#10 of 22 sights in Wrangell-St. Elias
Sight · Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
A massive active volcano best appreciated from the air
Overview
Mount Wrangell is a massive, active volcano at 14,163 feet, anchoring the Wrangell Volcanic Field. It’s known for persistent steam vents near the summit and ranks among the largest active volcanoes in North America. Reported eruptive activity dates to 1900, with the mountain last active in 2003.
Map
Local know-how
See it by air from the McCarthy/Kennecott area for the best views.
There are no toilets or services on the mountain—plan to be self-sufficient.
Check park alerts and backcountry guidance before committing to remote travel.
Start at the Copper Center visitor center for current conditions and trip advice.
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Wrangell-St. Elias Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Wrangell-St. Elias audio tour“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
This is an andesitic giant set amid a landscape shaped by volcanism and glaciers. The broader Wrangell–St. Elias complex holds immense icefields and numerous glaciers, and the volcanic field includes other thermal features across the region. Mount Wrangell’s size and snowclad dome make it a striking centerpiece in a park famous for extreme relief and ongoing geologic processes.
If you truly want to appreciate Mount Wrangell’s scale, go by air. Flightseeing from the McCarthy/Kennecott area consistently delivers the clearest, most comprehensive views of the mountain, surrounding icefields, and nearby glaciers. On the ground, remember this park has only two road corridors (McCarthy Road and Nabesna Road), and neither puts you close to the volcano itself—this is big, remote country best viewed from above unless you’re on a serious expedition.
The broader park supports bears, Dall sheep, caribou, wolves, and a wide range of birds. If you’re heading into backcountry near the mountain—or anywhere off the road corridors—follow bear safety practices and stay current on park guidance.
Wildlife
112 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 9 PMSighting map
63 sightingsMooseMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
21 sightingsHumpback WhaleMost seen around 1 PMSighting map
46 sightingsSteller Sea LionMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
37 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
48 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 5 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Wrangell-St. Elias. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Parkwolf’s Wrangell-St. Elias ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
