Secret National Parks: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

June 11, 2008 at 1:00 PM | by kjb | 0 Comments

Nothing screams summer fun like a national park, but who wants to visit Yellowstone again? This week, we're bringing you some secret spots to enjoy.

It's a shame that this park would be mentioned as a secret. With about 60,000 visitors last year, Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve really needs some marketing behind it--maybe a mascot?

Wrangell is the country's largest national park, and it's about the size of six Yellowstones. That makes it about as big as Costa Rica.

To get there, fly into Anchorage and take either Highway 1 or Highway 4 to the park. Like the other spots we've covered, a chartered aircraft is also a good way to get there, if a little pricey.

If you just want to tour the park by car, take the Edgerton Highway to the town of Chitina. You'll be able to take in great views of the park's peaks and stop at the Liberty Falls Trail.

If you're looking for a little more of a tourist attraction, head to the historic copper mining town of Kennecot. It's been a National Historic Landmark since 1978.

Finally, there's Mt. Drum. The extinct volcano is easily viewable from most vantage points in the park including the Visitor's Center. Though Drum is impressive, the peaks of Blackburn and Sanford also provide inspiring scenery.

Though still a relative sleeper compared to some of the more popular National Parks, Wrangell is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and we can only imagine that more people will be headed there soon. It can't be long before that mascot is unveiled.

Related Stories:
· Wrangell-St. Elias National Park [Official Site]
· National Parks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: douglaspperkins]

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