National parks near Metlakatla, Alaska
Metlakatla sits inside the Ketchikan area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Ketchikan for the full write-up.
Gwaii Haanas National Park is the closest national park to Metlakatla, Alaska — 190 mi (306 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 4 hr 57 min behind the wheel.
Gwaii Haanas is better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Metlakatla gates the entrance itself, but Olympic National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Metlakatla has a population of about 1,405.
National parks near Metlakatla
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gwaii Haanas National Park | 190 mi (306 km) | 4 hr 57 min | Best as a weekend |
| Glacier Bay National Park | 310 mi (499 km) | 7 hr 47 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kluane National Park | 453 mi (729 km) | 11 hr 10 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Pacific Rim National Park | 491 mi (790 km) | 12 hr 4 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Nahanni National Park | 494 mi (794 km) | 12 hr 8 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Nááts'ihch'oh National Park | 517 mi (831 km) | 12 hr 41 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Gulf Islands National Park | 554 mi (892 km) | 13 hr 34 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Wrangell–St. Elias National Park | 555 mi (894 km) | 13 hr 35 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Jasper National Park | 578 mi (930 km) | 14 hr 7 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Olympic National Park | 609 mi (979 km) | 14 hr 51 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Metlakatla
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic | Olympic National Park Wilderness Permit | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Metlakatla
Within reach of Metlakatla, 8 campgrounds across 3 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 6 at Olympic, 1 at Glacier Bay, and 1 at Wrangell–St. Elias.
Bartlett Cove at Glacier Bay does not take reservations, so it never shows up as bookable inventory — in busy season that means arriving before mid-morning rather than planning around a confirmation.
Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.
Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.
When to make this trip
Gwaii Haanas National Park is generally best May through October, with April and early November as the quieter shoulder either side.
Winter brings cold, shorter days, and reduced services, though lower-elevation trails often stay walkable.
Peak summer weekends and autumn colour weekends fill parking lots early — arrive before mid-morning.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Metlakatla are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Glacier Bay → Kluane | 154 mi (247 km) | 4 hr 5 min |
Planning a trip from Metlakatla
Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.
Other towns in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Metlakatla?
Gwaii Haanas National Park. It is about 190 mi (306 km) from Metlakatla, roughly 4 hr 57 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Metlakatla?
Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.
How many national parks are near Metlakatla?
10 parks are within reach of Metlakatla, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Metlakatla?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 1 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Olympic National Park Wilderness Permit. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Metlakatla?
Recreation.gov lists 8 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Metlakatla. They are spread across 3 of those parks. One of them is first-come, first-served, so it never appears as bookable inventory.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Metlakatla?
For Gwaii Haanas National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.