How Crowded Is Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site in December?

December runs about 0.1× Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site'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 about 80 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 June peak (3.6×) and the January low (0.1×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 40/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated August at 71/100 — 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 27°F and an overnight low around 9°F, with about 0.4" of precipitation and roughly 9" of snow.

That average of about 18°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 8.2 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2024 drew 12,028 recreation visits, down 7.1% from 12,942 in 2023.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 23.2%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.