Article Overview: Best National Parks to Visit in December
Looking for a December trip to a fantastic national park but don’t know where to start? I’ve got you covered! December can be a great time to visit certain national parks for a variety of reasons.
For starters, national parks in December tend to be far less crowded, meaning you get more of the park to yourself!
The list of great national parks to visit in December is a bit shorter than other months due to winter closures, but you’ve still got some great options. In this December national parks guide guide we’ll cover the best national parks to visit, plus a couple you’ll want to avoid.
Ready to dive in? Let’s get started!
Table of Contents (Click to Expand): National Parks to Visit in December
Table of contents: National Parks to Visit in December
- Best National Parks to Visit by Month Series
- Why Trust Us About the National Parks in December
- Best National Parks in December
Best National Parks to Visit by Month Series
We started this series of best national parks to visit by month to give folks the best idea of how to time their national park trips. Every national park is mentioned at least once in this series so that you know when to visit each and every park (no park is left behind!). We even cover nearby national monuments and forests to consider as well.
Additionally, we cover the national parks you’ll want to avoid each month for a variety of reasons, including temperature, crowd sizes, closures, insects, and more.
Something to note is that some national parks are mentioned multiple times while others are only mentioned once.
If you’re interested in other times of the year as well, be sure to check out our Best National Parks by Season Guide.
Why Trust Us About the National Parks in December
You should probably know that we didn’t just make this list of the best national parks to visit in December up out of thin air. We’ve spent our entire adult lives exploring and filming America’s national parks and public lands.
We’ve worked with the National Park Service, the Department of Interior, the USDA, and the U.S. Forest Service for years, creating films on important places and issues.
Our work has been featured in leading publications all over the world, and even some people outside of our immediate family call us experts on national parks.
The Parks Brothers
We’re Jim Pattiz and Will Pattiz, collectively known as the Pattiz Brothers (and sometimes the Parks Brothers), and we absolutely LOVE the national parks.
Our goal here at More Than Just Parks is to share the beauty of America’s national parks and public lands through stunning short films in an effort to get Americans and the world to see the true value of land conservation.
Best National Parks in December
Top 15 Best National Parks to Visit in December
15. Haleakala National Park
- Location: Hawaii
- Weather: The average high is 62°F (17° C) while the average low is 45°F (7° C) with 8 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 6:54am and sunset is 5:47pm.
- Crowds: Low
- Our Favorite Resources: Guide / Things to Do / Guidebook / Map / Where to Stay / Video
- Holidays: Open Christmas
About Haleakala National Park in December
Let’s start off our list of best national parks in December with a place that escapes traditional frigid winter temperatures.
In the remote reaches of the island of Maui in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, you will find this tropical paradise.
Here you can journey to the house of the sun and discover ancient volcanoes steeped in legend, rugged mountains, dense rain forests, hidden beaches, and the last wild home to spectacular wildlife.
The park is a feast for the eyes from the coast to the summit and is bound to leave you breathless (quite literally at the summit area). You will need a reservation to see the sunrise at the summit.
Best Things to Do at this National Park in December
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14. Grand Canyon National Park
- Location: Arizona
- Weather: The average high is 58°F (14° C) while the average low is 39 °F (4° C) with 3 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:32am and sunset is 5:16pm.
- Crowds: Low
- Our Favorite Resources: Map / Guidebook / Things to Do / Best Views / Closest Cities / South Rim / Where to Stay / Winter / Facts / North Rim (Closed in December)
- Holidays: Open Christmas
Visiting the Grand Canyon in December
If you’ve dreamed of snowy canyon walls, cloud inversions, and bundling up at overlooks, then December could be your perfect time of year to visit the Grand Canyon. That’s the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The North Rim roads are closed effective December 1.
Average highs are in the mid-50s (F), and average lows are in the high 30s. While January and February have a higher likelihood of seeing snow, it’s not that unusual to see snow at the Grand Canyon in December.
