A bridge leads to the Kennecott Mill. You can see two glaciers in the background as well as the Stairway Icefall.

Despite being the largest National Park in America, most have never heard of Wrangell-St. Elias. The park is one of the few national parks in Alaska you can drive to with two unpaved access roads. One goes to Nabesna and offers a variety of hiking trails along the way. The other brings visitors to McCarthy and Kennecott, old mining towns.

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Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Information

Park Size: 13.2 million acres

Established: December 1, 1978 (as Wrangell-St. Elias National Monument)

Entrance Fee: None

Nearby Communities: Copper Center, McCarthy, Slana

Visitor Centers: Copper Center is the main visitor center with ranger stations in Kennecott, Slana, and Yakutat.

Campgrounds: Hosmer Grove, Kipahulu

How to Get There: The Richardson Highway brings you to the Copper Center Visitor Center and provides the main access to the park’s roads. McCarthy Road is accessible from the Edgerton Highway and the Nabesna Road can be reached from the Tok Cutoff of the Glenn Highway.

Best Time to Visit: Summer

Unique Things to Do: Visit the Kennecott Mill and hike to Root Glacier.