For travellers who with to view Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve mainly by car, there is the Nabesna Road. This 45-mile drive begins in Slana, just outside the park’s northern boundary, and winds toward the Wrangell Mountains to reach the old mining town of Nabesna.

The first few miles of the drive pass through dense, flat, black spruce forest; look for falcon-shaped, northern hawk owls, diurnal hunters of rodents and small birds. Pull off at Mile 7 and walk down to Rufus Creek, a popular fishing spot for grayling and Dolly Varden trout. Back on the road again, stop at the lovely pond on the road’s northeast side just past Mile 15 for a view of the Mentasta Mountains to the north.

Wildlife abounds in the park. Early in the spring and late in the fall, some of the 30,000 members of the Nelchina caribou herd often migrate across this road. Occasionally, these animals also can be seen running through dense forest. You may spot a brown bear or two grazing autumn blueberries.