The 42-mile Nabesna Road offers tremendous views to rival any road system in Alaska. The Wrangell, Mentasta, and Nutzotin Mountains create a majestic panorama, characterized by some of the highest mountains in North America. Nabesna Road provides access to the north side of Alaska’s largest national park, the Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve. Nabesna Road wasn’t built to access the park. In fact, it was constructed in 1933, nearly 50 years before Wrangell-St. Elias was established. The purpose: to get supplies in to Nabesna gold mine, and ore out to the Port of Valdez. Expect fast-flowing creeks, a multitude of mosquitoes and no services to speak of. Cell phone coverage is limited. The road is paved for the first few miles, then it’s gravel. After Mile 29, there are three stream crossings; creeks can swell after rains and you could be stranded on the other side. -adapted from https://www.alaska.org/guide/nabesna-road
This western terminus is the Slana Ranger Station, where parking and road information are available. The eastern terminus is the gravel parking area about 1/4 mile past Devil's Mountain Lodge, just beyond mile 42. Mine tailings can be toxic, and the National Park Service warns visitors to avoid Nabesna Mine itself, and water that has flowed through the area.
More information about the road is available here: https://www.nps.gov/wrst/planyourvisit/nabesna-road-guide.htm
