How Crowded Is Chiricahua National Monument in December?

December runs about 0.9× Chiricahua National Monument's average month, which makes it an average month here — roughly 8% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees roughly 4,600 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 March peak (2.2×) and the August low (0.5×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 45/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated August at 82/100 — 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 56°F and an overnight low around 31°F, with about 1.5" of precipitation and roughly 1" of snow.

That average of about 43°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter.

Because June, July and August together draw about 13% 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 9.9 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 70,406 recreation visits, down 1.4% from 71,390 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 13.8%, so a December visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.