Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Camping Overview

Comment On This Article

Add to My Favorites

There are no federal camping facilities in the park. 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. The Bureau of Land Management and the state of Alaska run campgrounds along the Richardson Highway, Tok Cutoff, and Edgerton Highway. You may camp anywhere in the park, but be aware that there is considerable private land, particularly along the Nabesna and McCarthy road corridors.

There are currently 14 cabins that have been restored and that are available for public use on a first-come, first-served basis. Wrangell-St. Elias does not have a cabin reservation system at this time, but we are exploring this option for the future. Users should not expect amenities or furnishings of any kind. You must bring all personal belongings that you will require, including sleeping and dining equipment.

Please leave cabins set up for emergency use and cleaner than when you arrived. Replenish any firewood stored in the cabins for the next user. Also, be aware of any safety precautions, including bear avoidance. Some of the cabins that have been restored for public use include those at Nugget Creek, Jake's Bar, Hubert's Landing, "Too Much" Johnson (Chisana), Chelle Lake and Solo Mountain. Nugget Creek cabin is accessible from the McCarthy Road. The other five cabins mentioned here require bush flight access. For more information, call the Park Headquarters.

Other cabins or structures shown on U.S.G.S. maps may be used to locate oneself in an emergency. Most are either privately owned or in complete disrepair and may not provide adequate shelter from the elements. Many of these structures were constructed in the early part of this century and are an important historic resource in the park. If you must seek shelter in these cabins during an emergency, please do not disturb them any more than is essential to protect your life.