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National Park & Preserve

Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve

CautionJul 31, 2026

Alternate Route for Access to Root Glacier

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Glaciers loom over the ocean with large snowy mountains rising into blue skies

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park contains a diversity of natural features. Landscapes unique to the North American continent are common here.

Photo: NPS Photo/ Neal Herbert

About

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.

Activities

Arts and CultureAuto and ATVATV Off-RoadingAuto Off-RoadingScenic DrivingBikingMountain BikingBoatingCampingBackcountry CampingCanoe or Kayak CampingCar or Front Country CampingGroup Camping
RV Camping
Canyoneering
Climbing
Mountain Climbing
Fishing
Freshwater Fishing
Fly Fishing
Saltwater Fishing
Flying
Fixed Wing Flying
Guided Tours
Self-Guided Tours - Walking
Self-Guided Tours - Auto
Hiking
Backcountry Hiking
Front-Country Hiking
Hunting and Gathering
Gathering and Foraging
Hunting
Paddling
Junior Ranger Program
Snowmobiling
Snowshoeing
Wildlife Watching
Birdwatching
Park Film
Museum Exhibits
Shopping
Bookstore and Park Store

Directions

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.

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Weather

Varies widely depending on location in park and time of year. Visit https://www.nps.gov/wrst/planyourvisit/weather.htm for detailed information.

News

Aug 7, 2026

Wrangell-St. Elias Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Changes to Electric Bike Use

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is seeking public comment on a proposed change to the Superintendent’s Compendium that would modify the use of electric bicycles in the park. The proposed update would make the park’s management of e-bikes consistent with other forms of transportation used to get to Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark. The change would permit e-bike riders to leave bikes at the Shuttle Bus Turnaround just south of the Kennecott Visitor Center (where ATVs, personal vehicles, and bicycles are already allowed to park).

Access Restored to Root Glacier via New Trail Reroute
Aug 3, 2026

Access Restored to Root Glacier via New Trail Reroute

Visitors can once again safely access Root Glacier in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve using a newly established trail reroute.

Closed Area on Root Glacier Access Trail in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Jul 21, 2026

Closed Area on Root Glacier Access Trail in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

In order to reduce hazards on a popular hiking route, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve has closed an area beneath an unstable hill on the Root Glacier access trail north of Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark.