How Crowded Is Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument in January?

January runs about 1.4× Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument's average month, which makes it a busy month here — roughly 11% of the park's yearly visitors come in January.

In a typical January the park sees roughly 6,300 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 2021 to 2025.

That makes January the 3rd-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the February peak (1.5×) and the July low (0.4×).

On our Best Time to Visit score January rates 25/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated August at 76/100 — 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 57°F and an overnight low around 31°F, with about 0.6" of precipitation.

That average of about 44°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter.

Because June, July and August together draw about 13% 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 9.8 hours of daylight in January to explore — between the 9.5-hour midwinter low and the 14.5-hour summer high.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 51,964 recreation visits, down 14% from 60,431 in 2024.