Best time to visit Denali National Park & Preserve
The short answer
Best months to visit Denali National Park & Preserve: June–July. Daily highs run around 60°F, with visitor numbers near the yearly peak (August).
Hardest months: January–April, mostly because of cold weather.
How we picked these months: each month is scored on daily highs (65–82°F is ideal), rain, snow and seasonal closures, then reduced by up to 30% for crowds, measured against the park's busiest month. We list the months within 15% of the top score (at most 5).
Weather and crowds by month
Denali National Park & Preserve month by month
Park-wide averages across 8 locations. Crowds compare each month with the park's busiest month: Quiet is under 35% of it, Moderate under 60%, Busy under 85%, Peak above that.
| Month | Rating | High / low | Rain | Snow | Crowds | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 12° / 1°F | 0 in | 5.9 in | Quiet | – |
| February | Poor | 15° / 2°F | 0 in | 10.1 in | Quiet | – |
| March | Poor | 21° / 7°F | 0 in | 10.0 in | Quiet | – |
| April | Poor | 34° / 19°F | 0.1 in | 7.8 in | Quiet | – |
| May | Fair | 48° / 34°F | 1.5 in | 6.5 in | Quiet | – |
| June | Best | 58° / 44°F | 4.7 in | 1.2 in | Peak | – |
| July | Best | 61° / 49°F | 5.8 in | – | Peak | – |
| August | Fair | 56° / 45°F | 6.4 in | 1.4 in | Peak | – |
| September | Poor | 45° / 35°F | 3.1 in | 7.9 in | Moderate | – |
| October | Poor | 31° / 21°F | 0.5 in | 14.8 in | Quiet | – |
| November | Poor | 18° / 7°F | 0 in | 13.0 in | Quiet | – |
| December | Poor | 13° / 1°F | 0.1 in | 13.4 in | Quiet | – |
Weather by location
Parks with a big range of elevation can differ a lot from one area to another. Open a location to see its own numbers.
Park-wide (center of the park)
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17°F | 4°F | 0 in | 8.8 in |
| February | 19°F | 6°F | 0 in | 12.8 in |
| March | 21°F | 10°F | 0 in | 13.8 in |
| April | 32°F | 21°F | 0.1 in | 12.8 in |
| May | 45°F | 32°F | 2.4 in | 15.1 in |
| June | 54°F | 43°F | 7.1 in | 2.1 in |
| July | 58°F | 48°F | 9.2 in | – |
| August | 53°F | 44°F | 10.4 in | 1.7 in |
| September | 43°F | 34°F | 5.2 in | 13.4 in |
| October | 31°F | 21°F | 0.8 in | 23.7 in |
| November | 21°F | 9°F | 0 in | 20.7 in |
| December | 18°F | 5°F | 0.2 in | 18.2 in |
Wonder Lake
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14°F | 3°F | 0.1 in | 7.5 in |
| February | 17°F | 5°F | 0.1 in | 10.4 in |
| March | 22°F | 9°F | 0.1 in | 11.1 in |
| April | 35°F | 20°F | 0.2 in | 10.0 in |
| May | 49°F | 34°F | 2.5 in | 5.1 in |
| June | 59°F | 45°F | 5.3 in | 0.9 in |
| July | 62°F | 49°F | 6.3 in | – |
| August | 57°F | 46°F | 7.3 in | 1.1 in |
| September | 47°F | 35°F | 3.9 in | 5.5 in |
| October | 33°F | 21°F | 0.8 in | 13.1 in |
| November | 19°F | 7°F | 0.1 in | 11.7 in |
| December | 15°F | 3°F | 0.2 in | 13.6 in |
Eielson Visitor Center
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13°F | 3°F | 0 in | 8.0 in |
| February | 14°F | 3°F | 0 in | 13.3 in |
| March | 16°F | 5°F | 0 in | 13.3 in |
| April | 28°F | 16°F | 0 in | 8.9 in |
| May | 40°F | 29°F | 0.7 in | 10.9 in |
| June | 52°F | 40°F | 4.2 in | 2.9 in |
| July | 56°F | 45°F | 5.8 in | 0.7 in |
| August | 51°F | 41°F | 6.3 in | 3.3 in |
| September | 40°F | 31°F | 2.4 in | 15.1 in |
| October | 27°F | 17°F | 0.3 in | 21.8 in |
| November | 17°F | 6°F | 0 in | 16.3 in |
| December | 14°F | 3°F | 0.1 in | 19.4 in |
Polychrome Pass
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12°F | 2°F | 0 in | 6.8 in |
| February | 13°F | 2°F | 0 in | 11.6 in |
| March | 16°F | 5°F | 0 in | 11.7 in |
| April | 28°F | 16°F | 0 in | 8.0 in |
| May | 41°F | 30°F | 0.7 in | 9.4 in |
| June | 53°F | 40°F | 4.2 in | 2.7 in |
| July | 56°F | 45°F | 5.3 in | 0.6 in |
| August | 51°F | 42°F | 5.5 in | 2.7 in |
| September | 41°F | 31°F | 2.1 in | 13.0 in |
| October | 27°F | 17°F | 0.3 in | 18.1 in |
| November | 16°F | 5°F | 0 in | 13.6 in |
| December | 13°F | 2°F | 0.1 in | 16.3 in |
Savage River
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10°F | 0°F | 0 in | 4.5 in |
| February | 13°F | 1°F | 0 in | 8.1 in |
| March | 19°F | 6°F | 0 in | 7.9 in |
| April | 34°F | 19°F | 0.1 in | 5.6 in |
| May | 50°F | 35°F | 1.1 in | 3.2 in |
| June | 59°F | 46°F | 3.5 in | – |
| July | 62°F | 50°F | 4.3 in | – |
