Guide to 3 Days in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is a phenomenal place to visit on any Alaska vacation. It may not be as well known as Denali National Park, but it is just as impressive. Many adventure seekers carve out time to explore this park. But the park has a lot of options for families and more casual visitors as well. This is our guide to 3 days in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. It does mention some of the more adventurous activity options, but most of these ideas are well suited for people of most ages and abilities.ย 

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Overview

Located in southeastern Alaska, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is the U.S.’s largest national park, covering more than 13 million acres. The park boasts spectacular mountain ranges, like the Wrangell mountains, St. Elias mountain range, and Chugach mountains.

Mount St. Elias is one of the highest peaks in North America. There is a diverse range of landscapes including massive glaciers, and a variety of ecosystems, from temperate rainforests to alpine tundra. This is one of the more remote national parks in the United States but it is also one of the most pristine in terms of natural beauty.ย 

Best Tips to Visit Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Since Wrangell-St. Elias is more remote than some of the other Alaska national parks, here are some tips to get you started with your planning.

When is the best time to visit?

Even though Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is open year round, it is not really accessible year round. The primary visitor season is from mid-May until mid-September. However, snow can linger in the spring and arrive early in September. This will truncate the primary season, especially since there are only two road in the entire park, and most of the visitor areas cannot be accessed by private vehicles. 

The best time to plan a visit would be June-August. But the absolute best month to visit is July. This is when the temperatures will be the most moderate and there will be less chance of rain (or snow). The only downside to July (and June) is that it is also when the mosquito population will be at its highest. Which leads to the next point….

What should I pack?

If you are staying inside the park at either McCarthy or Kennicott, you will need to pack light. Since you can’t drive to your hotel, you will either need to take a shuttle from the McCarthy footbridge- which means carrying your luggage with you- or book a short flight from Chitina, Glenallen, or Anchorage. Either way, you can’t pack a ton for this leg of your trip. That being said here are some essentials:

  • Two pair of good weather-proof boots or shoes
  • Two-three sets of clothes (depending on how long you are spending in the park). This should include waterproof pants, wool socks, water-wicking shirts, undergarments, a comfortable fleece or jacket, and a more substantial coat or rain gear.ย 
  • Toiletries.ย 
  • Any prescriptions or over the counter medicines you might need. Don’t forget anti-nausea medicine or ear patches if you plan to take a flight-seeing tour.
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Sunscreen
  • A hat to help with mosquitos, sun, rain, etc…ย 
  • Sunglasses
  • Non-electronic leisure activities like a good book, cards, or other travel games. If you have kids with you, bring some simple games and craft activities for down time. There are likely no TV’s in your room (or the entire hotel) and the internet is sketchy at best
  • Water bottles
  • If you have room (especially if you are staying at Kennicott Glacier Lodge) you might want to consider a minimal amount of snacks. There is a general store in McCarthy where you can get snacks, but other than the meals served at the Kennicott Glacier Lodge, there are no options for additional snacking in Kennicott.

How many days should I plan for a Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Visit?

This is just my personal opinion, but unless you are planning a big backcountry adventure, 3-4 days is probably the perfect amount of time to spend at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Here is my rationale. Most people visiting the park are doing so as part of a larger Alaska vacation.

Let’s say you are planning a normal length trip (7 days, 10 days, or 14 days). That means carving out time for Wrangell-St. Elias still gives you time to visit other areas of Alaska (like Valdez, Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula, Denali, and Fairbanks). But it also gives you enough time to do many of the biggest attractions and activities that make Wrangell-St. Elias such a popular destination!ย 

Could you see Wrangell-St. Elias in one day? I mean, you could. But considering how much effort it takes just to get into the park, a day trip might not be worth it. At a minimum I would budget one full day and two overnights. Three full days and four overnights (which is what this guide and itinerary covers) gives you enough time to see and do many of the most popular attractions and activities, without cutting into the rest of your Alaska vacation. 

How to get to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

For the purposes of this guide, I will be focusing on the McCarthy and Kennecott area of the park. There are only two roads that go into the park, Nabesna Road (in the Northern part of the park) and McCarthy Road. If you choose to drive, there are a number of things you need to consider.

1. McCarthy Road is an unpaved road

McCarthy Road is a 59 mile, unpaved gravel road. You can drive private vehicles on this road, but most rental car companies do not allow their vehicles to drive on McCarthy Road. If you don’t want to (or can’t) drive yourself to McCarthy, you can take a shuttle from Glennallen, Alaska. Kennicott Shuttle is the best option in my opinion. But if you are worried about your rental car, you can also book with Copper Spike Transport and leave your car at either Anchorage or Valdez. 

