This is the largest national park in the U.S.

• Wrangell St. Elias National Park is the largest park in the United States. 
• Camping on Root Glacier is possible, as are visiting abandoned mines and hiking through the wilderness. 
• The best time to visit is in the summer, when you can enjoy pleasant weather and see wildflowers blooming. 

Overnighting on a glacier is not your average camping trip—then again, Wrangell-St. Elias is not your average national park. This is a fact that I quickly learned on my visit in June 2024.

Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve is located in Alaska. I went there to see the midnight sun and summer solstice from the scenic sheet of ice. The trip is just one adventure you can enjoy in the largest national park of the United States.

Wrangell St. Elias, with its sprawling glaciers and snowy peaks as well as isolated boreal forests, is about six times larger than Yellowstone. It is situated over 200 miles northeast from Anchorage. Yukon territory border. The park’s trails and treks are only accessible by bush plane, or a pot-holed road.

Wrangell St. Elias offers a variety of options. In the Nabesna District of the north, the Nabesna Road is a rugged, 42-mile route leading to trails, campsites and a remote wilderness camp.

The Kennecott District is divided into two major areas. Kennecott is a mixture of historic attractions and trails, as well as ghost-town dwellings. McCarthy, the town where I ended my Root Glacier Camping trip, is straight out of an Old West movie. Stay here for quaint hotels, inventive restaurants, and a general store—not to mention Wrangell-St. Elias’ signature seclusion.

Tessa Hill led my Root Glacier camping trip. She said, “Even at the center of McCarthy, and in the historic Kennecott area, the sense of remoteness still lingers.” Gaze north, and you will see two massive glaciers on the horizon. The second largest icefall in the world is also visible. The raw beauty and power of nature will stop you in your track. “Spectacular is not even close to describing it.”

She’s right. This is a panoramic wonder that you must see in person to appreciate. In this guide, you will find all you need to know to plan the best trip.

How to get there

The Wrangell St. Elias Visitor Center can be reached by driving approximately 200 miles north of Anchorage, or 250 miles south from Fairbanks. The highway connecting the cities and parks has gas stations, restaurants and the like.

The adventures in Wrangell-St. Elias get wilder after the visitor center on Highway 4. If you’re heading to the Kennecott District, you can drive the 60-mile gravel McCarthy Road from Chitina—but be ready for low visibility, poor road conditions, and plenty of potholes. You can also fly from Chitina to McCarthy via a backcountry bushplane service, like Wrangell Mountain Air.

The Nabesna Distict is a lesser-known area of the park. To get there, you can drive the 42 mile dirt Nabesna Road starting from Slana. Explore more of the backcountry by taking a helicopter into May Creek and Chisana. airstrips.

Fly in or take a ferry to reach the remote Yakutat District located in the southeast corner. Seattle or Juneau on Alaska Airlines.

Know Before You Go

Wrangell St. Elias National Park covers 13,2 million acres. You can’t even see the whole park. Close All in one trip. You can choose a district or a long-distance journey and then promise yourself to return. I’ve been there once and am already planning to go back. It’s a good idea to hire a guide if you plan to go into the backcountry. They can help with wildlife safety, navigation and local history.

Wrangell-St. Elias is in the middle of bear country. Keep up to date with all the latest bear information. local animal recommendations and rules(Read more on bears.) Read more on what to do if you encounter a bear On the NPS website.

If you’re visiting in the summer, be ready for mosquitoes—and a lot of them. I was constantly surrounded by mosquitoes, even though they ceased to be as bad once we were on the ice. To avoid them, bring bug spray, wear lighter colors, such as white or khaki, and consider wearing a mosquito net. The worst of them are in late June and July.

Download the free park app before you go. NPS app You can also save the Wrangell St. Elias Park section for offline usage. This will allow you to access maps, attractions and logistical details in areas that do not have cell service.

When is the best time to visit?

