Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve

Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark is found within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. This early 1900's copper mining operation overcame numerous challenges and found success in the heart of the Alaskan wilderness.
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.
Map showing location of park.
Wrangell-St. Elias Subsistence Resource Commission Announces Meeting October 4 - 5, 2024
The Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Subsistence Resource Commission will meet at the park’s Visitor Center in Copper Center and by teleconference on Friday, October 4, and Saturday, October 5, to consider a range of issues related to subsistence hunting and fishing in the park. This is the alternate meeting date announced in the Federal Register notice.
Firewood Available by Lottery at Wrangell-St. Elias
COPPER CENTER, AK –Approximately five to seven cords of dead and downed wood generated from hazard tree removal and wildland fuels reduction at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is available for general use. The wood will be given away to members of the public by lottery. Each lottery winner will be allowed one cord per household. This wood is intended to be used by members of the public for home heating.
Kennecott Guided Tour Prospectus Released
The National Park Service (NPS) released a prospectus on September 3, 2024, soliciting proposals to award a ten (10) year concession contract to provide guided tours of historic buildings within the Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark.
Researchers Conduct Emergency Management Project along McCarthy Road Corridor
This August, researchers in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve will begin a multi-year study on emergency management in the McCarthy Road Corridor. Researchers will schedule interviews with some residents to learn about local communities and issues related to emergency management scenarios. The researchers are selecting interviewees based on their background, emergency management experience, and local knowledge.
Additional Subsistence Hunting Permit Events Announced for Kennecott-McCarthy and Chitina.
Permits available for pick up in McCarthy on August 22 and in Chitina on August 24.
Glaciers loom over the ocean with large snowy mountains rising into blue skies
Photo by NPS Photo/ Neal Herbert
Two backpackers sitting in an alpine meadow with snowy mountains in the background
Photo by NPS Photo/ Bryan Petrtyl
Historic, large, red buildings with mountains in the background
Photo by NPS Photo/ Matthew Yarbrough
A large glacier with stripes of different colored rock nestled in between barren mountain slopes.
Photo by NPS Photo/ Bryan Petrtyl
Four large snow covered mountains rise above dense forest into blue skies.
Photo by NPS Photo/ Bryan Petrtyl
Copper Center Visitor Center
Photo by National Park Service
Slana Ranger Station
Photo by National Park Service
Chitina Ranger Station
Photo by National Park Service
Kennecott Visitor Center in the historic Blackburn School
Photo by National Park Service
Yakutat coastal area
Photo by National Park Service