Best time to visit Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve
The short answer
Best months to visit Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve: June–July. Daily highs run around 60°F, with visitor numbers near the yearly peak (July).
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
Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve month by month
Park-wide averages across 11 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 | -2° / -11°F | 0 in | 5.6 in | Quiet | – |
| February | Poor | -1° / -11°F | 0 in | 6.8 in | Quiet | – |
| March | Poor | 11° / -2°F | 0 in | 6.8 in | Quiet | – |
| April | Poor | 27° / 13°F | 0.1 in | 5.1 in | Quiet | – |
| May | Poor | 46° / 32°F | 1.0 in | 3.7 in | Quiet | – |
| June | Best | 58° / 45°F | 2.5 in | 1.5 in | Busy | – |
| July | Best | 62° / 50°F | 3.4 in | – | Peak | – |
| August | Fair | 54° / 43°F | 3.9 in | 1.5 in | Peak | – |
| September | Poor | 42° / 32°F | 2.2 in | 7.3 in | Moderate | – |
| October | Poor | 25° / 16°F | 0.2 in | 9.2 in | Quiet | – |
| November | Poor | 7° / -3°F | 0 in | 9.1 in | Quiet | – |
| December | Poor | 1° / -9°F | 0 in | 10.8 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 | -6°F | -16°F | 0 in | 4.5 in |
| February | -5°F | -15°F | 0 in | 5.1 in |
| March | 4°F | -7°F | 0 in | 5.3 in |
| April | 19°F | 5°F | 0 in | 4.3 in |
| May | 38°F | 26°F | 0.7 in | 4.7 in |
| June | 52°F | 39°F | 2.3 in | 1.9 in |
| July | 56°F | 44°F | 3.2 in | – |
| August | 48°F | 38°F | 2.8 in | 2.2 in |
| September | 36°F | 27°F | 1.1 in | 9.4 in |
| October | 19°F | 10°F | 0 in | 7.4 in |
| November | 2°F | -8°F | 0 in | 6.7 in |
| December | -4°F | -14°F | 0 in | 7.8 in |
Arrigetch Peaks
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -8°F | -17°F | 0 in | 8.0 in |
| February | -9°F | -17°F | 0 in | 9.0 in |
| March | -4°F | -12°F | 0 in | 9.9 in |
| April | 8°F | -1°F | 0 in | 6.9 in |
| May | 25°F | 17°F | 0.6 in | 7.6 in |
| June | 39°F | 29°F | 2.9 in | 2.8 in |
| July | 43°F | 34°F | 4.0 in | 1.1 in |
| August | 37°F | 28°F | 4.0 in | 4.2 in |
| September | 24°F | 17°F | 1.4 in | 18.8 in |
| October | 9°F | 1°F | 0 in | 11.8 in |
| November | -4°F | -11°F | 0 in | 10.5 in |
| December | -8°F | -16°F | 0 in | 12.7 in |
Walker Lake
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7°F | -3°F | 0 in | 10.0 in |
| February | 7°F | -3°F | 0 in | 11.9 in |
| March | 17°F | 3°F | 0 in | 11.8 in |
| April | 32°F | 17°F | 0 in | 7.8 in |
| May | 50°F | 35°F | 1.2 in | 4.6 in |
| June | 62°F | 48°F | 3.1 in | 1.0 in |
| July | 65°F | 53°F | 4.8 in | – |
| August | 58°F | 47°F | 5.7 in | 0.7 in |
| September | 46°F | 36°F | 4.2 in | 6.4 in |
| October | 30°F | 19°F | 0.2 in | 14.3 in |
| November | 13°F | 3°F | 0 in | 13.4 in |
| December | 8°F | -3°F | 0 in | 16.8 in |
Alatna River
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -1°F | -11°F | 0 in | 5.8 in |
| February | 2°F | -10°F | 0 in | 7.9 in |
| March | 17°F | 1°F | 0 in | 7.1 in |
| April | 34°F | 18°F | 0.2 in | 4.1 in |
| May | 53°F | 35°F | 1.3 in | 1.5 in |
| June | 64°F | 47°F | 2.3 in | – |
