How Crowded Is Fort Union National Monument in December?

December runs about 0.4× Fort Union National Monument's average month, which makes it a very quiet month here — roughly 3% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees about 370 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes December the 11th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the June peak (1.7×) and the January low (0.3×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 40/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated August at 65/100 — 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 51°F and an overnight low around 15°F, with about 0.5" of precipitation and roughly 5" of snow.

That average of about 33°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 37% 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 9.6 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2024 drew 9,217 recreation visits, down 3.7% from 9,570 in 2023.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 12.5%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.