Lake Clark National Park & Preserve in August
August at Lake Clark National Park & Preserve averages a daytime high near 66°F and an overnight low around 49°F, with about 1.7" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 3.3× the park's average month, which makes August a very busy month here.
- Average low
- 49°F
- Average high
- 66°F
Range across the year: 10°F to 69°F
- Precipitation
- 1.7 in
- Daylight
- 15.4 hours
Roughly 28% of the park's yearly visitors come in August: roughly 3,700 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1982 to 2025.
It is the single busiest month of the year at Lake Clark; January, the quietest, runs only about 0.1× the average — a 27-to-1 swing between high and low season.
On our Best Time to Visit score August rates 45/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is May: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 58°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 36.5 miles from the park.
August falls inside the park's busiest stretch: June, July and August together pull about 70% of the year's visitors, so a visit this month means sharing the park with the peak-season crowd.
You'll have about 15.4 hours of daylight in August to explore — between the 5.3-hour midwinter low and the 18.6-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2017 drew 22,755 recreation visits, up 7.8% from 21,102 in 2016.
Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 109.9%, so a August visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.
How August compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| July | 69°F / 52°F | 3.2× Very busy | 51 Fair |
| August | 66°F / 49°F | 3.3× Very busy | 45 Fair |
| September | 57°F / 42°F | 1.6× Very busy | 51 Fair |
All twelve months at Lake Clark, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Lake Clark in August
The National Park Service tags 13 Lake Clark activities for summer. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Explore How Salmon Are Sustaining Southwest Alaska Communities · 5-45 minutes
- Fly-In Bear Viewing Along the West Cook Inlet Coast · 1-14 days · reservation required
- Remote Base Camping · 2-14 days · reservation required
- Discover Bristol Bay Fishing History · 5-45 minutes
- Go Fly Fishing at Tanalian Falls · 2-5 hours
- Hike up Tanalian Mountain · 1-12 hours
- Kayak from Port Alsworth to Tommy Island · 2-7 hours
- Spend the Night in a Rustic Cabin · 1-5 days · reservation required
Frequently Asked Questions
August averages a daytime high near 66°F and an overnight low around 49°F at Lake Clark National Park & Preserve, with about 1.7 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 36.5 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
August is very busy at Lake Clark National Park & Preserve (about 3.3× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 45/100. Our recommended month is May.
The busiest month is August and the quietest is January. August sits at about 3.3× the park's average, or 28% of annual visitation.
A typical August sees about 4,000 recreation visits at Lake Clark National Park & Preserve, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1982–2025.
Where to stay near Lake Clark in August
Booking a August trip to Lake Clark National Park & Preserve? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live August availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Clark
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in August.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1982–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.