Photo: NPS Photo/ Neal Herbert
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Elias is a vast national park that rises from the ocean all the way up to 18,008 ft. At 13.2 million acres, the park is the same size as Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Switzerland combined!
Within this wild landscape, people continue to live off the land as they have done for centuries. This rugged, beautiful land is filled with opportunities for adventure.
10 experiences from the National Park Service. Check details on NPS.gov before you go.
A backpacking trip in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve can be an exciting and rewarding experience if you are prepared for the difficulties of traveling through rugged, undeveloped land.
Learn more about Backpacking in Wrangell-St Elias on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Soar above mountains that make their own weather and glacier-carved valleys still emerging from the Ice Age, as you return with producer John Grabowska to a place of his boyhood dreams: Wrangell-St…
Learn more about Crown of the Continent - Park Film on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Sport fishing in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park offers many opportunities. Arctic grayling, dolly varden, lake trout, steelhead/rainbow trout, whitefish, sockeye salmon, coho salmon, and chinook…
Learn more about Fishing at Wrangell-St. Elias on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Reservation required Fee applies
One of the best ways to experience the beauty and tremendous size of this park is from above! Fly past massive peaks, over jagged glaciers, and endless expanses of wild Alaska! There is a variety of…
Learn more about Flight Seeing on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Hiking in Wrangell-St. Elias can be spectacular and we encourage you to go, but be prepared! Most of the front country hiking trails are maintained for the first few miles and then become routes into…
Learn more about Front country Hiking Trails on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Reservation required Fee applies
Ghost towns were once thriving communities that have dwindled over the decades, often created by the search for gold, copper and other valuable minerals. Some vanished entirely after the boom or were…
Learn more about Ghost Towns on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Drive, Hike, Bike, View Wildlife, Picnic & Scenic Vistas on McCarthy Road.
Learn more about McCarthy Road -- Drive, Hike, Bike, View Wildlife, Picnic & Scenic Vistas. on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Drive, Hike, View Wildlife, Picnic & Scenic Vistas on Nabesna Road
Learn more about Nabesna Road -- Drive, Hike, Bike, View Wildlife, Picnic & Scenic Vistas. on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)Showing 8 of 10
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2 campgrounds listed on Recreation.gov. Check availability and current conditions before you go.
Reservable Campground
Built in 2002, Esker Stream Cabin is located near Yakutat, 20 miles (32 km) across Yakutat Bay in the southern coastal region of Wrangell-St. Elias Preserve, offering…
Reserve on Recreation.govFees: Reservations required year-round with a user fee of $25 per night. Reservations can be made six months in advance of the requested dates. The maximum stay in the cabin is 7 days in a 30 day period. There are no discounts for cabin rentals…
Overview
Built in 2002, Esker Stream Cabin is located near Yakutat, 20 miles (32 km) across Yakutat Bay in the southern coastal region of Wrangell-St. Elias Preserve, offering seclusion and relaxation. The cabin is accessible by air via beach landing in a wheeled airplane and is dependent on tide and glacial ice conditions. There is no Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identifier or landing strip, nor good tie-down area for private aircraft. The cabin is located at sea level, surrounded by mature spruce and birch, and may include opportunities to see bears, moose, wolves, whales and shorebirds. Access to the cabin requires a short but unimproved 0.34 mile (.5 km) walk with a stream crossing. Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) are not allowed for recreational or subsistence use in the park or preserve in the Malaspina Forelands.
Recreation
Opportunities for recreation include sea kayaking, whale watching, exploring and hiking around the cabin and the Esker Stream drainage, or walking on the beach southeast for three miles to Bancas Point. This is a remote, rugged area, dependent on tide and glacial ice conditions. Be sure you're familiar with backcountry safety before venturing out to hike. To learn more, visit the Backcountry Safety page on the park website.
This cabin is located in the preserve, so sport and subsistence hunting is allowed. A State of Alaska hunting license is required, and if you are a subsistence hunter, a federal subsistence hunting permit may be required. Please refer to state and federal hunting regulations. ORVs are not allowed for recreational or subsistence use in the park and preserve in the Malaspina Forelands. Nearby Esker Stream is suitable for fishing. If you plan to fish, a State of Alaska fishing license is required.