2. You can’t actually drive to McCarthy (or Kennecott)

So, yeah.. the McCarthy Road doesn’t actually go all the way to McCarthy. It actually stops at the Kennicott River Bridge. This is a footbridge that is about 1/2 mile from the town of McCarthy. That means that whether you drive yourself or take a shuttle, you will be walking the last half a mile– and hand carrying your luggage.

During the summer months, there is a shuttle you can take from the footbridge to McCarthy or Kennicott. McCarthy is 1/2 mile from the footbridge and Kennicott is 5 miles from the footbridge. The main option for shuttles between McCarthy and Kennicott is the Copper Town Shuttle.

This shuttle will pick you up for free at the footbridge for the drive into McCarthy (great if you have all your luggage with you and don’t want to walk the 1/2 mile). And if you want to go to Kennicott, you can reserve the shuttle for a small fee.

If you drive yourself to the footbridge there are two parking options. You can park at State Wayside (mile 55) or the McCarthy Road Information Center (mile 58.5) for free or pay to park in the private lot right next to the footbridge.

3. Flying to McCarthy Is the Easiest Option

If the logistics of driving, walking, and shuttling to the McCarthy area makes your head spin, there is a much much easier option. You can take an air taxi from Chitina, Glennallen, or even Anchorage to McCarthy. For our family, this was definitely the better way to get there. It’s a short flight (about 30 minutes) and will literally save you an entire day of travel because the drive is easily 1/2 day both ways. 

Yes, it is pricey, but if you factor the cost into your trip, it is by far the easiest option (and the option our family used).

The air operator we used to get to McCarthy and Kennecott was Wrangell Mountain Air. They offer three flights a day to Kennicott and the flight is about 30 minutes. Even though itโ€™s not billed as flightseeing, the trip is incredibly scenic.ย 

There are a few main air services for the park and depending on where you are coming from, there are numerous air taxis to Kennicott from Anchorage, Glenallen, or Chitina. Another popular air taxi option, especially if you are coming from Anchorage or Glennallen is the Copper Valley Air Service.

Where to Stay at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

โ€‹Kennicott Glacier Lodge

Kennicott Glacier Lodge Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

If you want to stay in the town of Kennecott, the hub of the areas activities, there is really only one choice for hotels. The Kennicott Glacier Lodge is a family run hotel and it is phenomenal! This is where we stayed and you can read an in-depth review of our experience here!

Hotels near or in McCarthy

There are two hotel options in or near McCarthy. McCarthy Lodge & Ma Johnson’s Hotel is a truly authentic Alaskan experience. The hotel itself is charming and the restaurant is actually Michelin rated! You can also stay on the other side of the footbridge Currant Ridge, where you can stay in a private guest house (log cabin).

Cabins and Camping Options

โ€‹There are a few cabin and camping/glamping options for McCarthy. Here are a few that come highly recommended!

  1. Camp McCarthy– this is a fairly new glamping option along the McCarthy River. These are safari style glamping tent-cabins that are fully furnished, heated, and have amazing views!
  2. Blackburn Cabins– these are rustic cabins that are located in the woods between McCarthy and Kennicott. They have their own shuttle too!
  3. Glacier View Campground– this campground is situated just outside of McCarthy and has 22 campgrounds (including RV hookups).
  4. Kennecott River Lodge– another great option for rustic cabins! Amazing views of the Kennecott and Root Glaciers. And there is an ice cream and espresso cafe on site!

The Perfect Wrangell-St. Elias 3-4 Day Itinerary

There are so many fantastic options for activities and attractions at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. If you are looking for a longer or more challenging itinerary, I would check out this guide from Earth Trekkers. But if you are traveling with young kids, you are a little more middle-aged, or you just want a relaxing and fun visit with some adventure, but you don’t want extreme adventure… this itinerary will be perfect for you!

Day One: Arrive at Wrangell-St. Elias and McCarthy or Kennicott

Hub of Alaska

Whether you are driving yourself or flying to McCarthy, stop at The Hub of Alaska for snacks and gas! There are also some great souvenirs and apparently.. amazing food trucks at this gigantic gas station! Note: It’s not a bad idea to stop here after your Wrangell-St. Elias trip as well!

Visit the Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center in Copper Center

This is the main park visitor center for the park and is located about 10 miles south of Glennallen at mile 106.8 on the Richardson Highway. I can’t say enough great things about this visitor center! 

โ€‹There are tons of hands on animal and nature exhibits.

The views of the mountain ranges are fantastic.

Visit the Ahtna Cultural Center to learn about the indigenous people who have lived in the area.

Travel to McCarthy

If you are driving this will take most of the day. If you are flying it will take about an hour to get to the air strip in Chitina, and then 1/2 hour to fly to McCarthy. 