| August | 57°F | 46°F | 4.3 in | 1.6 in |
| September | 46°F | 36°F | 2.4 in | 5.5 in |
| October | 32°F | 21°F | 0.3 in | 12.5 in |
| November | 17°F | 6°F | 0 in | 10.4 in |
| December | 12°F | 0°F | 0 in | 11.7 in |
Kantishna
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9°F | -2°F | 0 in | 4.8 in |
| February | 14°F | 2°F | 0 in | 9.8 in |
| March | 22°F | 8°F | 0 in | 9.4 in |
| April | 36°F | 20°F | 0.2 in | 7.9 in |
| May | 51°F | 35°F | 2.3 in | 5.0 in |
| June | 60°F | 47°F | 6.5 in | – |
| July | 63°F | 51°F | 7.6 in | – |
| August | 58°F | 47°F | 8.0 in | 0.6 in |
| September | 47°F | 36°F | 4.2 in | 4.5 in |
| October | 33°F | 22°F | 0.8 in | 12.3 in |
| November | 16°F | 6°F | 0 in | 13.3 in |
| December | 11°F | 0°F | 0.1 in | 11.1 in |
Teklanika River
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10°F | -1°F | 0 in | 3.7 in |
| February | 14°F | 1°F | 0 in | 7.4 in |
| March | 23°F | 8°F | 0 in | 6.7 in |
| April | 38°F | 21°F | 0.1 in | 4.7 in |
| May | 54°F | 37°F | 1.2 in | 1.8 in |
| June | 62°F | 47°F | 3.4 in | – |
| July | 65°F | 52°F | 4.2 in | – |
| August | 60°F | 48°F | 4.7 in | – |
| September | 49°F | 37°F | 2.3 in | 3.5 in |
| October | 34°F | 24°F | 0.4 in | 9.7 in |
| November | 19°F | 8°F | 0 in | 9.2 in |
| December | 12°F | 0°F | 0.2 in | 8.7 in |
Toklat River
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9°F | -4°F | 0 in | 3.4 in |
| February | 14°F | -1°F | 0 in | 7.0 in |
| March | 24°F | 7°F | 0 in | 6.0 in |
| April | 40°F | 21°F | 0.2 in | 4.2 in |
| May | 56°F | 38°F | 1.3 in | 1.4 in |
| June | 64°F | 49°F | 3.4 in | – |
| July | 67°F | 53°F | 3.6 in | – |
| August | 61°F | 49°F | 4.7 in | – |
| September | 51°F | 39°F | 2.3 in | 2.4 in |
| October | 35°F | 25°F | 0.5 in | 7.6 in |
| November | 19°F | 7°F | 0 in | 8.5 in |
| December | 12°F | -2°F | 0.2 in | 7.9 in |
Denali National Park & Preserve by season
Spring (March–May)
Spring (March–May) is a difficult time to visit Denali National Park & Preserve. Daily highs average 21–48°F and lows 7–34°F. Expect about 0.6 in of rain a month and 8.1 in of snow, with up to 45 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 4–27% of the busiest month, which is quiet by this park's standards.
Summer (June–August)
Summer (June–August) is among the best times to visit Denali National Park & Preserve. Daily highs average 56–61°F and lows 44–49°F. Expect about 5.6 in of rain a month; some snow can linger on the ground. Visitor numbers run 88–100% of the busiest month, which is peak by this park's standards.
Fall (September–November)
Fall (September–November) is a difficult time to visit Denali National Park & Preserve. Daily highs average 18–45°F and lows 7–35°F. Expect about 1.2 in of rain a month and 11.9 in of snow, with up to 23 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 2–38% of the busiest month, which is quiet by this park's standards.
Winter (December–February)
Winter (December–February) is a difficult time to visit Denali National Park & Preserve. Daily highs average 12–15°F and lows 1–2°F. Expect about 0.1 in of rain a month and 9.8 in of snow, with up to 42 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 1–2% of the busiest month, which is quiet by this park's standards.
For what to do in each season, see our guides to trip planning, fees and hours, trails, camping and things to do, where the planning page also has our written advice on when to go. In-depth topic guides cover individual places and hikes.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Summer is typically cool and wet, with highs typically in the upper 50s to low 60s, and lows in the 40s. On occasion, summer highs reach the low 80s, though this is rare. Snow can fall any month of the year, so be prepared for chilly weather even in summer. Fall colors emerge on the alpine tundra in August and in the low valleys in early September. Winter generally starts in mid-September, with temps often getting down to -40 by January. Spring is a short season in April / May, with highs above freezing.
Weather: modeled monthly averages for 2014-2023 (Open-Meteo Archive API), averaged over 8 locations. Modeled grid cells can read cooler than weather stations in deep canyons and deserts, and warmer or colder at high elevation. Visits: monthly recreation visits for 2021-2024, National Park Service.
