The Largest National Park In The U.S. Is Also The Least Visited – And It’s Absolutely Beautiful
America’s National Park System allows visitors from all over the globe to appreciate, explore, and learn from our diverse and incredible landscapes. It seems reasonable that some parks would receive more visitors than others, but you may not have realized that the largest national park also happens to be the least visited of them all. Here’s more on Wrangell – St Elias in Alaska and its breathtaking beauty:
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It's hard to conceptualize the size of Wrangell - St. Elias National Park if you've never seen it. To give you some idea of scale, the national park and wilderness area is roughly equivalent to the size of six Yellowstone National Parks. It’s the largest National Park in the U.S., and it’s rarely on anyone bucket list. This is due to the fact that it is mostly remote.
The sheer amount of wilderness available inside this national park is mesmerizing. Peaks, glaciers, and dense forest make up this rugged landscape which feels almost otherworldly. It shares its acreage with Canada, and the entire park is made up of 13.2 million acres.
The habitats range from tundra to temperate rainforests, so therefore there is abundant wildlife present in the park. Without a doubt, this is one of the best parks in Alaska, and in America. The diversity is absolutely breathtaking.
The park is perhaps most famous for housing 9 of the 16 highest peaks in the U.S. Photographed below is Mt. St. Elias, which reaches 18,000 feet above sea level. It’s also home to one of the greatest concentration of glaciers in the world.
Mt. Wrangall is another iconic attraction in the park. This active volcano last erupted in 1900, and today, vents of steam are still visible from the summit. With so many notable mountains, volcanoes, and terrain, this is a true Alaska hidden gem. If you have the opportunity to visit, whether you fly in or travel down McCarthy Road to Kennicott, you have to see this park in person.
Needless to say, this national park is nothing short of epic. For more information about Wrangell – St. Elias National Park and Wilderness, you can visit the official website here.
Have you had a chance to visit Wrangell – St. Elias in Alaska? What did you think? Was it absolutely stunning? Is it on your bucket list? Let us know in the comments below!
How many people visit Wrangell – St. Elias National Park every year?
Not many people visit this park, especially compared to how large the park is. This National Park sees an annual average of 75,000 visitors each year.
What’s the best way to explore Wrangell – St. Elias National Park?
If you can, drive down McCarthy Road in Alaska, and enter into the park the way most Alaskans do. It will give you a true idea of how isolated and remote this area is. Right at the entrance of the park are the towns of McCarthy and Kennicott, and are great places to learn more about the area. You can book services, stay in a hotel, or find guides that will help you explore the park in the best way possible.
A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Alexandria. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.