December brings quiet and solitude to the Grand Canyon. If you’ve been before in the summer, visiting the 2nd most visited national park in the country during winter may be a bit shocking.
Overlooks are uncrowded, and there’s actually parking available at the Grand Canyon in December.
For more information, check out: Visiting the Grand Canyon in December
Best Things to Do at the Grand Canyon in December
Things To Do: Mather Point, Bright Angel Trail, Cape Royal, Desert View Watchtower
13. Virgin Islands National Park
- Location: US Virgin Islands (More than 1,100 miles southwest of Miami)
- Weather: The average high is 80°F (27° C) while the average low is 69°F (21° C) with 11 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 6:43am and sunset is 5:45pm.
- Crowds: Low
- Our Favorite Resources: Guide | Things to Do | Map | Guidebook | Video
- Holidays: Open Christmas, but Visitor’s Center is closed
Visiting Virgin Islands National Park in December
Another one of the best national parks in December to escape winter is located deep into the Caribbean on the island of St. John in the US Virgin Islands. Virgin Islands National Park features highs in the 80s during December with balmy lows in the 60s.
If palm trees, white sands, turquoise ocean, and warm water sound like your vibe this December, then pop on over to this most tropical of all the national parks.
The only downside is that December typically sees a decent amount of rain, with 11 days being the average. Even still, the rain doesn’t last too long.
Best Things to Do at Virgin Islands National Park in December
Things To Do: Reef Bay Trail, Maho Bay, Trunk Bay
12. Bryce Canyon National Park
- Location: Utah
- Weather: The average high is 36°F (2° C) while the average low is 12°F (-11° C) with 3 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:36am and sunset is 5:11pm.
- Crowds: Low
- Our Favorite Resources: Map | Guidebook | Road Trip | Where to Stay | Facts
- Holidays: Open Christmas, but Visitor’s Center is closed.
Visiting Bryce Canyon National Park in December
I know a lot of folks who would rank Bryce Canyon among the very best national parks in December.
For many a national park aficionado, seeing the gigantic hoodoos of Bryce Canyon covered in snow is bucket list material. There’s just something about the contrasts of the white against the deep orange-red rock that makes for a magical experience.
I highly recommend waking up early to catch the sunrise at Inspiration Point if you’re at the park for the best views of the hoodoos.
While lots of folks think of Utah and imagine the heat, elevations in Bryce Canyon reach 9,100 feet which makes it the national park in which you’re most likely to see snow in Utah during December.
Best Things to Do at Bryce Canyon in December
Things To Do: Wall Street Trail, Navajo Loop Trail, Inspiration Point
11. Zion National Park
- Location: Utah
- Weather: The average high is 48°F (9° C) while the average low is 24°F (-4° C) with 4 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:39am and sunset is 5:16pm.
- Crowds: Low
- My Favorite Resources: Guide | Things to Do | Hikes | Map | Guidebook | Where to Stay | Road Trip
- Holidays: Open Christmas
Visiting Zion National Park in December
Love Zion but hate the crowds? Turns out there’s an easy solution. Visit Zion in December!
During December, the crowds fade away while the park remains every bit as beautiful. Lucky visitors might even have the opportunity to see the park with a fresh blanket of white!
Zion Crowds in December: As one of the top 3 most visited parks, you might wonder what Zion crowds are REALLY like in December. For 2022, nearly 177,000 people visited in December. Compare that to the more than half a million that visited in May (539,172), June (569,975), and July (548,636). December visitation is almost 70% lower compared to peak season.
All of the main national park roads remain open in the winter. However, hiking the narrows will likely be too frigid for most of the winter months, and Angels Landing is probably not the best idea in the snow. If you do plan to hike Angels Landing, you will now need a permit. Yes, even in December.
Best Things to Do at Zion in December
Things To Do: The Narrows, Angels Landing, Lava Point, Big Bend
Top 10 National Parks in December
10. Redwood National Park
- Location: California
- Weather: The average high is 55°F (13° C) while the average low is 42°F (6° C) with 14 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:35am and sunset is 4:48pm.
