How Crowded Is Capulin Volcano National Monument in December?

December runs about 0.5× Capulin Volcano National Monument's average month, which makes it a very quiet month here — roughly 4% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees roughly 2,900 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 July peak (2.7×) and the January low (0.3×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 39/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated August at 71/100 — 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 46°F and an overnight low around 14°F, with about 0.8" of precipitation and roughly 9" 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 52% 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 9.5 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2024 drew 96,078 recreation visits, up 8.5% from 88,514 in 2023.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 40.4%, so a December visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.