Wrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness
It is a land of remote valleys, wild rivers, and a fabulous wildlife population that includes the world's finest Dall sheep, grizzly bears, black bears, caribou, moose, bison, mountain goats, wolves, wolverines, beavers, coyotes, foxes, and marmots. In the north, the glaciated peaks drop to tundra and boreal forested uplands. In the south, massive glaciers spread from the mountains almost to the Gulf of Alaska. Several trails provide foot or horse access, but large braided rivers will often stop your progress. Mosquitoes are thick in the low country during the summer, and enough snow accumulates in the high country to make avalanches a year-round danger.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| State | Alaska |
| Size | 9.4 million acres |
| Designated | 1980, by Congress |
| Center point | 61.10° N, 143.66° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 37) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 1.4 mi
- 1.6 miChitina Tin Shop ↗Chitina, AK
- 2.5 miKansky's ↗Slana, AK
- 7.5 miMcCarthy General Store ↗McCarthy, AK
- 8.3 miMcCarthy Power Plant ↗McCarthy, AK
- 9.7 miChistochina Trading Post ↗Gakona, AK
- 13.4 miSlana Roadhouse ↗Slana, AK
- 14.2 miMillion Dollar Bridge ↗Cordova, AK
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Alaska
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Wrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness?
9.4 million acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Wrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness?
The National Park Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Wrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness in?
Alaska.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Wrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1980.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Wrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 61.105° N, 143.663° W. Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve is 2 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Wrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness?
Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve (2 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Wrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness?
The National Register has 8 listings within 15 miles, including Copper River and Northwestern Railway Bunkhouse and Messhouse and Chitina Tin Shop.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.