This Alaskan Town Is Right Next Door To America's Largest National Park
By Dawn Hammon
VACATIONS
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in Alaska covers 13.2 million acres, and there are only two primary entrances to the park — one is the road that leads from the town of Chitina.
Chitina is full of history and charisma. It was once a thriving mining town of around 3,000 people, but after the mine shut down, it became a ghost town of around 100 people.
When Wrangell-St. Elias was established in 1980, Chitina once again found itself on the map as the gateway to the park. However, it’s still primarily a local outpost for fishermen.
Visitors can explore historic buildings and quaint B&Bs, go sport fishing, or see natural wonders like Liberty Falls, the Copper and Chitina Rivers, and the huge Mount Blackburn.
Although Chitina has its undeniably quaint charms, most people just stop by on their way to go backpacking in the wilderness of McCarthy, Kennecott, and the Crystalline Hills.