How Crowded Is City Of Rocks National Reserve in December?

December runs about 0.3× City Of Rocks National Reserve's average month, which makes it a very quiet month here — roughly 2% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees roughly 2,400 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1992 to 2025.

That makes December the 9th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the June peak (2.1×) and the February low (0.1×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 38/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated July at 60/100 — 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 39°F and an overnight low around 21°F, with about 0.8" of precipitation and roughly 5" 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 45% 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 8.9 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 90,898 recreation visits, up 1.1% from 89,949 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 23%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.