How Crowded Is Valles Caldera National Preserve in December?

December runs about 0.5× Valles Caldera National Preserve's average month, which makes it a quiet month here — roughly 4% of the park's yearly visitors come in December.

In a typical December the park sees roughly 3,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 2020 to 2025.

That makes December the 10th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the September peak (1.7×) and the February low (0.4×).

On our Best Time to Visit score December rates 40/100 ("Poor"), versus the top-rated June at 54/100 — 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 36°F and an overnight low around 9°F, with about 1.8" of precipitation.

That average of about 23°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground.

Because June, July and August together draw about 35% 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 9.6 hours of daylight in December to explore — near the year-round minimum.

Park-wide, 2025 drew 84,952 recreation visits, up 3.5% from 82,111 in 2024.

Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 152%, so a December visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.