Four major mountain ranges. Nine of the sixteen highest peaks in the United States. The largest glaciers of their type in North America. Over nine million acres of designated wilderness within the thirteen million acre park. This is Wrangell-St Elias National Park.

Though it is the largest of the United States National Parks, it is also the least visited. It takes a bit more effort to visit this park than it does to visit Denali, with its convenient access on the Parks Highway and plethora of services. In contrast, Wrangell-St. Elias is undeveloped and remote. There are only two roads into the park – the Nabesna Road on the north and the Edgerton Highway and McCarthy Road to the south. Both are dirt or gravel, with limited to no services. But for the adventuresome traveler, they are definitely worth the time and effort.

Most visitors to the park stop at the recently constructed Visitor Center located at Mile 106 of the Richardson Highway, about ten miles south of Glennallen. With its exhibits, theater, bookstore, maps and short nature trail, it’s an excellent starting point for an exploration to the park or if your time is limited.

If you have more time to spend in the area, you might want to take a drive down the Edgerton Highway. The scenic 55 miles to Chitina is on a maintained paved road and passes through the agricultural community of Kenny Lake (don’t be surprised if you see beef cattle grazing on pasture!). Once at Chitina you can stop at the Ranger Station at the end of the pavement to check road status and get information before entering the park proper.

Once past Chitina, you’ll be driving on the old rail bed that once connected the Kennecott Copper Mines to Cordova. The road is narrow and winding, with rutted and washboarded surfaces. Allow three hours for the sixty miles to the road’s end at the Kennicott River. There is a Park Service Information Center here to answer questions and help you plan your exploration of McCarthy and Kennecott. Access across the river is by footbridge and not open to vehicle traffic. Shuttles run between the bridge and McCarthy as well as the Kennecott Mine, but many visitors elect to walk and enjoy the scenery at a leisurely pace.

On the north side of the park lies the Nabesna Road which intersects the Tok Cutoff at mile 59.8. Although there is no “destination” at the end of this road, as there is with the McCarthy Road, and services are much more limited, the Nabesna Road offers great opportunities for hiking, camping, fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing. The road is generally passable by two wheel drive passenger vehicles, though stream crossings at mile 29 can be dangerous. Make sure you check in at the Ranger Station before heading down the road. They can apprise you of road conditions as well as help you plan your activities.

The Nabesna Road provides access to many multiple use trails. Unlike National Parks in the Lower 48, off road vehicles are allowed on established trails, though you must pick up an ATV permit (free) at the Ranger Station before beginning your trip.

At the end of 42-mile road, you’ll find a small community offering guided flights and a cozy coffee shop. The Nabesna mine past the road’s end is accessible by foot, though privately owned. You can hike the four miles past the end of the state maintained road for views of the Nabesna River and Nutzotin Mountains.

For the adventuresome traveler, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park offers a multitude of opportunities for exploration. With a rich mining history, millions of acres of wilderness, and a variety of wildlife, a visit to the Park provides an expansive and varied look at this region of Alaska.