Did you know that Alaska is home to the largest national park in the entire United States? The Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is equal to six Yellowstone National Parks, and everything about the Wrangell-St. Elias park seems to be large-scale. From its mountain ranges to its glaciers to its rivers and streams, this Alaska National Park is a wonder to behold.
Because Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is so huge, this post will be our first in a series about the largest National Park in the United States. We’ll give you a generic overview in this first post and then dive into some of the specific activities and attractions within the park later on. Be sure to check back to get more details on outdoor recreational activities in which you might be interested.
But first, let us tell you a little more about the park itself. Four major mountain ranges come together in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, which means that 16 of the United States’ highest peaks can be found in this isolated region. Whether you want to get out and hike or simply drive through the park, this isolated mountain area has spectacular views, so be sure to bring your camera!
The edge of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is located about five hours from the Anchorage, AK area. Depending on what kind of activities you enjoy, you can spend one, three, or many more days exploring this Alaska National Park. No matter how long you plan to stay, we do recommend that you fly into Anchorage and get an Alaska RV rental for your journey. You can see many great sights from the park’s main highways, giving you a comfortable a scenic drive.
Plus, you can find many campgrounds in the area that can accommodate overnight, week-long, or extended stays. You can find a campgrounds map on the National Park Service website’s Alaska Camping and Lodging pages that details where you can stay in or around the Wrangell-St. Elias area. When making reservations or calling to inquire further about Alaska RV rentals, be sure to ask about the best place to camp.
Other than camping, there’s no end to outdoor activities in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Outdoor recreation opportunities include hiking, backpacking, flightseeing, mountain biking, guided tours, river trips, sea kayaking, mountaineering, fishing, hunting, off-roading with ATVs, and more. You could easily spend a week or much longer with all the outdoor recreational options available at this National Park.
No matter how long you plan to stay, begin your adventure at the park’s main Visitor Center near Glenallen, AK. Here you can watch a movie about the park, check out a 3-D interactive map exhibit, hike a nature trail, take a guided walk with a park ranger, and get to know all about the Wrangell-St. Elias park. Plus, you can overnight at nearby Copper Center. A stop at the visitor’s center can help you know where and how you want to explore the park as well as give you important safety tips about wildlife viewing and recreational activities within the park.
We have only just begun to scratch the surface of what you can do and see within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Stay tuned for more posts within the next few weeks that go into more detail about activities within this National Park and Alaska vacation destination.
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