When is the best time to visit Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve?

If you want fewer people, go in June, the quietest shoulder-season month. July is the busiest month on average, and January the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.

How much does it cost to visit Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve?

Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve has no entrance fee, according to the National Park Service. Some tours, campgrounds or permits may still cost money.

What are some things to do in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve?

The National Park Service lists 10 things to do in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve, including Crown of the Continent - Park Film, Fishing at Wrangell-St. Elias, Front country Hiking Trails, Ghost Towns, Backpacking in Wrangell-St Elias. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.

When did Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve become a national park?

Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve was established as a national park on December 2, 1980.

What is the closest national park to Wrangell–St. Elias?

Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, about 268 miles away in a straight line.

Alaska · Est. 1980

Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve

Last verified October 1, 2026Free entry

Wrangell-St. Elias is a vast national park that rises from the ocean all the way up to 18,008 ft. At 13.2 million acres, the park is the same size as Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Switzerland combined! Within this wild landscape, people continue to live off the land as they have done for centuries. This rugged, beautiful land is filled with opportunities for adventure. — nps.gov

Glaciers loom over the ocean with large snowy mountains rising into blue skies — Photo: NPS Photo/ Neal Herbert

State: Alaska
Established: December 2, 1980
Size: 8,323,146 acres
2025 visits: 108,840
Busiest-park rank: #55 of 63
Entrance: Free entry

Best time to visit

When is Wrangell–St. Elias quiet?

Wrangell–St. Elias is busiest in July and quietest in January. For a quieter visit outside the dead of the off-season, June is the quietest shoulder-season month, going by National Park Service visitor counts for 2021–2025.

In 2025 the park logged 108,840 recreation visits, the #55 busiest of the 63 national parks. Quiet months can also mean closed roads or facilities, so check current conditions before you go.

Crowd calendar, all 63 parks →Is Wrangell–St. Elias open right now? →

Average visits by month

2021–2025 · NPS IRMA

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Quietest: JanuaryBusiest: July

Fees & passes

What it costs to visit Wrangell–St. Elias

Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve charges no entrance fee.

From the NPS fees data, checked October 1, 2026. Fees on nps.gov

Reservations · 2026

No park-wide reservation

The National Park Service lists no timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve. Campgrounds, tours and backcountry permits may still need booking, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.

Every park that needs a reservation in 2026 →

Things to do

Things to do in Wrangell–St. Elias

The National Park Service lists 10 things to do in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve, from quick stops to full-day outings. The shortest come first.

All activities →

Crown of the Continent - Park Film22-28 Minutes · Summer
Soar above mountains that make their own weather and glacier-carved valleys still emerging from the Ice Age, as you return with producer John Grabowska to a place of his boyhood dreams: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park…
Pets OK
Fishing at Wrangell-St. Elias1-8 Hours · All year
Sport fishing in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park offers many opportunities. Arctic grayling, dolly varden, lake trout, steelhead/rainbow trout, whitefish, sockeye salmon, coho salmon, and chinook salmon are widespread.
Pets OK
Front country Hiking Trails2-4 Hours · All year
Hiking in Wrangell-St. Elias can be spectacular and we encourage you to go, but be prepared! Most of the front country hiking trails are maintained for the first few miles and then become routes into the backcountry,…
Pets OK
Ghost Towns6-8 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall
Ghost towns were once thriving communities that have dwindled over the decades, often created by the search for gold, copper and other valuable minerals. Some vanished entirely after the boom or were absorbed into newer…
Reservation/permitFeePets OK
Backpacking in Wrangell-St EliasAll year
A backpacking trip in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve can be an exciting and rewarding experience if you are prepared for the difficulties of traveling through rugged, undeveloped land.
Pets OK
Flight SeeingSummer
One of the best ways to experience the beauty and tremendous size of this park is from above! Fly past massive peaks, over jagged glaciers, and endless expanses of wild Alaska! There is a variety of air services…
Reservation/permitFee
McCarthy Road -- Drive, Hike, Bike, View Wildlife, Picnic & Scenic Vistas.Summer
Drive, Hike, Bike, View Wildlife, Picnic & Scenic Vistas on McCarthy Road.
Pets OK
Nabesna Road -- Drive, Hike, Bike, View Wildlife, Picnic & Scenic Vistas.
Drive, Hike, View Wildlife, Picnic & Scenic Vistas on Nabesna Road
Pets OK

Show all 10 things to do

Virtual ToursAll year
Pets OK
WebcamsAll year
Pets OK

From the National Park Service (checked October 1, 2026). Each title opens its nps.gov page with current conditions.

By activity

The number shows how many of the 63 national parks offer each activity.

Weather

Weather at Wrangell–St. Elias

Varies widely depending on location in park and time of year. Visit https://www.nps.gov/wrst/planyourvisit/weather.htm for detailed information.

From the National Park Service.

Getting there

Getting to Wrangell–St. Elias

The administrative building and main park visitor center are located along the Richardson Highway (Hwy 4), which is a paved state highway that runs through Copper Center, AK. The buildings are 8 miles south of the Glenn Highway and Richardson Highway intersection near Glennallen, Alaska.

This is approximately 200 miles east of Anchorage, AK and 250 miles south of Fairbanks, AK.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Copper Center, AK, 99573 · Directions on nps.gov

Nearby

National parks near Wrangell–St. Elias

Straight-line distance between park centers; drive times are rough estimates.

Wrangell–St. Elias is the orange dot. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.

Two backpackers sitting in an alpine meadow with snowy mountains in the background — Photo: NPS Photo/ Bryan Petrtyl

Historic, large, red buildings with mountains in the background — Photo: NPS Photo/ Matthew Yarbrough

FAQ

Wrangell–St. Elias, quickly

When is the best time to visit Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve?: If you want fewer people, go in June, the quietest shoulder-season month. July is the busiest month on average, and January the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.
How much does it cost to visit Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve?: Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve has no entrance fee, according to the National Park Service. Some tours, campgrounds or permits may still cost money.
Do you need a reservation for Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve in 2026?: The National Park Service lists no park-wide timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve. Campgrounds, tours and some popular hikes may still need bookings, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
What are some things to do in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve?: The National Park Service lists 10 things to do in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve, including Crown of the Continent - Park Film, Fishing at Wrangell-St. Elias, Front country Hiking Trails, Ghost Towns, Backpacking in Wrangell-St Elias. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.
When did Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve become a national park?: Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve was established as a national park on December 2, 1980.
What is the closest national park to Wrangell–St. Elias?: Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, about 268 miles away in a straight line.

Sources · 3

1.Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve — official site · National Park Service
2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
3.Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)

About this page

Park facts, photos, fees and visitor counts come from the National Park Service (NPS Data API and Visitor Use Statistics), last checked October 1, 2026. Park'd is an independent app and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. For official, current information, visit nps.gov/wrst.

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Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve