How Crowded Is Crater Lake National Park in December?

December runs about 0.2× Crater Lake National Park's average month, which makes it a very quiet month here — roughly 1% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees roughly 8,700 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 (3.4×) and the January low (0.1×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 41/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated August at 48/100 — 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 33°F and an overnight low around 19°F, with about 11.3" of precipitation and roughly 91" of snow.

That average of about 26°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 65% 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 8.8 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 632,242 recreation visits, up 25.2% from 504,942 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 19.4%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.