Park Comparison
Gates Of The Arctic & Preserve vs Wrangell - St Elias & Preserve
Two iconic parks, different strengths. Here's how they stack up.
Updated
The Quick Take
Gates Of The Arctic & Preserve
Gates of the Arctic is the second-largest national park in America: 13.2 million acres of central Brooks Range wilderness with no roads, no trails, and no campgrounds. Access is by bush plane only, and fewer than 12,000 people visited in 2024. The reward is a backpacking experience that exists nowhere else in the United States: caribou migrations, wild rivers, and absolute solitude. The trade-off is total: every trip requires extensive planning, bear-country expertise, and a flexible budget for charter flights from Bettles or Coldfoot.
Wrangell - St Elias & Preserve
Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest national park in America: 13.2 million acres holding nine of North America's sixteen highest peaks, including Mount St. Elias at 18,008 feet. Unlike Gates of the Arctic, you can drive in: McCarthy Road runs 60 miles to the historic mining towns of McCarthy and Kennicott, where guided glacier hikes on the Root and Kennicott glaciers are accessible to anyone reasonably fit. The trade-off is the road itself (gravel, pothole-pitted, four-hour drive each way).
At a Glance
The Crowd Picture
Both parks draw millions, but the crowd experience is different.
Gates Of The Arctic & Preserve
Gates of the Arctic saw 11,907 visitors in 2024: the second-least-visited park in the system. There are no crowds, full stop. July is the busiest month and totals fewer than 4,000 visitors across an area larger than Belgium. The bottlenecks are the air taxi schedules out of Bettles and the limited number of bush pilots willing to land on remote gravel bars. If you can charter a plane, you'll spend your week without seeing another human party.
Wrangell - St Elias & Preserve
Wrangell-St. Elias drew 82,000 visitors in 2024: fewer than most regional parks. They cluster almost entirely in McCarthy and Kennicott from late May through early September. The Root Glacier Trail sees the most foot traffic but rarely feels crowded. Beyond McCarthy, the park empties immediately. Backcountry routes off the Nabesna Road see a handful of parties per season, and the southern coastal sections are essentially uninhabited.
When to Go
Click any month to see how conditions compare side-by-side.
Trails & Activities
Both parks are trail-rich, but they cater to different trip styles.
Gates Of The Arctic & Preserve
Gates of the Arctic has zero maintained trails. The notable routes are off-trail backpacking through Brooks Range valleys and river paddling on the North Fork Koyukuk and other wild rivers. Multi-day trips are the only way to experience this place: there's no day-hike option because there's no road to start from. Rock climbing in the Arrigetch Peaks draws expert mountaineers who fly in for week-long expeditions. The hiking is unlimited; the difficulty is everything.
Wrangell - St Elias & Preserve
Wrangell-St. Elias has 70 miles of trail focused around McCarthy and Kennicott. Root Glacier Trail is six miles round-trip with optional ice-cave access via guided tour. The Kuskulana Glacier Trail is two miles to suspension bridges and glacier viewing. Mount Wrangell is a 25-mile multi-day mountaineering route to a 14,163-foot active volcano. The McCarthy to Kennicott Trail (five miles) connects the historic towns and is the most popular casual hike.
Camping
Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve offers significantly more camping options.
The Bottom Line
Choose Gates Of The Arctic & Preserve if you...
- Want to experience Brooks Range
- Are looking for world-class hiking
- Love mountain and glacier landscapes
Choose Wrangell - St Elias & Preserve if you...
- Want to experience Mount St. Elias
- Are looking for world-class scenic driving
- Are planning a couples getaway
- Want more trail options (70 miles vs 0)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Gates Of The Arctic & Preserve or Wrangell - St Elias & Preserve?
It depends on what you're looking for. Gates Of The Arctic & Preserve is known for Brooks Range, while Wrangell - St Elias & Preserve is known for Mount St. Elias. Gates Of The Arctic & Preserve is less crowded, making it the better pick if solitude matters to you.
Is Gates Of The Arctic & Preserve or Wrangell - St Elias & Preserve more crowded?
Gates Of The Arctic & Preserve has a congestion index of 1/10 and receives 11,907 visitors per year. Wrangell - St Elias & Preserve scores 3/10 with 81,670 annual visitors. Gates Of The Arctic & Preserve is the quieter option.
When is the best time to visit Gates Of The Arctic & Preserve vs Wrangell - St Elias & Preserve?
The best month to visit Gates Of The Arctic & Preserve is July, while Wrangell - St Elias & Preserve is best visited in June. The different peak seasons mean you could visit one in spring and the other in fall.
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