How Crowded Is Scotts Bluff National Monument in December?

December runs about 0.4× Scotts Bluff 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 5,000 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 (2.1×) and the January low (0.3×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 40/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated June at 60/100 — 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 15°F, with about 0.5" of precipitation and roughly 8" of snow.

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

Because June, July and August together draw about 47% 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 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 182,392 recreation visits, down 0.8% from 183,915 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 17.7%, so a December visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.