Wrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness Area

Wrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness Area encompasses nearly 9.7 million acres of federally protected backcountry in Alaska, managed by the National Park Service as a true wilderness zone. This vast landscape is reserved for non-motorized, primitive travel only—no roads, motorized vehicles, or mechanized equipment are permitted within its boundaries. Visitors come here to backpack, hike, and camp in remote solitude, experiencing one of the largest intact wilderness areas in the United States.

Access is challenging by design. There are no trailheads or developed infrastructure; reaching the wilderness requires serious planning, often including bush travel, water crossings, or charter flights to remote entry points. Visitors must be self-sufficient, skilled in backcountry navigation, and prepared for unpredictable weather and terrain. The short summer window—roughly June through September—is when most travel is feasible, though conditions remain demanding. All visitors are bound by strict Leave No Trace principles: pack out everything you bring in, camp below treeline where possible, use established campsites if available, and respect the wilderness's pristine character. This is unforgiving country for experienced backcountry travelers only.