How Crowded Is Fort Bowie National Historic Site in December?

December runs about 1.1× Fort Bowie National Historic Site's average month, which makes it an average month here — roughly 9% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees about 730 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes December the 6th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the March peak (2.2×) and the August low (0.3×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 40/100 ("Poor"), 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 9% 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 8,739 recreation visits, up 3% from 8,483 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 9.8%, so a December visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.