What Is America's Largest National Park

America's largest national park is Wrangell-St. Still, 2 million-acre expanse of Alaskan wilderness that covers more land than nine U. S. Elias National Park and Preserve, a 13.states combined. This remote, rugged landscape of towering mountain peaks, massive glaciers, and intact boreal ecosystems remains one of the most untouched wild places in the United States, drawing only a fraction of the visitors that flock to more accessible national parks each year.

Key Facts About America's Largest National Park

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve holds the undisputed title of America's largest national park, with a size that is difficult to conceptualize for most travelers. To put its scale in perspective, consider these core facts:

• Total area: 13.2 million acres (20,625 square miles / 53,321 square kilometers), making it larger than the entire state of West Virginia, and bigger than Switzerland, Slovenia, and Luxembourg combined.
• Establishment date: December 2, 1980, created under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) alongside 14 other Alaskan parks and preserves.
• Mountain ranges: Four major ranges intersect within park boundaries: the Wrangell Mountains, Saint Elias Mountains, Chugach Mountains, and part of the Alaska Range.
• Highest point: Mount Saint Elias, at 18,008 feet, is the second-tallest peak in the United States, after Denali.
• Glacier coverage: Over 60% of the park is covered in ice, including the Malaspina Glacier (the largest piedmont glacier in North America) and Hubbard Glacier (the longest tidewater glacier in North America, which advances up to 100 feet per year).
• Annual visitation: ~70,000 people per year, compared to 12 million at Great Smoky Mountains National Park and 4 million at Yellowstone National Park.

The Geological Origins of America's Largest National Park

The same tectonic forces that shaped America's largest national park continue to reshape it today, driven by its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire. This section of the globe is marked by frequent earthquakes, volcanic activity, and rapid mountain building, all of which are visible across Wrangell-St. Elias’s landscape.

Tectonic Forces Shaping the Park

The Saint Elias Mountains, which form the park’s southeastern boundary, are the highest coastal mountain range in the world. They formed from the ongoing collision of the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate: as the dense Pacific Plate subducts (slides) beneath the North American Plate, it pushes up massive chunks of crust to form jagged peaks. This range is the fastest-rising mountain system on Earth, growing up to 0.6 inches per year. The Wrangell Mountains to the north are volcanic in origin, with Mount Wrangell remaining an active volcano that emits steam from fumaroles near its summit.

Glacial Activity

Glaciers cover more than 8 million acres of the park, with over 5,000 individual ice masses documented. The Malaspina Glacier, a type of piedmont glacier (a glacier that spreads from a narrow valley into a broad, flat plain) spans 1,500 square miles — larger than the state of Rhode Island. Unlike most glaciers globally that are retreating due to climate change, the Hubbard Glacier is advancing: a buildup of sediment at its terminus pushes it forward up to 100 feet per year, occasionally blocking the entrance to nearby Russell Fjord.

Ecosystems and Wildlife in Wrangell-St. Elias

The massive size of America's largest national park supports five distinct ecosystems, ranging from coastal temperate rainforests to alpine tundra. This diversity allows for an equally varied array of wildlife, which has been sustained for millennia by the Ahtna, Tlingit, Eyak, Chugachmiut, and Nunamiut Indigenous communities that call the region home.

Key wildlife species found in the park include:

• Mammals: Grizzly bears, black bears, moose, caribou from the Western Arctic herd (one of the largest in Alaska, with over 250,000 individuals), Dall sheep, mountain goats, gray wolves, wolverines, lynx, and beavers.
• Marine life: Humpback whales, orcas, harbor seals, Steller sea lions, and five species of Pacific salmon (chinook, coho, sockeye, pink, chum) that spawn in the park’s pristine rivers each summer. And * Birds: Bald eagles, golden eagles, ptarmigan, ravens, and over 200 other migratory and resident species that rely on the park’s rivers, tundra, and forests for breeding and feeding. * Fish: Rainbow trout, Arctic grayling, and Dolly Varden populate the park’s clear, cold streams and lakes, supporting both wildlife and Indigenous subsistence fishing practices.

Human History: Indigenous Communities and Exploration

Indigenous peoples have lived in the region that is now America's largest national park for more than 10,000 years. The Tlingit people traditionally occupied the coastal southern areas, relying on salmon, marine mammals, and cedar forests for sustenance and cultural practices. The Ahtna people lived in the interior river valleys, hunting caribou and moose and trading copper from local deposits with coastal communities. The 1980 ANILCA legislation formally recognized these groups’ subsistence rights, allowing them to continue hunting, fishing, and gathering in the park as they have for generations And that's really what it comes down to..

