How Crowded Is El Malpais National Monument in December?

December runs about 0.6× El Malpais 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 roughly 8,200 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1988 to 2025.

That makes December the 10th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the May peak (1.4×) and the January low (0.5×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 41/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated August at 69/100 — 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 47°F and an overnight low around 13°F.

That average of about 30°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 30% 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 9.7 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 151,998 recreation visits, down 7.1% from 163,679 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 7.2%, so a December visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.