The park is always open, but from mid-May to the middle of September, it sees its highest number of visitors. The majority of services and amenities are available during this period. Hill says that late July and early August are her favorite times to visit the park.

She says, “the crowds start to thin, giving you an intimate experience of the vast wilderness in the park.” “Mosquitoes—depending on the year—start to ease up, and the landscapes remain every bit as breathtaking. This is the perfect time to enjoy summer while still being able to be alone.

You can enjoy the midnight sun during summer, between early May and late August. The park remains lit throughout the night, and summer solstice is when it’s longest. Wrangell St. Elias offers the opportunity to experience true nightfall in late August. see the northern lights.

If you plan to visit during winter, be prepared for bad road conditions and wear appropriate cold-weather gear. The park is largely for those who are up for an adventure. There will be opportunities for cross-country ski, snowshoeing and winter hiking.

What to Do in Best Things to See

Go backpacking.

The Wrangell-St. Elias region is a backpacker paradise, with topographical delights at every turn. From colossal ice fields to dense, wildflower-dotted forests, there’s something for everyone. McCarthy Road is home to some of the most popular hiking routes, including the alpine Dixie PassThe view from the top of Mt. Blackburn and the Nugget Creek TrailReservations are required for the public-use cabin. Fly into and out of backcountry to make your backpacking adventure even more adventurous. You can choose from the Goat Trail Traverse or Solo Creek to Chisana—both are around 25 miles and require expert backcountry skills. Consider a guiding company for beginner to intermediate backpackers. St. Elias Alpine GuidesAdventure safely in the wilderness

Camp on Root Glacier

Camping on Root Glacier is a great option if you are short on time and want to experience the Wrangell St. Elias Backcountry. I did this last June. The two day trip is around 10 to15 miles long, depending on where you camp. The trip begins in Kennecott with a trail that leads through a forest to the ice. Once there, you will need crampons to cross the ivory expanse. Hiring a guide Hill’s help was crucial for my trip as he helped me avoid the hidden dangers of ice, such as moulins.

Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark Tour

The Kennecott Mine is a great place to learn about the early 20th century copper mining industry. It takes two hours to tour the Kennecott Mine. St. Elias Alpine Guides Exclusive concessionaire. You can take a tour of the 14-story building and see what it was like for mill workers to live here.

Go ice climbing.

Hill says that ice ascents can be a great way to enjoy Root Glacier. She says, “You can hike to the glacier and scale blue ice walls or even descend into dramatic molins (vertical tunnels carved out by meltwater).” Outfitters such as can arrange this adventure. Kennicott Wilderness Guides, requires a full-day.

Try rafting.

Hill loves to raft in the backcountry. “You begin on the Kennecott River, and then float down to two different waterways while enjoying epic views,” Hill says. St. Elias Alpine Guides This trip is available. The guides are able to navigate the rapids and prepare a delicious meal on the river. What’s the cherry on top? You’ll be picked up by a bush plane for a scenic flight over the McCarthy-Kennecott valley—the kind of grand finale you won’t forget.”

Go flightseeing.

Wrangell-St. Elias is difficult to comprehend on land. It’s a must to take a flightseeing flight above the peaks, glaciers and icebergs. Wrangell Mountain Air The park offers a variety of flights. One is a 50 minute Mile High Cliff Tour, during which the pilot will explain park geology, and point out attractions like Mt. Blackburn, or the Erie Mine perched on a cliff. Longer flights, such as the 90-minute Bagley–University Range Tour, take you even deeper into the park.

Best Hikes

Root Glacier/Erie Mine Trail

Root Glacier is the most accessible glacier in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, and it also happens to be the most scenic. You can enjoy the Root Glacier & Erie Mine Trail by day from Kennecott. If you want to hike to the glacier only, the route is about four miles. It’s eight miles if your goal is to reach the Erie Mine tram cables. The hike is easy to moderate, and offers views of Mt. Blackburn.

