Addresses

Photo (c) Alaska Discovery

Getting There

The park is located on the Alaska Highway system and the interior is accessible by two state-maintained roads (the Nabesna Road and the McCarthy Road) and by aircraft. The park can be reached from Anchorage via the Glenn Highway (Alaska 1). At Glennallen, the Glenn Highway meets the Richardson Highway, which skirts the park's western boundary en route to Valdez, a coastal city served by the state ferry system. The Tok Cutoff coming south from the Alaska Highway borders the northwestern corner of the park.

From these highways, two unpaved roads penetrate the park. The Chitina/McCarthy Road extends 61 miles from Chitina to the Kennicott River, just west of McCarthy. The road follows the old Copper River and Northwest Railroad route. High clearance, two wheel drive vehicles usually can make the trip in summer. The road is generally not maintained in winter.

The northern portion of the park can be reached via the Nabesna Road. From Slana on the Tok Cutoff, it extends 45 miles to Nabesna, an inactive privately owned mining area. Check at the Slana Ranger Station at the start of the Nabesna Road for the latest road conditions.

There are no maintained trails in the park, but several hiking routes and abandoned roads lead deep into the park. Contact headquarters or a park ranger station for a listing of locations and conditions.

The abandoned Kennicott copper mine in the park interior is an increasingly popular destination. The NPS is studying possible acquisition of the 75-year-old buildings and mineral rights. The privately owned mine is a National Historic Landmark.

Visitor Centers

There is a visitor center at park headquarters, at Mile 105.5 on the Old Richardson Highway. Smaller exhibits and informational displays are located at the Yakutat, Slana and Chitina ranger stations. The Chitina Visitor Contact Station provides information about the park and the McCarthy Road. It is open daily during June through August, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. There is also a 10-minute slide show on the Chitina Valley offered, during the summer months only. Services available in Chitina include a post office, gas station, food store, tire repair, cafe and telephone.

The Slana Ranger Station is located at the 0.5 mile mark on Nabesna Road. This 42-mile gravel road from Slana to Nabesna traverses the headwaters country of the Copper and Tanana drainages. The park headquarters visitor center and Slana Ranger Station are handicap accessible.

The Yakutat District Ranger Station, is in Yakutat, approximately 200 air miles northwest of Juneau, 190 air miles southeast of Cordova and 300 air miles southeast of Anchorage. The District Ranger Station serves both Wrangell-St. Elias National Park/Preserve and Glacier Bay National Park/Preserve. Yakutat (pop. 500) is a Tlingit settlement on the Gulf of Alaska.

Nabesna District Ranger Station
(907) 822-5238

Chitina District Ranger Station
(907) 823-2205 or (907) 822-5234

Slana Ranger station
(907) 822-5238

Weather

The weather is like that of most of Interior Alaska. Summers are cloudy and cool, but clear, hot days are not uncommon in July, the warmest month. August and September tend to be cool and wet, but with fewer mosquitoes. Fall can be delightfully clear, but the season is short. Winters are cold, with temperatures dropping to 50 below zero. Average snow cover in winter is two feet. In the spring, clear skies, increasingly longer days and warming temperatures break winter's hold on the land with dramatic quickness. Throughout the year, the weather can change quickly, so it is wise to pack for any season with clothing that can be layered, ready to peel off or add as conditions dictate.

The prime backcountry season is from June 20 to August 20 due to snow depths at higher elevations. Some years the snow melts early and arrives late, extending the backcountry season. Consider a trip at lower elevations or be prepared for slogging through snow in this shoulder season. Hunting season, primarily in the preserve, is from August 10 to September 20. The main mountaineering season is mid-March through early June. Wildflowers and mosquitoes peak in June and July. Consider bringing a headnet. June and July are also the warmest months, but it can snow any month of the year in the highcountry. Drizzling rains are common throughout the summer and, in general, rainfall increases in August and September, especially along the coast. The main wildfire season is May through July in drier years.

Lodging & Camping

Check on accommodations and make reservations in advance, for there are few establishments and their seasons vary considerably. Motels, restaurants and roadhouses provide standard tourist-travel services in major communities along the highways near the park and in the coastal communities of Yakutat, Valdez, and Cordova.

There are no federal facilities in the park. You may camp anywhere in the park, but be aware that there is considerable private land, particularly along the Nabesna and McCarthy road corridors.

Rustic accommodations are provided at privately operated fishing camps, guide cabins, and full-service lodges in various parts of the park. For a list, contact the park. The Bureau of Land Management and the State of Alaska run campgrounds along the Richardson Highway, Tok Cutoff, and Edgerton Highway. Several private lodges and bed and breakfast establishments are located along the McCarthy and Nabesna roads, in McCarthy and Kennicott, and in the highway communities.

Food & Supplies

Full service groceries are available in Anchorage and Valdez. Most food and supplies are available in Glennallen and Tok. Limited supplies are available in Chitina, McCarthy, and Slana.

Policies & Permits

No policies are required for non-commercial uses. Reservations are recommended for most visitor services from commercial vendors.

The park has regulations controlling the collection of rocks and minerals, the use of all-terrain vehicles and encounters with historic cabins, debris from the mining era, or artifacts from native peoples. Visitors must check with rangers for information regarding regulated activities and to obtain permits.

Alaska State hunting licenses and fishing licenses are required for all hunters and anglers age 16 or older. Bag and possession limits vary by species and by area. Always check current hunting regulations.