| July | 66°F | 52°F | 2.9 in | – |
| August | 59°F | 46°F | 4.0 in | – |
| September | 47°F | 36°F | 2.7 in | 2.4 in |
| October | 31°F | 22°F | 0.4 in | 7.7 in |
| November | 11°F | 0°F | 0 in | 9.7 in |
| December | 2°F | -8°F | 0 in | 11.8 in |
John River
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -3°F | -13°F | 0 in | 5.2 in |
| February | -2°F | -13°F | 0 in | 6.2 in |
| March | 12°F | -3°F | 0 in | 5.8 in |
| April | 29°F | 13°F | 0 in | 5.2 in |
| May | 50°F | 35°F | 0.9 in | 3.2 in |
| June | 62°F | 48°F | 2.3 in | 1.5 in |
| July | 66°F | 53°F | 3.3 in | – |
| August | 58°F | 46°F | 3.8 in | 0.6 in |
| September | 46°F | 35°F | 2.2 in | 6.5 in |
| October | 28°F | 18°F | 0.1 in | 9.2 in |
| November | 6°F | -4°F | 0 in | 8.8 in |
| December | -1°F | -11°F | 0 in | 10.7 in |
Kobuk River
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2°F | -7°F | 0 in | 6.5 in |
| February | 5°F | -5°F | 0 in | 8.2 in |
| March | 17°F | 3°F | 0 in | 8.4 in |
| April | 34°F | 18°F | 0.1 in | 4.8 in |
| May | 53°F | 35°F | 1.2 in | 1.4 in |
| June | 63°F | 48°F | 2.4 in | – |
| July | 66°F | 53°F | 3.1 in | – |
| August | 59°F | 47°F | 3.9 in | – |
| September | 48°F | 37°F | 2.4 in | 2.8 in |
| October | 32°F | 24°F | 0.4 in | 7.9 in |
| November | 12°F | 3°F | 0 in | 10.4 in |
| December | 5°F | -5°F | 0 in | 11.7 in |
North Fork Koyukuk River
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -5°F | -15°F | 0 in | 4.5 in |
| February | -4°F | -14°F | 0 in | 5.6 in |
| March | 10°F | -3°F | 0 in | 5.3 in |
| April | 28°F | 15°F | 0 in | 5.2 in |
| May | 49°F | 36°F | 1.0 in | 3.0 in |
| June | 62°F | 49°F | 2.6 in | 1.2 in |
| July | 66°F | 54°F | 3.4 in | – |
| August | 58°F | 47°F | 4.1 in | – |
| September | 45°F | 35°F | 2.2 in | 6.7 in |
| October | 27°F | 17°F | 0.1 in | 8.5 in |
| November | 5°F | -6°F | 0 in | 8.4 in |
| December | -1°F | -11°F | 0 in | 9.9 in |
Tinayguk River
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1°F | -8°F | 0 in | 4.3 in |
| February | 1°F | -8°F | 0 in | 5.0 in |
| March | 11°F | 0°F | 0 in | 5.0 in |
| April | 27°F | 13°F | 0 in | 4.8 in |
| May | 46°F | 32°F | 0.9 in | 4.4 in |
| June | 60°F | 45°F | 2.6 in | 1.9 in |
| July | 63°F | 50°F | 3.5 in | – |
| August | 55°F | 44°F | 3.7 in | 1.2 in |
| September | 43°F | 32°F | 1.7 in | 7.7 in |
| October | 25°F | 15°F | 0.1 in | 8.3 in |
| November | 8°F | -1°F | 0 in | 7.2 in |
| December | 3°F | -7°F | 0 in | 9.0 in |
Bettles Ranger Station and Visitor Center
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -2°F | -12°F | 0 in | 4.9 in |
| February | 1°F | -10°F | 0 in | 6.3 in |
| March | 17°F | 0°F | 0 in | 5.4 in |
| April | 34°F | 17°F | 0.2 in | 3.3 in |
| May | 54°F | 35°F | 1.1 in | 0.9 in |
| June | 65°F | 48°F | 2.1 in | – |
| July | 68°F | 52°F | 2.4 in | – |
| August | 60°F | 46°F | 3.8 in | – |
| September | 48°F | 35°F | 2.7 in | 1.4 in |
| October | 30°F | 20°F | 0.4 in | 6.7 in |
| November | 8°F | -2°F | 0 in | 9.0 in |
| December | 1°F | -8°F | 0 in | 10.7 in |
Anaktuvuk Pass
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1°F | -9°F | 0 in | 3.4 in |
