National Park & Preserve · AK
Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve
Wrangell - St Elias is quietest in January and February and busiest in July.
Wrangell-St. Elias is a vast national park that rises from the ocean all the way up to 18,008 ft. At 13.2 million acres, the park is the same size as Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Switzerland combined! Within this wild landscape, people continue to live off the land as they have done for centuries. This rugged, beautiful land is filled with opportunities for adventure.
90K recreation visits a year on average (2023–2025)
Data: NPS visitation 2023–2025 · crowd scores computed Oct 2026. How this is calculated →
Computed from federal data · Methodology by Sharon Ben-Moshe
Pick a month to visit Wrangell - St Elias
This week
7-day forecast
| Day | Conditions | High | Low | Precip chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18 | Fog | 36°F | 24°F | 0% |
| Mon 19 | Rain | 40°F | 29°F | 100% |
| Tue 20 | Rain showers | 43°F | 30°F | 100% |
| Wed 21 | Fog | 34°F | 23°F | 70% |
| Thu 22 | Fog | 29°F | 18°F | 2% |
| Fri 23 | Fog | 29°F | 16°F | 0% |
| Sat 24 | Fog | 35°F | 20°F | 22% |
Forecast data by Open-Meteo
Source: Open-Meteo
Weather
Monthly climate normals
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6°F | -9°F | 0.9" |
| February | 21°F | -1°F | 1.1" |
| March | 33°F | 4°F | 0.4" |
| April | 48°F | 22°F | 0.3" |
| May | 62°F | 31°F | 0.9" |
| June | 70°F | 39°F | 1.6" |
| July | 71°F | 43°F | 2.5" |
| August | 67°F | 40°F | 2.6" |
| September | 56°F | 33°F | 2.6" |
| October | 39°F | 20°F | 2.2" |
| November | 17°F | 2°F | 1.4" |
| December | 9°F | -4°F | 1.1" |
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, MCCARTHY 3 SW, AK US
Know before you go
Fees & hours
- Entrance fee
- Free — Free entrance
- Hours
- The park and public lands are always open but visitor facilities have limited seasons: Open in Summer. Call ahead for hours: Copper Center (907) 822-7250, Slana (907) 822-7401, Chitina (907) 823-7250 and Kennecott (907) 205-7106. CLOSED Mid-September through April.
Source: NPS Data API
Conditions
Current alerts
No current alerts or closures reported for this park.
Source: NPS Data API
FAQ
Wrangell - St Elias questions
When is the best time to visit Wrangell - St Elias?
Wrangell - St Elias is least crowded in January, February, and March. July is the busiest month, so visiting outside it means thinner crowds and easier parking.
How much does it cost to visit Wrangell - St Elias?
Entry to Wrangell - St Elias is free.
When is Wrangell - St Elias busiest?
Wrangell - St Elias is busiest in July, when crowds rate 10/10 (peak). Expect full parking lots and longer waits; arrive early or choose a quieter month.
How crowded is Wrangell - St Elias during holidays and fee-free days?
Holiday weekends (Memorial Day, Labor Day, Fourth of July) and official NPS fee-free days typically bring peak crowd conditions to Wrangell - St Elias. Arrive before 8 AM or after 3 PM to secure parking and avoid peak trail congestion.