How Crowded Is Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in December?

December runs about 0.1× Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument's average month, which makes it a very quiet month here — roughly 1% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees about 450 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 2020 to 2025.

That makes December the 11th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the February peak (2.6×) and the April low (0.1×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 41/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated June at 79/100 — 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 29°F and an overnight low around 13°F.

That average of about 21°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 30% 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 8.5 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 33,835 recreation visits, down 3.8% from 35,173 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 8.2%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.