Loading park…
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 Jul 2026 · alerts checked Jul 10, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 26 | Heavy drizzle | 56°F | 48°F | 100% |
| Thu 27 | Drizzle | 58°F | 44°F | 85% |
| Fri 28 | Light rain | 53°F | 43°F | 91% |
| Sat 29 | Rain showers | 60°F | 49°F | 80% |
| Sun 30 | Overcast | 54°F | 45°F | 33% |
| Mon 31 | Snow showers | 49°F | 40°F | 80% |
| Tue 1 | Snow showers | 46°F | 35°F | 56% |
Forecast data by Open-Meteo
Source: Open-Meteo
Weather
Monthly climate normals
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | — | — | 1.1" |
| February | — | — | 0.8" |
| March | — | — | 0.4" |
| April | — | — | 0.2" |
| May | — | — | 0.8" |
| June | — | — | 1.2" |
| July | — | — | 2.0" |
| August | — | — | 1.6" |
| September | — | — | 2.1" |
| October | — | — | 1.6" |
| November | — | — | 1.1" |
| December | — | — | 1.1" |
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, May Creek, 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
- Caution
Lakina River Update
A recently observed landslide across the Lakina River is creating a debris hazard on a popular packrafting route. The river water is cutting its way through, but is highly dynamic and should be expected to remain that way through the boating season.
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.