Copper River.

Or a slightly longer trip with the same ending destination starts from Tazlina River off the Richardson Highway or from Copper Center.

If you want to leave your vehicle in Chitina and end up there, then try this trip from the Nizina Glacier to Chitina

Other Outdoor Activities:

Mountain Biking - can be done along the Nabesna and McCarthy Roads. You'll be able to go further than you would with a car. The Nabesna Road has a few dry creek beds that can be used and there are a few trails off the McCarthy Road. You can also visit the Kennecott ghost town near the old Copper Mines and the Nizina River from McCarthy. And there are other trails outside the park around Glennallen and Copper Center.

Hunting and Fishing - Hunting in allowed ONLY in the Preserve, with the appropriate hunting license; fishing is allowed in the Park AND Preserve with the appropriate Alaska fishing license. Almost all the streams are great for fishing.

Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding or snow-machining - if you are a winter visitor, this can be done almost anyplace.

And whatever else you can think of -- as long as you don't damage the environment. Just check in at one of the following locations to find out what the rules are for any particular activity and for sanitation and food storage information.

Location and Contact Information of Ranger Stations and this Alaska National Park Headquarters:

Stop in at mile 106.8 on the Richardson Highway, near Copper Center to visit its headquarters:

There are also Ranger Stations and other Visitor Centers. Though these have specified hours to be open, it is good to call ahead:

North Side of Park:

South Side of Park:

This Alaska National Park is open year around but not much of anything else is, so you must come well-prepared with plenty of supplies if you visit in the winter.

Our Alaska National Parks are important to us and to all the future visitors. Please take care of them while you are here. Unlike warmer climates, vegetation grows back slowly in Alaska. So please follow all the precautions and recommendations for keeping the wilderness of Alaska in the same condition it was before you arrived. There are a lot more people that want to enjoy it just like you did.

In addition to our Alaska National Parks, try some of our Alaska State Parks for other outdoor adventure areas...

Return to Top of Alaska National Parks Page

Return to Alaska Parks Page

Return to Tips for Backwoods Alaska Vacations Home Page