How Crowded Is Navajo National Monument in December?

December runs about 0.4× Navajo National Monument's average month, which makes it a very quiet month here — roughly 3% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees roughly 1,900 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 September peak (1.5×) and the January low (0.3×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 38/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated June at 64/100 — 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 40°F and an overnight low around 22°F, with about 1.2" of precipitation and roughly 7" 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 34% 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 9.5 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2024 drew 58,442 recreation visits, up 32.3% from 44,180 in 2023.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 21.8%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.