Wrangell - St Elias · October
Wrangell - St Elias in October
October is one of the best times to visit Wrangell - St Elias — quieter than September, about as busy as November.
Expect light crowds (1/10), highs near 39°F, and about 10 hours of daylight.
Crowd score
How busy it gets
Well below this park's peak — easy parking, open trails, short lines.
About 2% 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 October visits vs. the year
October draws about 1% 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
October weather
- Avg high
- 39°F
- Avg low
- 20°F
- Precipitation
- 2.2"
- Sunrise
- 6:14 AM
- Sunset
- 4:16 PM
- Daylight
- 10h
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, MCCARTHY 3 SW, AK US
This week
7-day forecast for Wrangell - St Elias
| 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 | 68% |
| Thu 22 | Fog | 29°F | 18°F | 17% |
| Fri 23 | Fog | 29°F | 16°F | 0% |
| Sat 24 | Fog | 35°F | 20°F | 22% |
Forecast data by Open-Meteo
Source: Open-Meteo
What's open
Wrangell - St Elias in October: 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 October
How busy is Wrangell - St Elias in October?
October rates 1/10 for crowds (Quiet) at Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve — about 2% of its busiest month. Typical recreation visits: 530.
What is the weather like at Wrangell - St Elias in October?
In October, Wrangell - St Elias averages a high of 39°F and a low of 20°F, with about 2.2 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 October?
In mid-October, Wrangell - St Elias gets about 10 hours of daylight, with sunrise around 6:14 AM and sunset around 4:16 PM.