Once you get to McCarthy, check into your lodging option and just chill out! If you are staying in McCarthy see the town. If you are staying at the Kennicott Glacier Lodge, the hotel will provide a free shuttle to Kennicott. Once you arrive, check in, enjoy the panoramic views, and delight in the gourmet dinner served!

Day Two: See the park by land and air

Your itinerary on your first full day in the park will be dictated by tour times. Part of the day will include a flightseeing tour with Wrangell Mountain Air. And the other part of the day will include a hike onto the Root Glacier.

Wrangell Mountain Air Flightseeing Tour

There are 50, 70, 90, and 120 minute options for this once in a lifetime tour! Yes, it is pricey. But in my opinion it is worth every penny! Wrangell-St. Elias is so incredibly massive, there is no way to see even a sliver of the park, except by air. We went on the 90 Bagley Icefield/University Range Tour and it was spectacular. You can read my in-depth review here!

Hike Root Glacier

Yes, you can hike the Root Glacier Trail without a guide. Notwithstanding how challenging it is to get to McCarthy and Kennicott, once you are in the area, Root Glacier is one of the most accessible glacier hikes in Alaska. There is a 2-mile trail from Kennecott to the overlook.

Even though you can hike the Root Glacier Trail without a guide, I would highly recommend booking a half-day glacier hike trip with St. Elias Alpine Guides. This is a 5-6 mile and 5-6 hour guided tour that starts at either 9am or 1pm daily in the peak season. Why do I recommend a guided tour? The St. Elias guides are true experts.. both at the terrain and at keeping you safe. Also, they provide crampons, which are really nice to have while walking on glacial ice.

Day Two Alternatives/Options

If you want more challenging hikes or you don’t want to book the expensive flightseeing tour, St. Elias Alpine Guides has full day tours! You can book a full day hike which will lead you to blue pools you can swim in! Or you can book an ice climbing or ice cave exploration adventure.

Explore town of McCarthy

After your excursions take some time to chill in McCarthy and check out the historic buildings, live music, general store, and grab a bite to eat! This small town is a great place to hang out and has a really relaxed vibe.

The best restaurant options include:

  • Salmon & Bear Restaurant at McCarthy Lodge
  • The Potato
  • Meatza Wagon

Day Three: Mill Town Tour and Float Trip

The next day you will book excursions to float on a glacial lake and tour a historic mine!

As with the Day Two Itinerary, these activities are plug and play. You can do either in the morning or afternoon. Or, you can swap out one of these tours for one of the Day Two suggestions. St. Elias Alpine Guides makes it super easy to combine the Root Glacier Half Day Hike with the Kennecott Mill Mine Tour. When you book your excursions just let them know what you want to do and they will make it work. 

Kennecott Mill Mine Tour

The Kennecott Mill Mine Tour is a must do for any Wrangell-St. Elias National Park trip. This is a national historic landmark run by the national park service. You can actually tour the kennecott ghost town (not really a ghost town but it feels like it) and the Kennecott Mines. These mines dug up and processed copper ore and they were one of the most profitable copper ore mines in the early 20th century.ย 

โ€‹You can read an in-depth review of our experience with the Kennecott Mill Mine Tour.ย 

Half Day Float Trip with St. Elias Alpine Guides

This is another half day trip that is perfect for families with kids (younger than teens) or visitors who might have mobility issues but still want to enjoy the glaciers.

You don’t need experience to participate in this float trip. The guides will give you a little paddling lessons, get you set up with all the equipment and away you go. On the tour you will get to see the Stairway Icefall and amazing views of Mt. Blackburn!

โ€‹When we visited Wrangell-St. Elias, we did book this excursion. And then we all got super sick (flu or covid… not sure). We were super bummed to miss this tour but St. Elias Alpine Guides was really accommodating and gave us a full refund!

Day Four: Say Goodbye to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

โ€‹This is basically day one in reverse. Check out of your accommodations, fly or drive back to Chitina or Glennallen. 

And then continue on your Alaska adventure!

What are the Alaska attractions nearest to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park? We visited Valdez for the days before our Wrangell-St. Elias trip. And after we left, we spent the day at Matanuska Glacier. When you are in Alaska there is always another adventure just around the corner!

National Parks in Alaska

There are 8 national parks in Alaska. Here is a list for handy reference:

  • Denali National Park
  • Kenai Fjords National Park
  • Katmai National Park
  • Lake Clark National Park
  • Gates of the Arctic National Park
  • Kobuk Valley National Park
  • Glacier Bay National Park
  • Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Is it spelled Kennecott or Kennicott?

I felt the need to include this little PS in this article because it can be very confusing. You might have noticed I used both spellings in this article. The proper name for the town is actually Kennicott. But the name of the mining company is Kennecott. Kennecott is also used due to a clerical error when the town was established. But the town is named after a man named Robert Kennicott. 

Still, the two spellings are generally used interchangeably. 

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