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Wrangell - St Elias · August
August is a busy time to visit Wrangell - St Elias — quieter than July, busier than September.
Expect heavy crowds (8/10) and about 15.8 hours of daylight.
Crowd score
Approaching peak season — expect full lots by mid-morning and busy overlooks.
About 76% of this park's busiest month.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 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
Visitation
August draws about 26% of Wrangell - St Elias’s yearly visitors.
Typical monthly recreation visits, averaged over the most recent three full years.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 2023–2025
Weather
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, May Creek, AK US
This week
| Day | Conditions | High | Low | Precip chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 26 | Heavy drizzle | 56°F | 47°F | 100% |
| Thu 27 | Rain showers | 58°F | 44°F | 78% |
| Fri 28 | Light rain | 51°F | 43°F | 86% |
| Sat 29 | Drizzle | 54°F | 49°F | 90% |
| Sun 30 | Drizzle | 53°F | 44°F | 55% |
| Mon 31 | Snow showers | 47°F | 41°F | 80% |
| Tue 1 | Snow showers | 46°F | 38°F | 63% |
Forecast data by Open-Meteo
Source: Open-Meteo
What's open
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.
No seasonal road or area closures reported for this park.
Source: NPS Data API
Conditions
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
Context
FAQ
August rates 8/10 for crowds (Busy) at Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve — about 76% of its busiest month. Typical recreation visits: 23,728.
In August, Wrangell - St Elias averages a high of 0°F and a low of 0°F, with about 1.6 inches of precipitation.
Entry to Wrangell - St Elias is free.
Wrangell - St Elias is quietest in January and February. If your dates are flexible, those months bring the thinnest crowds of the year.
In mid-August, Wrangell - St Elias gets about 15.8 hours of daylight, with sunrise around 3:39 AM and sunset around 7:28 PM.