How Crowded Is Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument in December?

December runs about 0.6× Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument's average month, which makes it a quiet month here — roughly 5% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees about 590 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 2015 to 2025.

That makes December the 9th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the September peak (1.6×) and the October low (0.3×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 33/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated October at 72/100 — 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 42°F and an overnight low around 28°F, with about 3.3" of precipitation and roughly 4" of snow.

That average of about 35°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 26% 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 9.2 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2022 drew 3,518 recreation visits, down 56.6% from 8,110 in 2021.