Guadalupe Mountains National Park in January
January at Guadalupe Mountains National Park averages a daytime high near 54°F and an overnight low around 32°F, with about 0.6" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 0.6× the park's average month, which makes January a quiet month here.
- Average low
- 32°F
- Average high
- 54°F
Range across the year: 32°F to 88°F
- Precipitation
- 0.6 in
- Daylight
- 10.1 hours
Roughly 5% of the park's yearly visitors come in January: roughly 9,700 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 Guadalupe Mountains; by contrast March, the busiest, runs about 1.8× the average — so January is the easiest time to have the place largely to yourself.
On our Best Time to Visit score January rates 60/100 ("Good"). Our recommended month is August: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 43°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 January instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.
You'll have about 10.1 hours of daylight in January 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 January visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.
How January compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| December | 54°F / 33°F | 1.0× Average | 42 Poor |
| January | 54°F / 32°F | 0.6× Quiet | 60 Good |
| February | 56°F / 34°F | 0.9× Average | 54 Fair |
All twelve months at Guadalupe Mountains, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Guadalupe Mountains in January
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
January averages a daytime high near 54°F and an overnight low around 32°F at Guadalupe Mountains National Park, with about 0.6 inches of precipitation. 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.
January is quiet at Guadalupe Mountains National Park (about 0.6× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good" at 60/100. Our recommended month is August.
The busiest month is March and the quietest is January. January sits at about 0.6× the park's average, or 5% of annual visitation.
A typical January sees about 10,000 recreation visits at Guadalupe Mountains National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Guadalupe Mountains in January
Booking a January trip to Guadalupe Mountains National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live January 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 January.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.