NPS · Alaska

Jay S. Hammond Wilderness

Here the Aleutian Range meets the Alaska Range in the Chigmit Mountains, an area known as Alaska's Alps. Two active volcanoes dominate the landscape, visible from the Kenai Peninsula across Cook Inlet: Mount Iliamna (10,016 feet) and Mount Redoubt (10,197 feet). In 2009, Redoubt erupted, spewing ash across Anchorage. The mighty rainforest along Cook Inlet rises to alpine tundra and sparkling lakes sheltered by mountain fastnesses. Drainages plunge thunderously down hundreds of waterfalls. Vast numbers of moose, brown and black bears, wolves, wolverines, red foxes, Dall sheep, and caribou make their home here. Slender and 50 miles long, Lake Clark reflects tall ragged spires of rock, and salmon and trout run in great numbers.

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).

Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Jay S. Hammond Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
DesignationWilderness
Managed byNational Park Service
StateAlaska
Size2.6 million acres
Designated1980, by Congress
Center point60.64° N, 153.34° W
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 28)

Boundary map

1 outline

Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees

The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Jay S. Hammond Wilderness10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 4.24 inches of precipitationFebruary: 4.63 inches of precipitationMarch: 3.06 inches of precipitationApril: 2.68 inches of precipitationMay: 3.05 inches of precipitationJune: 2.83 inches of precipitationJuly: 4.22 inches of precipitationAugust: 5.41 inches of precipitationSeptember: 7.27 inches of precipitationOctober: 7.29 inches of precipitationNovember: 5.28 inches of precipitationDecember: 5.17 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 19.0°F averageFebruary: 24.3°F averageMarch: 27.6°F averageApril: 38.4°F averageMay: 48.9°F averageJune: 57.0°F averageJuly: 60.2°F averageAugust: 58.6°F averageSeptember: 51.1°F averageOctober: 39.5°F averageNovember: 27.3°F averageDecember: 21.7°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Big River Lakes, 37 miles from the center point at 60 feet, station USC00500788 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 55 inches a year.

Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.

Where to camp

Campsite Atlas →

No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.

Explore

Nearby on the other atlases

National Register listings within 15 miles · 4 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Guidebooks for Alaska

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Jay S. Hammond Wilderness?

2.6 million acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Jay S. Hammond Wilderness?

The National Park Service.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Jay S. Hammond Wilderness in?

Alaska.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Jay S. Hammond Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 1980.

Source: Wilderness Connect

How do I get to Jay S. Hammond Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 60.636° N, 153.340° W. Lake Clark National Park & Preserve is adjacent. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Which national parks are near Jay S. Hammond Wilderness?

Lake Clark National Park & Preserve (adjacent). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.

Source: Nearby on the other atlases

Are there historic places near Jay S. Hammond Wilderness?

The National Register has 4 listings within 15 miles, including Proenneke, Richard, Site and Bly, Dr. Elmer, House.

Source: Register Atlas

Sources

  • Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
  • Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
  • Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
  • Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
  • Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.