2023 Map of McCarthy A-4 SW

About this map

The Chitina River basin defines this remote landscape where several major protected regions meet. To the north, the Wrangell-Saint Elias National Preserve encompasses Bear Island within the braided river channel. South of the river, the terrain rises into the Saint Elias Mountains and the Granite Range, where the landscape transitions into the high-elevation Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and the vast Wrangell-St. Elias Wilderness. This area is characterized by an intricate drainage system including the Kiagna River, its East Fork Kiagna River, and Bearhole Creek. The absence of roads or permanent settlements highlights the wilderness character of this portion of the Copper River Census Area, showing the preservation of the glacial and riverine environment in the early twenty-first century.