Things to do in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

What is worth your time in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

• Root Glacier TrailDo not miss

  This trail gives close views of glacier ice, moraines, and the huge mountain amphitheater above Kennecott.

  Hike · 3.3 hr4.9

• Kennecott Mines National Historic LandmarkDo not miss

  The towering red mill buildings make Kennecott one of the most compelling mining landscapes in the national park system.

  Ranger Program · 3 hr4.8

• Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor CenterDo not miss

  The main visitor center is the best indoor orientation stop for scale, road conditions, exhibits, and trip planning.

  Ranger Program · 1.1 hr4.7

• McCarthy RoadDo not miss

  The historic gravel road is the classic approach into the park mining country and vast mountain scenery.

  Scenic Drive · 4 hr

• Root Glacier Guided Ice HikeDo not miss

  A guided glacier walk adds safe crampon travel, blue ice, and deeper understanding of the living glacier surface.

  Hike · 5.5 hr

• Bonanza Mine Trail

  This brutal climb above Kennecott reaches mine ruins and huge views over glaciers and the Chugach-Wrangell landscape.

  Hike · 7.5 hr5

• Skookum Volcano Trail

  This Nabesna Road hike explores volcanic terrain, tundra ridges, and broad interior Alaska views.

  Hike · 4 hr4.5

• Copper River Overlook

  This easy stop frames the Copper River basin and distant Wrangell peaks near the main visitor center.

  Viewpoint · 33 min

• Erie Mine Trail

  This long Kennecott-area route explores mining remnants and glacier-side terrain with far fewer hikers.

  Hike · 6.5 hr

• Kennicott Glacier View

  The view from Kennecott shows the debris-covered glacier and the scale of ice moving through the valley.

  Viewpoint · 45 min

• Malaspina Glacier Flightseeing

  A flight over the Malaspina Glacier reveals one of North America's most extraordinary piedmont glacier landscapes.

  Viewpoint · 2.3 hr

• Nabesna Road

  The remote north-side road offers volcano views, tundra, mining history, and a quieter face of the park.

  Scenic Drive · 5.5 hr

• Rambler Mine Trail

  A short Nabesna-side hike reaches mining remains and wide-open tundra views.

  Hike · 1.5 hr

• Wrangell-St. Elias Backcountry

  The park rewards expert backpackers and packrafters with vast valleys, glaciers, and true Alaska wilderness solitude.

  Hike · 10 hr

And 1 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.