How Crowded Is Mesa Verde National Park in December?

December runs about 0.2× Mesa Verde National Park'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 roughly 8,700 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes December the 10th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (2.3×) and the January low (0.1×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 41/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated August at 62/100 — best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight.

Typical December weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 35°F and an overnight low around 22°F, with about 1.6" of precipitation.

That average of about 28°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 52% 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 463,130 recreation visits, down 3.5% from 480,065 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 12.8%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.