Wrangell–St. Elias in December: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Harsh season · VisitWhen score 42/100 · #12 of 12 months

December is a harsh-season month at Wrangell–St. Elias National Park: crowds run under 1% of the July peak (35 average visits). Weather: highs average 9°F and lows -4°F, with 1.1″ of precipitation and 5.5 hours of daylight. Roads and services are only partly open this month — see the access note below. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Wrangell–St. Elias in December: what the park service says

December in Wrangell-St. Elias comes long after winter's early arrival; the park says snow is usually on the ground by the end of September and services become limited. All visitor centers and ranger stations are closed until spring. The two park roads, Nabesna and McCarthy, are maintained by the State of Alaska and stay open, but are not regularly cleared, and private property lines them.

Source: NPS, checked 2026-11-05.

Crowds in December

Wrangell–St. Elias averages 35 recreation visits in December — under 1% of what July, the peak month, draws — this is the second-quietest month of the year. Trailheads and parking fill accordingly — crowds are thin by this park's standards.

Weather & daylight

Days are cold (highs average 9°F), and nights are frigid (lows average -4°F). It is typically dry (1.1″ of precipitation). Normal snowfall is 11″ — expect snow on the ground. Mid-month daylight runs 5.5 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station MCCARTHY 3 SW, AK US (2 mi from park coordinates, 1,250 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of December.

What to pack for Wrangell–St. Elias in December

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

• Insulated parka + thermal base layers — average lows of -4°F
• Traction devices (microspikes) and gaiters — 11″ normal snowfall (compare other options)
• Headlamp — only 5.5 hours of daylight in mid-December (compare other options)
• Insulated, waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 11″ of snow is normal this month
• Bear spray — recommended by the park in grizzly country (check current park regulations before you carry)

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If your dates are flexible, consider shifting: The computed best months for Wrangell–St. Elias are April and May.

Also at their best in December

Other parks whose computed December verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:

• American Samoa in December — 17% of peak crowds, highs 88°F, score 66/100
• Everglades in December — 72% of peak crowds, highs 80°F, score 64/100
• Biscayne in December — 77% of peak crowds, highs 80°F, score 62/100

Common questions

See also: the best national parks to visit in December · Last verified 2026-09-24