Bike the Parks

Parks / Alaska

Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve

Gravel roads into the biggest national park in the US, ending at a ghost-town copper mill.

3/5
Worth bringing a bike

The largest national park has two long gravel roads, the McCarthy and Nabesna, for real Alaska gravel adventures.

Riding here

Wrangell–St. Elias is huge and mostly wild, but two gravel roads reach into it. The McCarthy Road follows an old railroad bed toward McCarthy and the historic Kennecott copper mill, where a bike is a popular way to get between town and the mill. The Nabesna Road on the north side is quieter still. Near the visitor center in Copper Center, the Boreal Forest Trail is open to bikes too.

Where you can ride

The park lists the Nabesna Road and its trails, the McCarthy Road and Kennecott trails, and the Boreal Forest Trail near the Wrangell–St. Elias Visitor Center as mountain biking areas.

Where you can't

Check with the park before riding trails beyond those listed; much of the park is wilderness.

Rides

  • McCarthy Road

    • Gravel
    • Chitina to the McCarthy footbridge
    • Gravel
    • Hard

    A long gravel road on an old railroad grade, with old spikes still turning up. Leads to McCarthy and Kennecott.

    Start: Chitina

  • Nabesna Road

    • Gravel
    • Slana to Nabesna
    • Gravel
    • Moderate

    A remote gravel road into the park's north side, with mountain views and few vehicles.

    Start: Slana ranger station

  • Kennecott trails

    • Mountain bike
    • Dirt road and trail
    • Moderate

    Ride from McCarthy up to the historic Kennecott mill town.

    Start: McCarthy

When to go

June to August.

Safety

Remote country: carry spares, food and bear spray. Services are very limited.

E-bikes

The park's own bicycling page doesn't spell out e-bike rules. Under the NPS e-bike rule (36 CFR 4.30), an e-bike with working pedals and a motor under 750 watts is generally allowed where regular bikes are, and riding on the motor alone is barred anywhere cars can't go. Parks can restrict them, so confirm with the park before you bring one.

Fees

No entrance fee.

Rentals, tours and shuttles

  • Your bike shop hereSample listing

    This spot is for one rental shop, guide service or shuttle near Wrangell–St. Elias: your name, what you offer, and a link straight to your booking page, at the top of this section.

    Feature your shop on this page, free until spring 2027

Run a shop near Wrangell–St. Elias? Add it here.

Sources

Checked November 2026 against these sources. Rules, closures and fees change; confirm with the park before you ride.

  1. Mountain Biking — Wrangell–St. Elias (NPS)
  2. McCarthy Road Guide (NPS)
  3. NPS e-bike regulations (2020)

Edited by David Bussell. Spot something out of date? Tell us.

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