Plan Your Visit
Key Information
Since it is a Fee Free Park, annual park passes are not available for sale. Visit the website to purchase Federal passes needed to enter other national parks in the United States: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm
Fee Free Park: Visitors can access the Headquarters Visitor Center in Copper Center in summer (mid-May through mid-September). Gate open for day use only 9 am - 5 pm. Access to Nabesna Road and McCarthy Road open year-round, weather dependent. Summer can have heavy rains and impassable streams. Fall - Winter - Spring can have deep snow after storms. The gravel park roads are owned and maintained by the Alaska State Dept of Transportation - grading in summer and snow plowing in winter are infrequent.
Parking and camping fees are possible at privately owned businesses permitted to operate in the park. --There is private overnight parking and camping for a fee at mile 60 at the Kennicott River Bridge, 1/2 mile west of McCarthy town.
2025 Free Entrance Days in the National ParksCome experience the national parks! All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone (other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply). Mark your calendar for these entrance fee-free dates:
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve is one of the National Park Service sites that does NOT charge an entrance fee. There is no entry gate to enter the park on either of the two park roads, Nabesna Road (in the north) and McCarthy Road (in the center). The Visitor Centers are open in summer, closed in winter (October - April). The entrance gate at the visitor center in Copper Center closes at 5pm year-round. America the Beautiful- The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series Federal land passes can be purchased only at parks that have an entrance fee or online at several websites including the USGS store. Please be aware that America the Beautiful passes are not valid for parks in Canada or any other country. They are valid for US federal sites only. |
Last updated: May 10, 2023