How Crowded Is Canyon de Chelly National Monument in December?

December runs about 0.7× Canyon de Chelly National Monument's average month, which makes it a quiet month here — roughly 6% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees about 34,000 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 August peak (1.4×) and the February low (0.6×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 37/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated October at 57/100 — 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 43°F and an overnight low around 20°F, with about 0.7" of precipitation and roughly 2" of snow.

That average of about 31°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 33% 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 9.6 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 340,586 recreation visits, down 12.1% from 387,433 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 49.6%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.