How Crowded Is Cedar Breaks National Monument in December?

December runs about 0.4× Cedar Breaks National Monument's average month, which makes it a very quiet month here — roughly 3% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees about 23,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes December the 8th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (2.5×) and the February low (0.2×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 40/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated May at 59/100 — 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 35°F and an overnight low around 21°F.

That average of about 28°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 9.4 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 718,014 recreation visits, down 0.7% from 722,834 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 9.3%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.