How Crowded Is Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area in December?

December runs about 0.3× Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area's average month, which makes it a very quiet month here — roughly 2% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees roughly 5,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

It is the quietest month of the year at Bighorn Canyon; by contrast July, the busiest, runs about 2.6× the average — so December is the easiest time to have the place largely to yourself.

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 41/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated September at 68/100 — best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight.

Typical December weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 39°F and an overnight low around 21°F, with about 0.7" of precipitation and roughly 7" of snow.

That average of about 30°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 57% 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 8.6 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 228,382 recreation visits, up 3.9% from 219,815 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 7.2%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.