Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve in January
January at Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve averages a daytime high near 6°F and an overnight low around -9°F, with about 0.9" of precipitation and roughly 13" of snow. Visitation runs about 0× the park's average month, which makes January a very quiet month here.
- Average low
- -9°F
- Average high
- 6°F
Range across the year: -9°F to 71°F
- Precipitation
- 0.9 in
- Snowfall
- 13 in
- Daylight
- 5.9 hours
Roughly 0% of the park's yearly visitors come in January: about 30 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1982 to 2025.
It is the quietest month of the year at Wrangell - St Elias; by contrast July, the busiest, runs about 3.9× the average.
On our Best Time to Visit score January rates 0/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is May: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about -2°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 13 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 83% 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 5.9 hours of daylight in January 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 January visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.
How January compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| December | 9°F / -4°F | 0.0× Very quiet | 0 Poor |
| January | 6°F / -9°F | 0.0× Very quiet | 0 Poor |
| February | 21°F / -1°F | 0.0× Very quiet | 1 Poor |
All twelve months at Wrangell - St Elias, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Wrangell - St Elias in January
The National Park Service tags 5 Wrangell - St Elias activities for winter. Each links to the park's own page for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
January averages a daytime high near 6°F and an overnight low around -9°F at Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve, with about 0.9 inches of precipitation and roughly 13 inches of snow. 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.
January is very quiet at Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve (about 0.0× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 0/100. Our recommended month is May. January draws about 1% of the visits Wrangell - St Elias 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 January. January sits at about 0.0× the park's average, or 0% of annual visitation.
A typical January sees about 0,000 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 January
Booking a January trip to Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live January 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 January.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1982–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.