Flightsee

WRANGELL-ST. ELIAS NATIONAL PARK

Flying in a bushplane over the vast wilderness of America’s largest national park is the best way to experience its majestic beauty

Stunning ridgeline leading to the north face of Castle Peak (10,190 ft; 3,106 m)

Over 13 Million Acres of Breathtaking Wilderness

America’s largest national park has some of the most beautiful landscape in the world. The only problem is that there is only one main road in the park. Almost none of Wrangell-St. Elias can be viewed from a vehicle. So the best way to experience this incredible gem of Alaskan wilderness is to take a flightsee around the park.

One of the many bush planes used by Wrangell Mountain Air

Flight Service

Wrangell Mountain Air is a local air service based in McCarthy. With 30 years of flying in Wrangell-St. Elias they are the best in the business.

They offer 50, 70, 90 and 120 minute flightsee options.

Kennicott Valley

The only major road in the park leads to the towns of McCarthy and Kennecott in the Kennicott Valley. This is one of the most beautiful valleys in the world and the best way to see it is from the air.

A heavily fractured glacier displaying its power and grace

Awesome Earth

See some of the most awe-inspiring natural beauty on the planet. You will see landscape that makes you feel like you are living in an issue of National Geographic.

The Regal (left) and Rohn (right) glaciers converging to create the Nizina Glacier

Glaciers Everywhere

With more than 3,000 glaciers Wrangell-St. Elias is the most heavily glaciated part of Alaska. These long valley glaciers can be several miles long and are absolutely stunning to view from the air.

Icebergs

Fly over massive icebergs floating in the terminal lake of a glacier. Seeing icebergs from the ground is very impressive but the only way to truly witness the magnitude of this natural phenomenon is from the air.

The Nizina River winding its way down the valley

Rivers and Valleys

You can see for miles as you wind your way down long valleys. From the air you can clearly see how dynamic the environment is. The massive glacial fed rivers form several channels or “braids” that are constantly changing direction due to increased or decreased water flow from the melting glaciers.

Mile High Cliffs

These limestone cliffs are so massive that you’ll be fooled into thinking that you are flying right next to them. In other words, it will give you a thrill because you will think you are too close! Get out your camera because you will definitely want to take photos of the beautiful cascading waterfalls flowing down the face of the wall.

Bagley Icefield

At the southernmost part of the park lies a monstrous expanse of ice that is 127 miles long, 6 miles wide and 3000 ft thick. The Bagley Icefield is the largest nonpolar icefield in North America. Several of the big mountains in Wrangell-St. Elias are found here including Mt. St. Elias (18,008 ft; 5,489 m), the second tallest peak in Alaska.

Icy Bay

The emerald-colored waters of Icy Bay is arguably one of the most beautiful places in the park. An impressive amphitheater of hanging glaciers surrounds the bay that is filled with ice chunks of all sizes and countless seals and sea lions sunbathing on the floating ice pieces. Icy Bay also rests below the southern flanks of the massive Mt. St. Elias (18,008 ft; 5,489m).

Bunkhouse for the Erie copper mine in the Kennicott Valley

Historic Mining Structures

Alaska has a rich gold and copper mining history with historic structures scattered around the immense wilderness of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Most of these historic buildings are difficult to access due to the lack of roads in the park so the best way to see them is by air.