How Crowded Is Hovenweep National Monument in December?

December runs about 0.2× Hovenweep National Monument's average month, which makes it a very quiet month here — roughly 2% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees about 560 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 May peak (1.9×) and the January low (0.2×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 41/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated August at 65/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).

Typical December weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 44°F and an overnight low around 18°F, with about 0.9" of precipitation and roughly 3" of snow.

That average of about 31°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 32% 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 9.4 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 26,616 recreation visits, down 15.4% from 31,471 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 23.4%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.