State Parks and National Parks

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the largest national park in the United States, encompasses the vast Wrangell mountains and parts of the Saint Elias and Chugach mountain ranges.

Designated part of a four-unit World Heritage site in 1986 for its unique beauty, the park contains many glaciers, some near the coast, which calve into Icy Bay.

The park is reached from the Edgerton (at Chitina) and Glenn (at Slana) Highways.

This is a park for wilderness-lovers. It is wonderful for backpacking, hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, mountaineering, river running, kayaking along the coast and cross-country skiing. There are numerous ponds throughout the park to observe waterfowl.

There are few trails. Visitors may camp anywhere except on private land. Car campgrounds are located along highways near the park. Accommodations are provided at privately-operated fishing camps, guide cabins and lodges in the park.