How Crowded Is Tonto National Monument in December?

December runs about 0.8× Tonto National Monument's average month, which makes it a quiet month here — roughly 7% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees roughly 2,400 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes December the 7th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the March peak (2.5×) and the August low (0.4×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 57/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated October at 78/100 — pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).

Typical December weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 60°F and an overnight low around 40°F, with about 2.1" of precipitation.

That average of about 50°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.

Because June, July and August together draw about 11% 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 9.8 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2024 drew 30,840 recreation visits, down 1.2% from 31,216 in 2023.

Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 13.9%, so December may feel a touch quieter than it once did.