Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park & Preserve
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Mount
St. Elias |
Contact Information:
Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park & Preserve
106.8 Richardson Hwy.
PO Box 439
Copper Center, AK 99573
907-822-5234 (HQ Copper Center)
http://www.nps.gov/wrst/
Size: 8,323,148 acres (park) and 4,852,753 acres (preserve).
Location: Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park & Preserve is located in southeastern Alaska. Park can be reached from Anchorage via Glenn Hwy. (AK1). At Glennallen, Glenn Highway meets the Richardson Highway, skirting the park's western boundary en route to the coastal city of Valdez. The Tok Cutoff coming south from the Alaska Hwy. borders the park's northwestern corner. From these highways, two unpaved roads penetrate the park. The Chitina-McCarthy Road extends 61 miles from Chitina to the Kennicott River, just west of McCarthy. The northern park area is reached via the Nabesna Road, which extends 45 miles from Slana to Nabesna.
Description: The Chugach, Wrangell, and Saint Elias mountain ranges converge here in what is often referred to as the "mountain kingdom of North America." The largest unit of the National Park System and a day's drive east of Anchorage, the park-preserve includes the continent's largest assemblage of glaciers and the greatest collection of peaks above 16,000 feet, including Mount Saint Elias. At 18,008 feet, it is the second highest peak in the United States. Adjacent to Canada's Kluane National Park, the site is characterized by its remote mountains, valleys, and wild rivers, all rich in their concentrations of wildlife.
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Chitistone
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Where to Stay: Wrangell-St. Elias does not have any formal park service campgrounds or lodging within the park. The National Park Service has restored 13 mining, trapping, and hunting cabins for public use within the park. Most of the cabins are in remote locations and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Many visitors to the park camp on public land along the McCarthy and Nabesna Roads. On private land within the park boundaries, and along area highways, there are a number of commercial businesses that offer a variety of visitor services including camping and lodging. For further information see the National Park Service Area Accommodations Guide, or contact the Greater Copper Valley Chamber of Commerce (907-822-5555) or the Valdez Convention & Visitors Bureau (907-835-2784).
Operating Hours:
The park is open year-round.
History: Proclaimed as Wrangell-Saint Elias National Monument on December 1, 1978; established as a national park and preserve on December 2, 1980. Wilderness designated on December 2, 1980. Designated a World Heritage Site on October 24, 1979.
For Further Information: Download the official visitor's guide to Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve, a 24-page full-color guidebook that will help you plan your trip to the park.
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See other Alaska National Parks
