How Crowded Is Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial in January?

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

In a typical January the park sees about 160 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1981 to 2025.

It is the quietest month of the year at Thaddeus Kosciuszko; by contrast July, the busiest, runs about 1.8× the average — so January is the easiest time to have the place largely to yourself.

On our Best Time to Visit score January rates 43/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated October at 55/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).

Typical January weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 42°F and an overnight low around 28°F, with about 3.6" of precipitation and roughly 6" of snow.

That average of about 35°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 39% of annual visitors, choosing January 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 January to explore — between the 9.2-hour midwinter low and the 14.8-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2013 drew 1,682 recreation visits, down 17.8% from 2,045 in 2012.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 49%, so January may feel a touch quieter than it once did.