How busy is Arches National Park in December?

Avoid the Crowds While the peak seasons of spring and summer see around 200,000 monthly visitors, winter only sees about 40,000 visitors per month. With fewer people visiting Arches, you won't have to worry about finding a parking spot or waiting in a long line to enter the park.



People Also Ask

What time of year is busiest? From March through October, visitation at Arches is extremely high. These holidays and weekends are especially busy: The weeks surrounding Easter (date varies, in 2022: April 10-23)

MORE DETAILS

Winter in Moab can be an amazing time to explore the desert. The average high in December and January is about 44 degrees, which suits some hikers and mountain bikers just fine. Nights can be quite cold, however, dipping into the single digits — and of course, night falls earlier in winter.

MORE DETAILS

MOAB WEATHER IN DECEMBER December temperatures in Moab: highs 45 and lows 22 degrees Fahrenheit. Any time of year it's important to stay hydrated and use sun protection, even in the winter.

MORE DETAILS

Arches National Park average temperatures in winter during the day are around 40°F (5°C) and down to around 17°F (-8°C) on a night. It can be sunny but you need to ensure that you have plenty of layers, a thick fleece, warm jacket, winter hat and gloves especially around sunset and early morning.

MORE DETAILS

Here's how to minimize the crowds at Arches National Park:
  1. Avoid summer travel and during holidays. ...
  2. Plan your trip to arrive and explore during the week, avoiding weekends.
  3. Start your day early. ...
  4. Get out and hike. ...
  5. If you're in a hurry, with limited time, save this park for another vacation.


MORE DETAILS

With one busy day you can see the highlights of Arches National Park. But if you want to take your time and explore a few hidden gems and off the beaten path places, plan on spending two days in Arches National Park.

MORE DETAILS

The biggest benefit of visiting Zion in December is the lack of crowds. Fewer crowds mean less irritation and more peace during the day. Many of the wildlife will be more willing to be out and about this time of year when there aren't hundreds of people craning to see them.

MORE DETAILS

To get to Delicate Arch, it is a 3-mile round trip hike with 480 feet of elevation gain. This hike, plus time to view the arch, takes most people 2 to 3 hours. The National Park Service describes this hike as difficult.

MORE DETAILS

Reservations will be released three months in advance in monthly blocks. On January 10, reservations will open for April 1 through April 30. On February 1, reservations will open for the month of May and any remaining reservations that have not been booked for April.

MORE DETAILS

Bryce Canyon National Park is open year-round. In winter, the visitor center has reduced hours and is closed on holidays. Check the park's website or call to find out about current conditions and closures. Roads, trails, overlooks and other areas may close due to hazardous conditions, and some are closed all winter.

MORE DETAILS

Yes, You Can Get a Drink in Rural Utah, Too Restaurants and bars, of course, can set their own price for drinks. Each of Utah's five national parks has a liquor store nearby, and bars and restaurants are easy to find, especially in Springdale near Zion or Moab near Arches and Canyonlands.

MORE DETAILS

Arches National Park lies at a higher elevation above sea level as compared to Moab. This means the latter can be warmer during summer. There's no doubt the arches in Utah are impressive. But they're not as stunning as the rock formations throughout the Moab desert.

MORE DETAILS