Facilities
The cabin has no running water or plumbing. You may collect water from nearby Esker Stream, a short easy walk from the cabin. In winter, the park recommends carrying potable water since the stream may be frozen. The cabin contains four twin-sized wooden bunks (sleeps four people), a table with benches and an oil burning stove. Heating oil is not provided. The park recommends bringing your own subbly of kerosene or K1 commercial grade fuel. There is also a porch and a rustic pit toilet that is not regularly maintained. Please bring your own toilet paper. For more info, visit the Esker Stream Cabin page on the park website.
Natural Features
The cabin is surrounded by mature spruce and birch with Yakutat Bay nearby. The Malaspina Glacier is to the northwest of the cabin and other glaciers are located throughout the bay area, including the Hubbard Glacier. There are numerous streams, lakes, marshes and tidal flats in the area, and mountains of the Tongass National Forest can be viewed from across the bay.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (907) 822-5234.Nearby Attractions
Although the cabin is remotely located, there may be opportunities to visit other attractions in Yakutat Bay, depending on your mode of transportation and experience level. The Malaspina and Hubbard Glaciers may be accessible, along with several other smaller glaciers. The Russell Fjord Wilderness of the Tongass National Forest is located across the bay from the cabin; all travel is dependent on tide and glacial ice conditions.
Charges & Cancellations
A $10 fee applies to change or cancel reservations.
Not reservable on Recreation.gov Campground
Located on the Nabesna Road, this free camping area is the only National Park Service campground in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. It has 10 designated campsites…
Find visitor centers and other services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.
Visitor Center
Yakutat is located in the southern portion of the park along the coastline in Yakutat Bay at the base of the St. Elias Mountains. Accessible only by plane or boat, this…
Facility
Located in downtown Chitina at mile 33 on the Edgerton Highway. Upon entering Chitina town southbound, turn left at the Chitina Hotel, drive down the gravel road 0.2…
Mile 33 Edgerton Hwy, Chitina, AK (907) 823-2205 Directions
Facility
Located in the "Blackburn School," the Kennecott Visitor Center has exhibits and Rangers available to help with your trip planning.
Blackburn School, Kennecott, AK (907) 205-7106 Directions
Facility
Get the latest Nabesna Road conditions and information about its recreational opportunities.
Mile 0.5 Nabesna Road, Slana, AK (907) 822-7401 Directions
Facility
Enjoy the exhibits, view the park film, hike nature trails, shop in the bookstore, gather park & area information, conduct backcountry trip planning, and view the large…
Mile 106.8 Richardson Highway, Copper Center, AK (907) 822-7250 Directions
Closed · Headquarters Visitor Center - Copper Center, AK
The park and public lands are always open but visitor facilities have limited seasons: Open in Summer. Call ahead for hours: Copper Center (907) 822-7250, Slana (907) 822-7401, Chitina (907) 823-7250 and Kennecott (907) 205-7106. CLOSED Mid-September through April.
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
The park and public lands are always open but visitor facilities have limited seasons: Open in Summer. Call ahead for hours: Kennecott (907) 205-7106 and Slana (907) 822-7401, Copper Center (907) 822-7250, and Chitina (907) 823-2205. CLOSED Beginning of September through April.
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Slana (907) 822-7401, Copper Center (907) 822-7250, Chitina (907) 823-2205 and.
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
No entrance fees listed.
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Updated 3 hr ago
Varies widely depending on location in park and time of year. Visit https://www.nps.gov/wrst/planyourvisit/weather.htm for detailed information.
The administrative building and main park visitor center are located along the Richardson Highway (Hwy 4), which is a paved state highway that runs through Copper Center, AK. The buildings are 8 miles south of the Glenn Highway and Richardson Highway intersection near Glennallen, Alaska.
This is approximately 200 miles east of Anchorage, AK and 250 miles south of Fairbanks, AK.
Mailing address: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Copper Center, AK 99573
Ask about trails, fees, weather, events, or planning your visit.
AI answers can be wrong. Check official NPS info before you go.