| February | 1°F | -8°F | 0 in | 3.7 in |
| March | 9°F | -2°F | 0 in | 4.5 in |
| April | 22°F | 10°F | 0 in | 3.3 in |
| May | 41°F | 30°F | 0.7 in | 6.2 in |
| June | 54°F | 42°F | 2.4 in | 4.6 in |
| July | 59°F | 48°F | 3.1 in | 0.8 in |
| August | 51°F | 41°F | 2.8 in | 6.7 in |
| September | 39°F | 30°F | 0.8 in | 11.2 in |
| October | 22°F | 14°F | 0 in | 9.4 in |
| November | 8°F | 0°F | 0 in | 6.7 in |
| December | 2°F | -7°F | 0 in | 6.3 in |
Coldfoot and Wiseman
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -5°F | -14°F | 0 in | 5.0 in |
| February | -5°F | -14°F | 0 in | 6.3 in |
| March | 9°F | -2°F | 0 in | 6.0 in |
| April | 28°F | 15°F | 0 in | 5.9 in |
| May | 49°F | 36°F | 0.9 in | 3.6 in |
| June | 61°F | 49°F | 2.5 in | 1.4 in |
| July | 65°F | 53°F | 3.6 in | – |
| August | 57°F | 47°F | 4.6 in | 0.5 in |
| September | 45°F | 35°F | 2.5 in | 6.7 in |
| October | 26°F | 17°F | 0.1 in | 9.8 in |
| November | 5°F | -5°F | 0 in | 9.0 in |
| December | -1°F | -11°F | 0 in | 11.1 in |
Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve by season
Spring (March–May)
Spring (March–May) is a difficult time to visit Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve. Daily highs average 11–46°F and lows -2–32°F. Expect about 0.3 in of rain a month and 5.2 in of snow, with up to 37 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 0–10% of the busiest month, which is quiet by this park's standards.
Summer (June–August)
Summer (June–August) is a good time to visit Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve. Daily highs average 54–62°F and lows 43–50°F. Expect about 3.3 in of rain a month and 1.1 in of snow, with up to 0 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 81–100% of the busiest month, which is peak by this park's standards.
Fall (September–November)
Fall (September–November) is a difficult time to visit Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve. Daily highs average 7–42°F and lows -3–32°F. Expect about 0.8 in of rain a month and 8.5 in of snow, with up to 17 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 0–41% of the busiest month, which is quiet by this park's standards.
Winter (December–February)
Winter (December–February) is a difficult time to visit Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve. Daily highs average -2–1°F and lows -11–-9°F. Expect about 0.0 in of rain a month and 7.8 in of snow, with up to 36 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 0% 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 and trails, 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
The climate of Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve is generally classified as arctic and sub-arctic, with exceptionally cold winters, relatively mild summers, low annual precipitation, and generally high winds. The weather is influenced by many different systems, and can change rapidly.!!
Weather: modeled monthly averages for 2014-2023 (Open-Meteo Archive API), averaged over 11 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.
