Hike the USA's Largest National Park: Wrangell–St. Elias

Choose from 5 fantastic day hikes to get a glimpse of the largest national park in the USA.

Hiking Easy, Moderate, Difficult, Severe

Description

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve reigns as the largest national park in the USA, protecting over 13.2 million acres of land. The park “extends from the ocean to the top of Mount Saint Elias—an area larger than the country of Switzerland,” according to OutdoorProject.com. “Almost the entirety of the Wrangell Mountain Range is situated within the park,” they continue.

To help put this massive scale in perspective, Wrangell-St. Elias is the size of six Yellowstones, "with peaks upon peaks and glaciers after glaciers," according to the NPS. "Follow any braided river or stream to its source and you will find either a receding, advancing, or tidewater glacier. The park lets you sample representative Alaska wildlife as well as historic mining sites," they continue.

Since Wrangell-St. Elias is so absurdly massive, there's no way you'll be able to see it all, unless you embark on a multi-week expedition and attempt a full backcountry crossing of the park. If you're not quite up for an adventure of that scale, here are five excellent day hikes to help you get a taste of the beauty found in this rugged Alaskan wilderness!

Sources: NPS.gov OutdoorProject.com

Routes included