How Crowded Is Nez Perce National Historical Park in December?

December runs about 0.7× Nez Perce National Historical Park's average month, which makes it a quiet month here — roughly 6% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees about 18,000 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 August peak (1.4×) and the January low (0.7×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 42/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated July at 67/100 — 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 38°F and an overnight low around 24°F.

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

Because June, July and August together draw about 33% 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 343,910 recreation visits, about flat from 342,924 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 31.8%, so a December visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.