Six Day Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Road Trip

Alaska’s Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is the largest national park in the nation, and it provides Alaska-size adventures to match. This six-day itinerary takes you to the old mining towns of McCarthy and Kennicott and along the Nabesna Road in the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

Day 1: Anchorage

Rent a car in Anchorage. The 300 mile drive to the historical mining towns of Kennicott and McCarthy takes a full day, and can be broken into four legs between major communities that serve as good rest and refuel stops: About 45 minutes to Palmer; another two and a half hours to Glennallen; a little under an hour and a half to Chitina, and then two or three hours to drive the remaining 60 miles on the McCarthy Road from Chitina to McCarthy. Just beyond Glennallen, in the small town of Copper Center, make sure to stop at the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Visitor Center for interpretive displays, Rangers to answer your questions, stunning mountain views on clear days, and the Ahtna Cultural Center with information on local Athabascan culture. 

The last 60 miles of roadway from Chitina to McCarthy are notorious for their narrow, unpaved, tire-popping roughness, so many rental car companies won’t let you drive it in their vehicles. If that’s the case, you can also take a small plane or a shuttle bus from Chitina to McCarthy. If you drive to McCarthy, you'll park your car and walk across a footbridge and walk or take a shuttle the remaining half mile to the town of McCarthy. A variety of accommodation options, including cabins, lodges, glamping, a historic hotel, B&Bs, and more can be found off of the McCarthy Road and in the town of McCarthy, along with a lodge 5 miles down the road in Kennicott (accessible by shuttle). Settle into your accommodations after an exciting day on the road. 

Day 2: Kennicott/McCarthy

The next two days will be spent exploring this fascinating and beautiful area. The once-booming towns of Kennicott and McCarthy are located deep in the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. At 13.2 million acres, Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest national park in the United States — about the size of six Yellowstones put together. Copper was discovered here in the early 1900s, and the towns of McCarthy and Kennicott quickly sprang up to tend to the needs of workers with the Kennecott Copper Corporation. Modern but simple lodgings, restaurants, and services are available in McCarthy and Kennicott today, but the pace of life in this isolated area is slow and unhurried. 

Today, you'll head out to Kennicott, which is a 5-mile shuttle bus ride from McCarthy. Spend some time wandering through the historic mine buildings and feel like you've been transported back in time. Better yet, book a guided mine tour that will take you through the maze of walkways, staircases, and impressive equipment of the 14-story Mill Building. After that, enjoy one of the many hikes that start from Kennicott, including the relatively flat Root Glacier Trail that takes you to the toe of beautiful Root Glacier, or the challenging hikes up to mine ruins at Jumbo or Bonanza Mines. Once you're done with your adventures, make sure to build in some time to stroll the unpaved streets of McCarthy, featuring a couple of dining options, a saloon, a small mercantile, and plenty of Alaska charm.

Day 3: Kennicott/McCarthy

McCarthy serves as a great base camp for adventures into Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, which is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains 9 of the 16 highest peaks in the United States. Book one of the many guided tours to embark on some Alaska-sized adventures in this immense park. Go flightseeing high over this magnificent landscape, book a fly-in hiking or backpacking trip, take a guided glacier trekking trip on Root Glacier, or take a guided whitewater-rafting trip on the nearby river. Overnight again at your accommodation of choice in McCarthy or Kennicott.

Day 4: Copper Center

Today you’ll start making your way towards the northern reaches of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park to the Nabesna Road. You can make the drive from McCarthy to the Nabesna Road in one day, but we recommend breaking up the drive into two days so you can have plenty of time to stop for sights along the way. Have a leisurely morning in McCarthy and then head back out on the McCarthy Road. Your final destination today is Copper Center, about a 3 1/2 hour drive from McCarthy. 

After completing the drive on the McCarthy Road, head down the Edgerton Highway for 15 minutes passed Chitina for a stop at Liberty Falls State Recreation Site, a small state park with a campground and day use area next to the rushing Liberty Falls – a great place to have a picnic and stretch your legs. Continue to the end of the Edgerton Highway and then head north on the Richardson Highway. Once you reach Copper Center, you can hike on one of the interpretive trails from the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Visitor Center or one of the hikes that leave from the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge. The small town of Copper Center has a couple of restaurants along with the George I. Ashby Memorial Museum. Overnight at the lodge or one of the b&bs or vacation rentals in the area. 

Day 5: Nabesna Road

The Nabesna Road is a 42-mile unpaved road that leads into the northern reaches of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. This remote road is less travelled than the McCarthy Road, offering access to even more off-the-beaten-track landscapes in the country’s largest national park. Head north on the Richardson Highway and fill up on gas and supplies in the town of Glennallen. Continue on the Tok-Cutoff Highway to the town of Slana, where you’ll find the beginning of the Nabesna Road (about a 2 hour drive from Copper Center).

While you can drive the Nabesna Road out and back in about three hours, we recommend staying the night at the small campground or at the Wrangell Mountains Wilderness Lodge located at mile 28 of the Nabesna Road to fully appreciate the area and have plenty of time for sightseeing. Before you start driving the Nabesna Road, stop by the Slana Ranger Station for information on road conditions and sights along the way. Along the Nabesna Road you’ll find expansive views of the Wrangell, Mentasta, and Nutzotin Mountains, along with access to hiking trails, waysides with gorgeous photo-ops, wildlife viewing opportunities, and fishing. 

Day 6: On to your next adventure

Start making your way back to one of Alaska’s hub communities to fly back home or embark on your next adventure. From Slana, both Anchorage and Fairbanks are about a 5-hour drive