Due to some work travel, I may get the chance to spend a couple of days near Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in Alaska, around the middle-end of July (keeping my fingers crossed and hoping). I may also be by myself, and I'm not really experienced in camping/back-country stuff so I'll be in a hotel in Gakona, right at the northern end of the park. In any case, I have a few questions :
- Would you recommend any particular tours or tour operators near there? Would they be single day hikes? Any photography specific?
- Any particular entry points into the park?
- I've read that there are a couple of roads that could be driven down - is it worth renting a 4x4 vehicle to do these drives?
for Nabesna road or Mc Carthy road you do not need 4x4, as far as I'm concerned.
Checking out the Kennicott area with the famous coppermine, might be a good idea anyway, as there is some nice hiking there.
but I'm sure no specialist of the area and it's been awhile since I was there last time...
georg
That is a beautiful area, it should be a great trip! I grew up in Copper Center, and enjoying returning to the area.
I have never needed to use 4x4 on either the Nebasna Road or the McCarthy Road (to the Kennicott), but it is nice to have that capability on the Nabesna Road just in case on the. You might have to do some hunting for rental cars as many places don’t allow you to drive those roads.
If I only had a couple of days, I would drive out the and explore that area. Doing a flight seeing trip either from McCarthy or Gulkana would be high on my list as well. The Nabesna Road would be my third choice.
Thanks for the responses guys. Hopefully Carl will stop by here. Ron - looking at your pictures really made me hope I get a chance to do some hiking, or at least driving. It's fairly certain I'll be in the area at this point, I just don't know if I'll have any free time at all.
Ron knows the area as well as anyone I know, so I'd suggest following his advice.
Typically the McCarthy Rd is bumpy, but 4x4 isn't needed. Like Ron said, the Nabesna Rd it might be useful in a couple of spots - it can vary year to year, as well as during the year. I'm not sure how many rental places still disallow driving on the McCarthy Rd - it seems like many of them have relaxed that policy.
I'd rate the options like Ron did - McCarthy Rd and the areas around McCarthy/Kennicott are the best bet. If you have nice clear weather, you won't beat doing a flight seeing trip in Wrangell St. Elias - it's awesome. I think the Nabesna Rd is not as photographic, though you do get some great views at times. The bugs are typically worse in the Nabesna area.
For hiking, there are hikes right off the McCarthy Rd, if you're up for a slog, and willing to do some river crossings, Dixie Pass is an option - to get up high, above treeline, you'll do some tough walking, and it's not really a day hike, but the views can be well worth it. The Nabesna Rd has a few hikes as well, but again, they tend to be overnighters. There's not a lot of short hikes to photo spots in the area. The best bet is a fly-in option.
There's a good chance I'll be doing some photo stuff in the park during that time, and would be glad to do a short photo trip if you want to.
Discussion
7 replies- Would you recommend any particular tours or tour operators near there? Would they be single day hikes? Any photography specific?
- Any particular entry points into the park?
- I've read that there are a couple of roads that could be driven down - is it worth renting a 4x4 vehicle to do these drives?
Thanks a lot,
Dave
Checking out the Kennicott area with the famous coppermine, might be a good idea anyway, as there is some nice hiking there.
but I'm sure no specialist of the area and it's been awhile since I was there last time...
georg
I have never needed to use 4x4 on either the Nebasna Road or the McCarthy Road (to the Kennicott), but it is nice to have that capability on the Nabesna Road just in case on the. You might have to do some hunting for rental cars as many places don’t allow you to drive those roads.
I wrote about the area not long ago on my blog – here is the post on the McCarthyRoad, and Nabesna Road. Here are all the posts on Wrangell-St Elias.
If I only had a couple of days, I would drive out the and explore that area. Doing a flight seeing trip either from McCarthy or Gulkana would be high on my list as well. The Nabesna Road would be my third choice.
Ron knows the area as well as anyone I know, so I'd suggest following his advice.
Typically the McCarthy Rd is bumpy, but 4x4 isn't needed. Like Ron said, the Nabesna Rd it might be useful in a couple of spots - it can vary year to year, as well as during the year. I'm not sure how many rental places still disallow driving on the McCarthy Rd - it seems like many of them have relaxed that policy.
I'd rate the options like Ron did - McCarthy Rd and the areas around McCarthy/Kennicott are the best bet. If you have nice clear weather, you won't beat doing a flight seeing trip in Wrangell St. Elias - it's awesome. I think the Nabesna Rd is not as photographic, though you do get some great views at times. The bugs are typically worse in the Nabesna area.
For hiking, there are hikes right off the McCarthy Rd, if you're up for a slog, and willing to do some river crossings, Dixie Pass is an option - to get up high, above treeline, you'll do some tough walking, and it's not really a day hike, but the views can be well worth it. The Nabesna Rd has a few hikes as well, but again, they tend to be overnighters. There's not a lot of short hikes to photo spots in the area. The best bet is a fly-in option.
There's a good chance I'll be doing some photo stuff in the park during that time, and would be glad to do a short photo trip if you want to.
Wrangell St. Elias Photo Tour
Feel free to email me if you have any questions.
Cheers
Carl
Sure thing man. It'd be nice to meet you if we're in the area at the same time.
Cheers
Carl