- Crowds: Low
- Our Favorite Resources: Things to Do / Guide / Map / Guidebook / Where to Stay / Video / Photos
- Holidays: Open Christmas, but the Visitor’s Center is closed.
Visiting Redwood National Park in December
Redwood is one of my all-time favorite national parks, and while December is a bit chillier than other months, it’s still much warmer here than most parks.
Temperatures in Redwood National Park almost never dip below freezing, with an average low of 42 and highs of 55.
The further south in the park you go, the warmer it will be, with the Humboldt Redwoods (technically not part of the system but still amazing) being much warmer than the Jedediah Smith Redwoods.
Best Things to Do at Redwood National Park in December
Things To Do: Stout Grove, Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Avenue of the Giants
9. Yosemite National Park
- Location: California
- Weather: The average high is 48°F (9° C) while the average low is 27° (-4° C) with 7 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:07am and sunset is 4:40pm.
- Crowds: Low
- My Favorite Resources: Map / Guidebook / Facts / Where to Stay / Things to Do
- Holidays: Open Christmas
Visiting Yosemite National Park in December
John Muir’s “Grandest Temple of them all” is every bit as grand during the colder months of the year. Yosemite National Park in December can only be described as magical.
Well, not only. The roads can get pretty nasty during this time of year. The Hetch Hetchy entrance is open only during daylight hours when road conditions allow it.
In fact, I recall entering the park during a winter storm and being told by the ranger at the entrance that there had already been 7 accidents on the icy road into the valley in the past 2 hours and that most had yet to be reached by the tow truck.
While that case is fairly rare, the note of caution is worth keeping in mind. For those who do make it into the park after a fresh coat, the scene is otherworldly. Clouds glide through the snow-covered valley as the sun hits the ice crystals making for dazzling displays of outdoor majesty.
Note that many national park roads, including Glacier Point and Tioga Pass, close seasonally in December, making several of the top attractions inaccessible by car.
Best Things to Do at Yosemite in December
Things To Do: Glacier Point, Tunnel View, Yosemite Falls
8. Crater Lake National Park
- Location: Oregon
- Weather: The average high is 35°F (2° C) while the average low is 20°F (-7° C) with 16 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:33am and sunset is 4:45pm.
- Crowds: Low
- Our Favorite Resources: Facts
- Holidays: Open Christmas
Visiting Crater Lake National Park in December
The deepest lake in North America is one of the most beautiful places to visit in America at any time of year. December adds an extra layer of magic to Crater Lake National Park.
While West Rim Drive, the North Entrrance and East Rim Drive close to vehicle traffic during the winter at Crater Lake, all sorts of new recreational opportunities fill the void. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and fat biking are a few of the most popular activities during winter in this national park. You can enter through the North Entrance via snowmobile.
December is also a great time to catch the northern lights at Crater Lake, which is truly spectacular.
The downside is that there is a lot of precipitation this time of year in the form of snow meaning lots of grey skies.
Best Things to Do at Crater Lake in December
Things To Do: Rim Drive, Wizard Island Ferry, Watchman Peak
7. Grand Teton National Park
- Location: Wyoming
- Weather: The average high is 25°F (-4° C) while the average low is 3°F (-16° C) with 12 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:50am and sunset is 4:46pm.
- Crowds: Low
- My Favorite Resources: Guide / Maps / Guidebook / Hikes / Things to Do / Where to Stay / Video / Facts
- Holidays: Open Christmas
Visiting Grand Teton National Park in December
Grand Teton is one of those national parks that has seen a major influx in visitors over the past few years (haven’t they all!). In 2022 Grand Teton was the 12th most visited national park in the US, seeing more than 2.8 million guests.
If that sounds daunting to you, fear not. Most of the folks visiting Grand Teton do so in months other than December. One of the reasons for this is the temperatures can be somewhat brutal, with December highs in the 20s and lows in the single digits.
