How Crowded Is Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site in December?

December runs about 0.5× Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site's average month, which makes it a quiet month here — roughly 4% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees roughly 1,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes December the 9th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the May peak (1.9×) and the January low (0.2×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 39/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated October at 56/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).

Typical December weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 46°F and an overnight low around 18°F, with about 0.3" of precipitation.

That average of about 32°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 38% of annual visitors, choosing December instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.

You'll have about 9.4 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2024 drew 16,102 recreation visits, down 18.3% from 19,718 in 2023.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 20.8%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.