Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve in August
August at Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve averages a daytime high near 67°F and an overnight low around 40°F, with about 2.7" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 3.3× the park's average month, which makes August a very busy month here.
- Average low
- 40°F
- Average high
- 67°F
Range across the year: -9°F to 71°F
- Precipitation
- 2.7 in
- Daylight
- 15.6 hours
Roughly 28% of the park's yearly visitors come in August: about 19,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1982 to 2025.
That makes August the 2nd-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (3.9×) and the January low (0×).
On our Best Time to Visit score August rates 47/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is May: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 54°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 13 miles from the park.
August falls inside the park's busiest stretch: June, July and August together pull about 83% of the year's visitors, so a visit this month means sharing the park with the peak-season crowd.
You'll have about 15.6 hours of daylight in August to explore — between the 5-hour midwinter low and the 19-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 108,840 recreation visits, up 33.3% from 81,670 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 20.8%, 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 | 71°F / 43°F | 3.9× Very busy | 44 Poor |
| August | 67°F / 40°F | 3.3× Very busy | 47 Fair |
| September | 56°F / 33°F | 1.1× Average | 52 Fair |
All twelve months at Wrangell - St Elias, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Wrangell - St Elias in August
The National Park Service tags 9 Wrangell - St Elias activities for summer. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Crown of the Continent - Park Film · 22-28 minutes
- Flight Seeing · reservation required
- McCarthy Road -- Drive, Hike, Bike, View Wildlife, Picnic & Scenic Vistas.
- Ghost Towns · 6-8 hours · reservation required
- Backpacking in Wrangell-St Elias
- Fishing at Wrangell-St. Elias · 1-8 hours
- Front country Hiking Trails · 2-4 hours
- Virtual Tours
Frequently Asked Questions
August averages a daytime high near 67°F and an overnight low around 40°F at Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve, with about 2.7 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 13 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
August is very busy at Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve (about 3.3× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 47/100. Our recommended month is May.
The busiest month is July 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 19,000 recreation visits at Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1982–2025.
Where to stay near Wrangell - St Elias in August
Booking a August trip to Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live August availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Wrangell - St Elias
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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.