However, the scenery is spectacular, and you’ll have it practically to yourself (compared to summer anyway). Popular activities during winter in Grand Teton National Park include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and wildlife viewing.
Best Things to Do at Grand Teton National Park in December
Things To Do: Bradley & Taggart Lakes Trail, Wildlife Viewing, Schwabacher Landing
6. Rocky Mountain National Park
- Location: Colorado
- Weather: The average high is 25°F (-4° C) while the average low is 12°F (-11° C) with 13 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:19am and sunset is 4:37pm.
- Crowds: Low
- Our Favorite Resources: Guide / Map / Guidebook / Hikes / Things to Do / Where to Stay / Video
- Holidays: Open Christmas
Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park in December
Rocky Mountain is one of the growing number of national parks that have instituted a necessary albeit somewhat loathsome permit & timed entry system. If you’re one of the many who find this an effective deterrent to visiting the park, we’ve got great news.
During December, the timed entry system at Rocky Mountain is not in effect, meaning you can visit anytime without prior reservations.
While the famed Trail Ridge Road (one of the best national parks road trip destinations) is closed in December, the Bear Lake Road remains open, making for some incredible recreational opportunities.
Best Things to Do at this National Park in December
Things To Do: Elk Viewing | Dream, Nymph, Emerald Lakes Trail | Trail Ridge Road
Top 5 Best December National Parks
5. Mount Rainier National Park
- Location: Washington
- Weather: The average high is 22°F (-6° C) while the average low is 11°F (-12° C) with 15 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:46am and sunset is 4:19pm.
- Crowds: Low
- My Favorite Resources: Map / Guidebook / Hikes / Things to Do / Paradise / Facts / Where to Stay
- Holidays: Open Christmas
Visiting Mount Rainier National Park in December
I know what you’re thinking. “How can the place with the best displays of wildflowers on the planet also be the one of the best national parks to visit in December?”
Let’s start with the simple fact that Mount Rainier is one of the places that sees the most snow in the contiguous US every year.
Add in that Mount Rainier is among the tallest in the entire Cascade range, the most heavily glaciated peak in the contiguous US, and home to some of the best night sky viewing in the Pacific Northwest.
Here’s the kicker. While most of the most popular national parks close off their top attractions in the winter due to the amount of snowfall, the National Park Service plows the road up to Paradise year-round.
Winter recreational opportunities abound here with incredible snowshoe trails, skiing, and sledding opportunities. The air is crisp, and the views are absolutely breathtaking.
Best Things to Do at this National Park in December
Things To Do: Skyline Trail, Paradise, Snowshoeing
4. Arches National Park
- Location: Utah
- Weather: The average high is 41°F (5° C) while the average low is 20°F (-7° C) with 3 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:29am and sunset is 4:58pm.
- Crowds: Low
- Resources: Things to Do / Map / Guidebook / Where to Stay / Facts
- Holidays: Open Christmas, but the Visitor’s Center is closed.
Visiting Arches National Park in December
Everyone loves the red rock in the snow, and there are few better places to see this magic than Arches National Park. Don’t kid yourself; it’s going to be cold visiting Arches in December, with average highs in the low 40s and average lows hovering around 20.
But, if you can bundle up, you might just get lucky with a little dusting of the white stuff. December only sees 3 days of precipitation on average, but pretty much all of it is snow.
Best Things to Do at this National Park in December
Things To Do: Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, Devils Garden, Tower Arch
3. Saguaro National Park
- Location: Arizona
- Weather: The average high is 65°F (° C) while the average low is 39°F (° C) with 3 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:19am and sunset is 5:21pm.
- Crowds: Low
- Our Favorite Resources: Guide / Hikes / Things to Do / Map / Guidebook / Where to Stay / Video
- Holidays: Open Christmas, but the Visitor Centers will be closed.
