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Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve in January

Very quiet0.2× average month · best-time score 0/100

January at Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve averages a daytime high near -2°F and an overnight low around -19°F, with about 0.9" of precipitation and roughly 14" of snow. Visitation runs about 0.2× the park's average month, which makes January a very quiet month here.

Average low
-19°F
Average high
-2°F

Range across the year: -19°F to 70°F

Crowds
0.2× averageVery quiet
  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D
Precipitation
0.9 in
Snowfall
14 in
Daylight
2.4 hours

Check access before you plan around January

January draws about 18% of the visits Gates Of The Arctic sees in an average month. Numbers that low usually mean limited access: closed roads, closed facilities or deep-winter conditions. The count alone does not say which, so check the park's current conditions before planning around January. Official Gates Of The Arctic park page.

Roughly 2% of the park's yearly visitors come in January: about 130 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1982 to 2025.

That makes January the 6th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (4×) and the October low (0.1×).

On our Best Time to Visit score January rates 0/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is June: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.

The daily average of about -11°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 74.9 miles from the park.

Because June, July and August together draw about 85% of annual visitors, choosing January instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.

You'll have about 2.4 hours of daylight in January to explore — between the 0-hour midwinter low and the 24-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2016 drew 10,047 recreation visits, down 20.7% from 12,669 in 2014.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 51.1%, so a January visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.

How January compares with the months around it

MonthAvg high / lowCrowdsBest-time score
December2°F / -14°F0.1× Very quiet0 Poor
January-2°F / -19°F0.2× Very quiet0 Poor
February7°F / -13°F0.2× Very quiet0 Poor

All twelve months at Gates Of The Arctic, with the best time to visit.

Seasonal closures in January 2027

The National Park Service lists these Gates Of The Arctic facilities as closed during January 2027. The dates are the park's own, read on October 11, 2026. A facility that is not listed here may still be closed, so confirm on the park's site before you go.

Reviewed by WhenToVisitParks Editorial Team · Updated

Frequently Asked Questions

January averages a daytime high near -2°F and an overnight low around -19°F at Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve, with about 0.9 inches of precipitation and roughly 14 inches of snow. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 74.9 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.

January is very quiet at Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve (about 0.2× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 0/100. Our recommended month is June. January draws about 18% of the visits Gates Of The Arctic sees in an average month. Numbers that low usually mean limited access: closed roads, closed facilities or deep-winter conditions. The count alone does not say which, so check the park's current conditions before planning around January.

The busiest month is July and the quietest is October. January sits at about 0.2× the park's average, or 2% of annual visitation.

A typical January sees about 0,000 recreation visits at Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1982–2025.

Where to stay near Gates Of The Arctic in January

Booking a January trip to Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live January availability and prices.

Top-rated places to stay near Gates Of The Arctic

Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in January.

Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1982–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.