How Crowded Is Bryce Canyon National Park in December?

December runs about 0.3× Bryce Canyon National Park'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 about 50,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes December the 10th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the September peak (1.8×) and the January low (0.2×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 40/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated July at 54/100 — 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 37°F and an overnight low around 17°F, with about 1.3" of precipitation and roughly 15" of snow.

That average of about 27°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 43% 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, 2025 drew 1,967,367 recreation visits, down 21.2% from 2,498,075 in 2024.