Visiting Saguaro National Park in December
If there are two things that southern Arizona has in abundance, it’s sunshine and cacti, none more famous than the Saguaro, whose namesake park (Saguaro National Park) is an excellent national park to escape to in December.
Sunsets here are worth the trip alone, seemingly lasting hours and filling up the sky with magnificent yellow, orange, and deep purple hues.
In December, average high temperatures range in the mid-60s, and sunshine is no stranger!
Best Things to Do at Saguaro National Park in December
Things To Do: Wassen Peak Trail, Desert Ecology Nature Trail, Signal Hill Petroglyphs
2. Death Valley National Park
- Location: California
- Weather: The average high is 65°F (18° C) while the average low is 39°F (4° C) with 0 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 6:53am and sunset is 4:34pm.
- Crowds: Low
- Our Favorite Resources: Guide / Map / Guidebook / Things to Do / Facts / Camping / Where to Stay / Video
- Holidays: The park and Visitor Centers are open on Christmas.
Visiting Death Valley National Park in December
Choosing between the top two best national parks to visit in December was a really difficult task for us and could have gone either way, but we decided to drop Death Valley at the number two spot this year.
Situated in the Mojave Desert, Death Valley National Park is the hottest place on earth in Summer, soaring to temperatures in the 130s! But winter in Death Valley is a different story altogether.
Average December high temperatures are in the mid-60s in Death Valley National Park, which makes for great adventure weather. Despite the morbid name, this park has an unbelievable amount of things to see and do as the largest national park in the contiguous United States.
Death Valley is the one national park on this list with 0 days of precipitation forecasted, meaning no rain and lots of sunshine!
Best Things to Do at this National Park in December
Things To Do: Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point, Eureka Dunes, Artists Palette
1. Sequoia National Park
- Location: California
- Weather: The average high is 25° (-4° C) while the average low is 4° (-15° C) with 10 days of precipitation.
- Sunrise & Sunset Times: Average sunrise is 7:00am and sunset is 4:40pm.
- Crowds: Low
- My Favorite Resources: Map / Guidebook / Things to Do / Facts / Where to Stay / General Sherman Tree
- Holidays: The park and Visitor Centers are open Christmas.
Visiting Sequoia National Park in December
There is no place in the world like Sequoia National Park in December. The sound of the snow softly falling through enormous tree canopies of the sequoia forest is truly enchanting.
The contrasts of bright whites against the deep reds and dark greens of the sequoia trees make for great photo opportunities and breathtaking scenery.
The world’s largest tree can still easily be accessed during the winter months as well as a plethora of stunning hiking trails. I highly recommend the Congress Trail as the top trail in the national park during winter.
If the scenery isn’t enough for you, the park is home to some lovely lodges complete with dining facilities and fireplaces to serve as a great backdrop for the park.
Best Things to Do at this National Park in December
Things To Do: Big Trees Trail, Congress Trail, Moro Rock
For more things to do in Sequoia, check out: 15 Epic Things to Do in Sequoia National Park
National Parks to Avoid in December
Not all national parks are a winter wonderland in December or even a great park to escape the winter. There are two national parks I recommend you avoid in December.
Avoid Lassen Volcanic National Park in December, as the park is all but completely closed. Only Manzanita Lake (which is beautiful) is accessible, and even it is typically iced over.
Another one to avoid in December is Glacier National Park, as most of the park is totally inaccessible. Those who do make it to Glacier in December will find the open areas largely unoccupied.
Map of Best National Parks in December
List of Best National Parks in December
- Sequoia National Park
- Death Valley National Park
- Saguaro National Park
- Arches National Park
- Mount Rainier National Park
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- Grand Teton National Park
- Crater Lake National Park
- Yosemite National Park
- Redwood National Park
- Zion National Park
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Virgin Islands National Park
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Haleakala National Park
Pin National Parks in December
Helpful Related Articles
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Least Visited National Parks: Top 10 Least Visited National Parks
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