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John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in January

Very quiet0.2× average month · best-time score 7/100

January at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument averages a daytime high near 43°F and an overnight low around 26°F, with about 1.2" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 0.2× the park's average month, which makes January a very quiet month here.

Average low
26°F
Average high
43°F

Range across the year: 25°F to 83°F

Crowds
0.2× averageVery quiet
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Precipitation
1.2 in
Daylight
9.0 hours

Check access before you plan around January

January draws about 16% of the visits John Day Fossil Beds 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 January. Official John Day Fossil Beds park page.

Roughly 1% of the park's yearly visitors come in January: roughly 2,400 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 John Day Fossil Beds; by contrast July, the busiest, runs about 2× the average.

On our Best Time to Visit score January rates 7/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is September: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.

The daily average of about 34°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 12.2 miles from the park.

Because June, July and August together draw about 47% 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 9 hours of daylight in January to explore — between the 8.6-hour midwinter low and the 15.4-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 131,119 recreation visits, up 7% from 122,529 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 28%, so January may feel a touch quieter than it once did.

How January compares with the months around it

MonthAvg high / lowCrowdsBest-time score
December41°F / 25°F0.2× Very quiet45 Fair
January43°F / 26°F0.2× Very quiet7 Poor
February46°F / 26°F0.2× Very quiet52 Fair

All twelve months at John Day Fossil Beds, with the best time to visit.

Things to do at John Day Fossil Beds in January

The National Park Service tags 19 John Day Fossil Beds activities for winter. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.

Reviewed by WhenToVisitParks Editorial Team · Updated

Frequently Asked Questions

January averages a daytime high near 43°F and an overnight low around 26°F at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, with about 1.2 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 12.2 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.

January is very quiet at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (about 0.2× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 7/100. Our recommended month is September. January draws about 16% of the visits John Day Fossil Beds 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 January.

The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. January sits at about 0.2× the park's average, or 1% of annual visitation.

A typical January sees about 2,000 recreation visits at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.

Where to stay near John Day Fossil Beds in January

Booking a January trip to John Day Fossil Beds National Monument? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live January availability and prices.

Top-rated places to stay near John Day Fossil Beds

Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

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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.