European contact began in 1741, when Russian explorer Vitus Bering sighted the park’s coastline during his expedition for the Russian Empire. The most lasting legacy of this era is the Kenecott Copper Mine, a National Historic Landmark located near the town of McCarthy. The mine operated from 1911 to 1938, producing over $200 million worth of copper (equivalent to $4 billion today) before closing when ore deposits were exhausted. Russian fur traders established small posts in the 19th century, but large-scale non-Indigenous settlement did not begin until the 1898 gold rush, which brought thousands of prospectors to the region. Visitors can still tour the restored 14-story mill building and company town, which remain frozen in time.

Visiting America's Largest National Park

Despite being America's largest national park, it has very limited infrastructure, preserving its remote character. Only one major road provides access: the McCarthy Road, a 60-mile gravel route from the town of Chitina to the small community of McCarthy, just outside the park boundary. No paved roads cross the park interior, and most visitors access remote areas via small aircraft flightseeing tours from Anchorage, Glennallen, or Yakutat.

Follow these tips for a safe, rewarding visit:

1. But bring all necessary supplies, including bear spray, first aid kits, extra food, and satellite communication devices. Plan for remoteness: There is no cell phone service in 95% of the park, limited gas stations, and only a handful of lodges and campgrounds. Visit in summer: The park is only accessible by road June through September, as winter brings heavy snow, sub-zero temperatures, and closed access routes. This leads to guided backpacking, rafting, and mountaineering trips are recommended for first-time visitors. That said, Book guided trips if inexperienced: The park has fewer than 10 marked trails, and unmarked terrain can be dangerous for unprepared hikers. 5. 3. 2. Choose your access point: The most popular entry points are McCarthy/Kennecott (for history and hiking), Yakutat (for coastal access and Hubbard Glacier tours), and Slana (for interior tundra and wildlife viewing).
2. Respect wildlife and Indigenous lands: Always keep 100 yards from bears and 25 yards from other wildlife, and follow all posted guidelines to protect Ahtna and Tlingit traditional subsistence practices.

How America's Largest National Park Compares to Other U.S. Parks

To fully grasp the scale of Wrangell-St. Elias, it helps to compare it to other well-known U.S. national parks:

• Yellowstone National Park (2.2 million acres): Wrangell-St. Elias is 6 times larger than America’s first national park.
• Grand Canyon National Park (1.2 million acres): You could fit 11 Grand Canyons inside the boundaries of America's largest national park.
• Death Valley National Park (3.4 million acres): The largest national park in the lower 48 states is still less than one-third the size of Wrangell-St. Elias.
• Combined size of Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Glacier National Parks: ~7.5 million acres, which is still 5.7 million acres smaller than Wrangell-St. Elias.

FAQ

1. Is Wrangell-St. Elias the largest national park in North America? No, that title belongs to Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada, which spans 17.3 million acres. Wrangell-St. Elias is the second-largest in North America and the largest in the United States.
2. Can you drive through Wrangell-St. Elias National Park? No, there are no through roads in the park. The McCarthy Road ends at McCarthy, just outside the park boundary, and no paved or gravel roads cross the park interior.
3. Are there entrance fees for America's largest national park? No, there are no entrance fees to visit Wrangell-St. Elias, though some guided tours and flightseeing trips charge separate fees.
4. What is the best way to see the park's glaciers? Flightseeing tours are the most popular way to view the massive Malaspina and Hubbard Glaciers, as they are inaccessible by road. Rafting trips on the Copper River also offer close-up views of glacial ice.
5. Is camping allowed in Wrangell-St. Elias? Yes, backcountry camping is permitted throughout the park, with no reservations required. There are also a handful of developed campgrounds near McCarthy and Slana.

Conclusion

Wrangell-St. Elias, America's largest national park, is a testament to the scale of untouched wilderness still existing in the United States. Its massive size, diverse ecosystems, and deep Indigenous history make it a unique destination for travelers willing to venture off the beaten path. Unlike more crowded parks, it offers the rare chance to experience true solitude in a landscape that has changed little in thousands of years — a reminder of the wild places that continue to define the American identity And that's really what it comes down to..