Image
Copper River Valley Alaska Hero
Photo Credit: ATIA, Michael DeYoung
X

Copper River Valley

Copper River Valley

The Copper River Valley encompasses over 20,000 square miles and is legendary for Copper River red and king salmon. Home to several Ahtna Athabascan villages and surrounded by the Chugach National Forest and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the area is a popular destination for backcountry recreation, superb sport fishing, river rafting, and learning about Alaska Native culture.

The town of Glennallen provides lodging, visitors services, and is the jumping off point for backcountry adventures into Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the largest national park in the United States. Copper Center, which lies a 15 miles south of Glennallen, has additional lodging and visitor services and is the home to the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Headquarters & Visitor Center and Ahtna Cultural Center. Fishing outfitters located GakonaChitina, and Copper Center offer guided sportfishing trips in the Copper River Valley.

For those interested in visiting the historic mining town of McCarthy, take the rugged 90-mile McCarthy Road for an exciting and scenic drive into the heart of Wrangell-St.-Elias National Park. From there, visitors can explore copper mining history at Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark and embark on hiking, rafting, glacier trekking, and flightseeing adventures into Wrangell-St. Elias.

COPPER RIVER VALLEY: CITIES & TOWNS

COPPER RIVER VALLEY: PARKS

Share
Image
Southcentral Climate Alaska Hero

Local Climate & Weather

For Alaska's day-to-day weather, it’s best to plan for a bit of everything. Learn more about weather in this area.

Travel Inspiration

#TravelAlaska