Wrangell - St Elias · December
Wrangell - St Elias in December
December is one of the best times to visit Wrangell - St Elias — about as busy as November, about as busy as January.
Expect light crowds (1/10), highs near 9°F, and about 5.4 hours of daylight.
Crowd score
How busy it gets
Well below this park's peak — easy parking, open trails, short lines.
About 0% of this park's busiest month.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 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
Visitation
Typical December visits vs. the year
December draws about 0% 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
December weather
- Avg high
- 9°F
- Avg low
- -4°F
- Precipitation
- 1.1"
- Sunrise
- 8:42 AM
- Sunset
- 2:08 PM
- Daylight
- 5.4h
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, MCCARTHY 3 SW, AK US
What's open
Wrangell - St Elias in December: access
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
Current alerts
No current alerts or closures reported for this park.
Source: NPS Data API
Context
Wrangell - St Elias crowds across the year
FAQ
Wrangell - St Elias in December
How busy is Wrangell - St Elias in December?
December rates 1/10 for crowds (Quiet) at Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve — about 0% of its busiest month. Typical recreation visits: 35.
What is the weather like at Wrangell - St Elias in December?
In December, Wrangell - St Elias averages a high of 9°F and a low of -4°F, with about 1.1 inches of precipitation.
How much does it cost to visit Wrangell - St Elias?
Entry to Wrangell - St Elias is free.
When is Wrangell - St Elias least crowded?
Wrangell - St Elias is quietest in January and February. If your dates are flexible, those months bring the thinnest crowds of the year.
How many hours of daylight does Wrangell - St Elias get in December?
In mid-December, Wrangell - St Elias gets about 5.4 hours of daylight, with sunrise around 8:42 AM and sunset around 2:08 PM.