Great Basin National Park in December
December at Great Basin National Park averages a daytime high near 40°F and an overnight low around 20°F, with about 1" of precipitation and roughly 10" of snow. Visitation runs about 0.1× the park's average month, which makes December a very quiet month here.
- Average low
- 20°F
- Average high
- 40°F
Range across the year: 20°F to 85°F
- Precipitation
- 1.0 in
- Snowfall
- 10 in
- Daylight
- 9.3 hours
Roughly 1% of the park's yearly visitors come in December: roughly 1,700 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
It is the quietest month of the year at Great Basin; by contrast July, the busiest, runs about 2.2× the average.
On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 2/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is May: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 30°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 4.6 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 48% 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 9.3 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 161,210 recreation visits, up 6% from 152,068 in 2024.
How December compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | 48°F / 26°F | 0.2× Very quiet | 43 Poor |
| December | 40°F / 20°F | 0.1× Very quiet | 2 Poor |
| January | 40°F / 20°F | 0.1× Very quiet | 3 Poor |
All twelve months at Great Basin, with the best time to visit.
Seasonal closures in December 2026
The National Park Service lists these Great Basin facilities as closed during December 2026. The dates are the park's own, read on October 11, 2026. A facility that is not listed here may still be closed, so confirm on the park's site before you go.
- Wheeler Peak Campground (campground): closed all month (September 30, 2026 to May 31, 2027)
- Dump Station (campground): closed all month (October 18, 2026 to May 28, 2027)
- Snake Creek Primitive Campgrounds (campground): closed all month (November 5, 2026 to May 1, 2027)
- Grey Cliffs Campground (campground): closed all month (November 6, 2026 to May 15, 2027)
- Baker Creek Campground (campground): closed all month (November 10, 2026 to May 21, 2027)
- Upper Lehman Creek Campground (campground): closed from December 3, 2026 to April 9, 2027
Things to do at Great Basin in December
The National Park Service tags 14 Great Basin activities for winter. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Backpack the Baker & Johnson Lakes Loop · 1-14 days · reservation required
- Become a Great Basin National Park Junior Ranger · 30-120 minutes
- Hike Pole Canyon · 3-6 hours
- Hike the Baker Creek Loop · 90-180 minutes
- Hike the Mountain View Nature Trail · 5-30 minutes
- Hike the Timber Creek Trail · 3-6 hours
- Hike to Lexington Arch · 2-4 hours
- Picnic at Upper Lehman Campground · 5-60 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
December averages a daytime high near 40°F and an overnight low around 20°F at Great Basin National Park, with about 1 inches of precipitation and roughly 10 inches of snow. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 4.6 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
December is very quiet at Great Basin National Park (about 0.1× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 2/100. Our recommended month is May. December draws about 14% of the visits Great Basin sees in an average month. Numbers that low usually mean limited access: closed roads, closed facilities or deep-winter conditions. The count alone does not say which, so check the park's current conditions before planning around December.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is December. December sits at about 0.1× the park's average, or 1% of annual visitation.
A typical December sees about 2,000 recreation visits at Great Basin National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Great Basin in December
Booking a December trip to Great Basin National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live December availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Great Basin
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in December.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.