Bonanza Mine Trail

Another adventure in the Kennecott area is the Bonanza Mine Trail. The trail is nine miles long round trip, and starts in Kennecott Mill Town. It is a difficult journey with an elevation gain of 3,800 feet, but the views are worth it. Blackburn are well worth the lactic acid—as is reaching your mountaintop turnaround point, the abandoned Bonanza Mine. Hill has a favorite Wrangell-St. Elias excursion. Her advice? She says to keep an eye out for copper-rich rocks in the scree. This is a great hike for history, geology, as well as breathtaking scenery.

Caribou Creek Trail

Caribou Creek is a six-mile easy to moderate trail with beautiful scenery and vibrant wildflowers. The trail is located at mile 19.5, on the Nabesna road, in the northern part of the park. You can keep your eyes open for wolf, moose, or bear tracks as you hike.

Trail Creek Trail

The Trail Creek Trail is another popular Nabesna road destination. It’s a six mile one-way trail that offers creek hiking, tundra climbs and the chance to see sheep. The alpine trail, which takes eight to ten hours round-trip, starts at mile 29.8.

Iceberg Lake

Hill also recommends the fly-in hike from McCarthy to Iceberg Lake, which is available through St. Elias Alpine Guides. “After a quick 2.5-mile trek, you reach a massive glacially fed lake where the glacier breaks with a thunderous crash,” says she. “For those wanting more, we will continue beyond the lake, to hidden sand dune, cascading water falls, and more glaciers nestled into the folds in the mountains.”

Where to Stay

Ma Johnson’s hotel

Ma Johnson’s Hotel McCarthy’s history is brought to life. The restored boardinghouse from the 1920s has 20 rooms with artifacts of McCarthy and Kennecott. The guest bathrooms are shared.

Ultima Thule Lodge

If you are looking for remoteness, with a capital “R”, book Ultima Thule LodgeThe lodge is located in the heart of Wrangell St. Elias, a wilderness area. The lodge is located on a glacier-fed river, and can be reached via a small flight from McCarthy. Five spacious cabins look out over snowy peaks, flower-covered hillsides and the Claus family offers adventures such as hiking, sandbar suppers and fly-out trips.

Wrangell Mountains Wilderness Lodge & Cabins

Nabesna District is a less-visited area of Wrangell-St. Elias. Wrangell Mountains Wilderness Lodge & Cabins. The property is situated at mile 28 of the Nabesna road. The property has nine yurts and cabins surrounded by peaceful forests. The property is also committed to sustainability with solar panels and windmills on site, as well as a greenhouse.

Kendesnii Campground

The park offers developed camping at mile 27,8 on Nabesna Road. Kendesnii CampgroundThe only NPS campground within the park has 10 campsites shaded by trees, as well as picnic tables on the lakefront, fire rings and bathrooms.

Where to Eat

Salmon & Bear Restaurant

Alaska’s wilderness may seem remote, but there are many fine restaurants to choose from. Salmon & Bear Restaurant—winner of two Wine Spectator Awards of Excellence—puts upscale food and drink within easy reach. McCarthy has 10 tables with a rotating, delicious menu, which includes sockeye, wagyu, and kimchi fried-rice. Chefs use local ingredients as much as they can, including Copper River red Salmon. Reservations are strongly recommended.

The Potato

McCarthy has a local favorite for tasty comfort food post-trail The Potato. The restaurant is lauded for its crispy fries—don’t miss the hand-cut rosemary garlic curly fries—and serves up a variety of fresh-made fare like a chicken fajita pita, cheesesteak, salmon roll, and lentil falafel.

Tok Thai

Combine your visit to the Wrangell St. Elias National Park Visitor Center with an easy bite at Tok Thai. The restaurant is only accepting cash. It serves everything from noodles and spring rolls, to pad Thai. Picnic benches are available for dining alfresco, before heading out into the Alaskan wilderness.