Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is the point where the Chugach, Wrangell and St. Elias mountain ranges all converge in what is often referred to as the "mountain kingdom of North America." This is the largest unit of the National Park System. The park includes the continent's largest assemblage of glaciers and the greatest collection of peaks above 16,000 feet.
At A Glance
In The Park
Superintendent: Meg JensenPhone Number: 907-822-5234
Entrance Fees: Free
Sights: Mount St. Elias; Kennecott; Chitina; Liberty Falls Trail; Nabesna; McCarthy Road; Root Glacier Trail
Endangered Species: Grizzly Bear; Lynx; Stellar Sea-lion (threatened); Kittlitz's Murrelets (threatened)
Important Dates
Established as Park: December 2, 1980By The Numbers
Acres: 1.32Highest Point: Mount Saint Elias (18008 feet)
Annual Visitation: 50,336 (2006)
Location
Latitude / Longitude :61.242840 / -143.216600 (map it)
State: CO
Nearby Big City: Denver, CO
Gateway Communities: McCarthy, AK; Nabesna, AK; Slana, AK; Galkana, AK; Chitina, AK; Glennallen, AK; Tok, AK; Valdez, AK; Cordova, AK
Nearby Airports: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
Green Features
Has Recycling? : YesHas Shuttle System? : No
Has Volunteer Program? : Yes
In Detail
History of Wrangell - St Elias Where History Meets Natural Resources The old mining town of Kennecott offers one extraordinary piece of history in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Structures remaining at the mill site and mines re ... read more.
Introduction Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is the point where the Chugach, Wrangell and St. Elias mountain ranges all converge in what is often referred to as the "mountain kingdom of North America." This is t ... read more.
Visiting Wrangell - St Elias Visiting The Park With towering mountains, massive glaciers, powerful rivers, a seemingly endless variety of flora and fauna—plus Kennecott, a National Historic Landmark—Wrangell-St. Elia ... read more.
Wrangell - St Elias In Depth
News from the Parks
Gettysburg Address to Return for Visitor Center Grand Opening
August 21, 2008 - 5:04pm
There are only five known manuscripts of the famous Gettysburg Address, penned by President Abraham Lincoln — one of those original documents is scheduled to appear in Gettysburg, during the grand opening celebration of the new Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center.
August 21, 2008 - 5:04pm
There are only five known manuscripts of the famous Gettysburg Address, penned by President Abraham Lincoln — one of those original documents is scheduled to appear in Gettysburg, during the grand opening celebration of the new Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center.
Anglers Wary of North Cascades Plan to Limit Fishing
August 21, 2008 - 10:51am
Not much comes easy in the precipitous ice-and-rock geography of North Cascades National Park -- not the hiking, not the high-lakes fishing, and across the park's 40 years of existence, not even fish management. This is what I'm thinking during the sweaty hike out of the stunning cirque that embraces Monogram Lake, where I've spent a couple hours catching and releasing dozens of pretty cutthroat trout with two mountain anglers who fear that soon there will be no fish in the park's high lakes. Whether trout should be in these lakes at all has been an issue since the park was created in 1968, and it is coming to a head with the release in July of the park's voluminous "Mountain Lakes Fishery Management Plan."
August 21, 2008 - 10:51am
Not much comes easy in the precipitous ice-and-rock geography of North Cascades National Park -- not the hiking, not the high-lakes fishing, and across the park's 40 years of existence, not even fish management. This is what I'm thinking during the sweaty hike out of the stunning cirque that embraces Monogram Lake, where I've spent a couple hours catching and releasing dozens of pretty cutthroat trout with two mountain anglers who fear that soon there will be no fish in the park's high lakes. Whether trout should be in these lakes at all has been an issue since the park was created in 1968, and it is coming to a head with the release in July of the park's voluminous "Mountain Lakes Fishery Management Plan."
Bison Advocates Go for Space
August 21, 2008 - 10:48am
As rancher Rick Knobe slowly guides his pickup around the iconic American bison on the prairie here, he reflects on a time when they roamed freely. "I figure the buffalo were there first, the elk were there first, the wolves were there first," he says, looking over his herd of 28 American bison, on his Lazy RRse Buffalo Ranch. "I figure these animals should be given more the right of way to roam."
August 21, 2008 - 10:48am
As rancher Rick Knobe slowly guides his pickup around the iconic American bison on the prairie here, he reflects on a time when they roamed freely. "I figure the buffalo were there first, the elk were there first, the wolves were there first," he says, looking over his herd of 28 American bison, on his Lazy RRse Buffalo Ranch. "I figure these animals should be given more the right of way to roam."
Rapid Climate Change Threatens to Thaw Icy Wonderland of Alaska
August 21, 2008 - 10:43am
I was in Alaska for 10 days in August, on a fellowship with Michigan State University's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism and the Union of Concerned Scientists, to see firsthand the effects of global warming. I didn't have to look far. I watched massive chunks of glacial ice breaking off into the sea.
August 21, 2008 - 10:43am
I was in Alaska for 10 days in August, on a fellowship with Michigan State University's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism and the Union of Concerned Scientists, to see firsthand the effects of global warming. I didn't have to look far. I watched massive chunks of glacial ice breaking off into the sea.
Park Seeks Construction Comment
August 21, 2008 - 10:38am
The National Park Service proposes to construct new housing, operations and recreation facilities in Big Bend National Park. The public, organizations and other agencies may review and comment upon a draft environmental assessment (EA) describing the proposal. The new construction would occur at Panther Junction, Rio Grande Village and Castolon. The proposal is to construct 27 structures, of which 15 would serve new purposes and 12 would replace temporary or inadequate facilities.
August 21, 2008 - 10:38am
The National Park Service proposes to construct new housing, operations and recreation facilities in Big Bend National Park. The public, organizations and other agencies may review and comment upon a draft environmental assessment (EA) describing the proposal. The new construction would occur at Panther Junction, Rio Grande Village and Castolon. The proposal is to construct 27 structures, of which 15 would serve new purposes and 12 would replace temporary or inadequate facilities.
