Guadalupe Mountains National Park in December
December at Guadalupe Mountains National Park averages a daytime high near 54°F and an overnight low around 33°F, with about 0.8" of precipitation and roughly 1" of snow. Visitation runs about 1× the park's average month, which makes December an average month here.
- Average low
- 33°F
- Average high
- 54°F
Range across the year: 32°F to 88°F
- Precipitation
- 0.8 in
- Snowfall
- 1 in
- Daylight
- 9.9 hours
Roughly 9% of the park's yearly visitors come in December: about 18,000 recreation visits in a typical year, 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 (1.8×) and the January low (0.6×).
On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 42/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is August: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 44°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 5.1 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 19% 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 206,423 recreation visits, down 8.7% from 226,134 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 19.8%, so a December visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.
How December compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | 61°F / 39°F | 1.1× Average | 50 Fair |
| December | 54°F / 33°F | 1.0× Average | 42 Poor |
| January | 54°F / 32°F | 0.6× Quiet | 60 Good |
All twelve months at Guadalupe Mountains, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Guadalupe Mountains in December
The National Park Service tags 43 Guadalupe Mountains activities for winter. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Bringing Horses · 2-7 days · reservation required
- Drive to the Salt Basin Dunes · 2-4 hours
- Drive to Williams Ranch · 4-6 hours · reservation required
- Guadalupe Ridge Trail (GRT) · 5-6 days · reservation required
- Lost Peak Saddle · 3-6 hours
- Marcus Overlook · 3-5 hours
- Overnight on Wilderness Ridge · 2-3 days · reservation required
- Permian Reef Trail · 5-7 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
December averages a daytime high near 54°F and an overnight low around 33°F at Guadalupe Mountains National Park, with about 0.8 inches of precipitation and roughly 1 inches of snow. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 5.1 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
December is average at Guadalupe Mountains National Park (about 1.0× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 42/100. Our recommended month is August.
The busiest month is March and the quietest is January. December sits at about 1.0× the park's average, or 9% of annual visitation.
A typical December sees about 18,000 recreation visits at Guadalupe Mountains National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Guadalupe Mountains in December
Booking a December trip to Guadalupe Mountains National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live December availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Guadalupe Mountains
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.