How Crowded Is Ice Age National Scenic Trail in January?

January runs about 0.7× Ice Age National Scenic Trail's average month, which makes it a quiet month here — roughly 6% of the park's yearly visitors come in January.

In a typical January the park sees roughly 1,700 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 2024 to 2025.

That makes January the 10th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.8×) and the February low (0.6×).

On our Best Time to Visit score January rates 39/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated September at 73/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).

Typical January weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 25°F and an overnight low around 7°F, with about 1.1" of precipitation and roughly 13" of snow.

That average of about 16°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 33% 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 9.1 hours of daylight in January to explore — between the 8.7-hour midwinter low and the 15.3-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 29,125 recreation visits, down 2% from 29,711 in 2024.