Wilderness is unexpected. We follow nature, not the other way around, and every day here is different.
― The Greatest American Road Trip
Date Created: December 2, 1980.
Location: Southeastern Alaska, USA, and extends into the Yukon Territory and British Columbia in Canada.
Size: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is the largest national park in the United States, covering an area of approximately 13.2 million acres (5.3 million hectares).
Wrangell-St Elias is an enormous wilderness. It includes four mountain ranges with nine of the highest peaks in North America. There are two access points to enter; the Nabesna Road and McCarthy Road. I drove between 10 and 30 miles per hour on the McCarthy Road which was pitted with potholes, bumps, dips and frost heaves- but hey, scenic. Along the route a bald eagle glared down at my disruption, native fishermen used nets to capture salmon along the Copper River, birds sang and chipmunks scurried across my path as I traveled through forests, beside meadows, raging rivers, cascading waterfalls and the remains of old railroad bridges built in the early 1900’s. The historic 13 story high Kennicott mine and surrounding town tour is highly recommended. Five miles away the small, rustic town of McCarthy is delightful. Outdoor activities including rafting, hiking, fishing, scenic flights over massive glaciers, and a short walk to the toe of Root Glacier can be part of a day visit. Of course, dream big: the wilderness awaits the adventurous soul.