Alexander Archipelago wolves tend to be smaller than continental gray wolves.

Alexander Archipelago wolves greater than 6 months old weigh between 49 and 115 pounds (22–52 kilograms) with males averaging 83.3 pounds (37.8 kilograms) and females averaging 68.8 pounds (31.2 kilograms). On some islands wolves are smaller on average compared to those on the mainland.

The Alexander Archipelago wolf has been described as darker in color, with coarser and shorter hair compared to continental gray wolves. Fur coloration varies from pure white to uniform black with most wolves having a brindled mix of gray or tan with brown, black or white. The pure white color morph appears to be rare throughout the range.

Age of first breeding of the Alexander Archipelago wolf is about 22 to 34 months. Alexander Archipelago wolves use dens from mid-April through early July with peak activity between early May and the third week of June. After early July, most dens are abandoned and pups are located to rendezvous sites typically about half a mile (less than 1 kilometer) from the natal den, where they remain until October. Pups that survive to adulthood either remain in their natal pack or disperse.

Female wolves can produce pups every year and sizes of litters range from 1 to 8 pups, with an average of 4.1 pups. New mothers produce fewer pups than older, more-experienced mothers. Dens often have bone yards surrounding the site, remains from the food brought to pups until they are big enough to leave the den and hunt.

The average life span of Alexander Archipelago wolves is between 6 to 8 years, with the maximum of 13 years.

Alexander Archipelago wolves, like many gray wolves, are habitat generalists, typically utilizing whatever habitat their preferred prey use and avoiding areas of intense human activity. Old-growth forests, which Alexander Archipelago wolves select for, make up a majority of home range areas. Areas near freshwater are also selected by wolves during denning.

Alexander Archipelago wolves are opportunistic predators that eat a variety of prey species yet, like gray wolves, ungulates compose most of their diet. Across the range of the subspecies, black-tailed deer and moose make up 75 percent of their diet.

Alexander Archipelago wolves are social animals that live in packs usually composed of one breeding pair, plus offspring, yearlings and any dispersers. Generally, the breeding pair guides packs activities, with the female leading pup care and defense and the male taking charge of foraging and food provisioning. The pack is a year-round unit, although all members of a wolf pack rarely are observed together, except during winter.